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November 4th, 2008, 08:46 PM | #16 | |
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November 5th, 2008, 04:42 PM | #17 |
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Alec, that sounds like a clever solution. However, my performance shoots are fairly "mission critical" around here and there is no opportunity to repeat them. I think I will continue to rely on what has worked for me over the past few years in full manual mode.... at least I know all the "gotchas" there.
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November 5th, 2008, 06:08 PM | #18 | ||
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So I tried Spotlight. I checked it out in the manual, but it doesn't say how it achieves its purpose. I'm guessing it reduces exposure a bit under the usual auto level? But doesn't that leave us with an unused ceiling of brightness? Quote:
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November 5th, 2008, 11:37 PM | #19 | |
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You can achieve the same effect just by shooting in full manual and riding the iris and/or gain and using your zebras -- in effect exposing for the faces and not the backgrounds. Or frankly you could set up a Picture Profile with AE SHIFT set to -3 or -4, which would prevent the cam from overexposing highlights in a dark situation. I just got back from a night soccer game tonight where the Zebras were going nuts all over everything with the cam set to auto -- I had to shift AE four slots down to get the exposure right. Note that on the FX1, there are permanent hard buttons for BACK LIGHT and SPOT LIGHT rather than ASSIGN buttons. |
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November 6th, 2008, 05:40 AM | #20 | |
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I guess I was moving beyond the theatrical setting, and wondering if the tip would be useful for more general event work, much of which happens in low light. But does the technique leave us with an unused "headroom" of exposure possibility, because Spotlight is using a setting less than normal auto? |
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November 6th, 2008, 11:35 AM | #21 |
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In a low contrast situation, probably. On overcast days I've experimented by toggling it off and on and all it does is make everything darker.... so whatever detail you might pick up in your highlights, you lose in the shadows.
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November 6th, 2008, 09:44 PM | #22 |
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(As an exercise, you can display the iris and gain settings on the LCD as you do this to see exactly how the two features work together.) I can't figure out how you do this. When you put them on auto, the values disappear. If I recorded while I messed around with it, I could display the data code on playback. Is that what you mean? -End Quote Yes, that is what I meant Vito. Also, like the the others have said, the Spotlight mode forces the "auto settings" of the camera to darken the picture to approximately where you and I would adjust the exposure for a dark stage. Without the spotlight mode, a pure auto approach would yeild an overexposed shot. ____________________ Boyd, I know where you're coming from and I feel the same way in approaching my own shoots. Generally, I cringe at the thought of auto settings and I wouln't give up full-manual for the world...except for when I know that I will definitely have to adjust the gain while simultaneously acheiving a great continuous shot (say for a one-camera shoot). For this purpose, and for the occasional unseasoned second shooter, this setting is a charm and I really recommend that you investigate its potential and pitfalls. I actually learned this semi-auto method on some free time I had to tinker around at a local dance performance. I had no intention of using the footage for anything but analyzing what its limitations were in this mode, so I was free to experiment like mad...and I did. I purposely over and underexposed shots, whip panned across the stage, compared similar shots to full-auto, and everything else I could think of doing. I now use it for paid shoots with comfort. Also, as I forgot to mention earlier, it's a quick and easy way to fine tune an unmanned camera's exposure for just about any lighting conditions. Alec Moreno http://www.1Day1ShotProductions.com |
November 6th, 2008, 10:04 PM | #23 |
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Looks like a good approach but does not work on the FX1 as the assignments are Z1 specific. I also miss the black stretch too!!! All things to look for on my next camera!!!
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November 7th, 2008, 08:53 AM | #24 |
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Thanks, Alec, great info. Funny how you think you know your camera's options inside out, then someone comes along and says 'check this out.' There's always something to learn...
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November 7th, 2008, 01:12 PM | #25 | ||
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I've already tried something similar with limited success (auto with AE -7). Unfortunately, it still over exposed the faces, I needed more than -7. Your method doesn't increase the AE compensation rather it allows you to control it using the iris dial. It's not bad as long as the scene isn't too black. For a long shot of the entire stage, too much of the black background fills the frame for this method to compensate. The inherit weakness of auto (even with AE compensation) is you don't know what gain the camera is using. You can set a gain ceiling but it could be maxed out to let's say 12db for most of the performance. Quote:
Last edited by Pete Cofrancesco; November 7th, 2008 at 01:46 PM. |
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