Low Light settings? at DVinfo.net

Dave Allen · February 5th, 2011, 04:15 PM

The FX1 seems to REALLY suck in low light settings on full automatic. Horrible levels of noise and graininess.

Is there a settings work-around?

Adam Gold · February 5th, 2011, 05:57 PM

I wouldn't say it sucks -- it's much better than the V1/FX7 -- but it'll never match the PD or VX series. You could lock the AGC LIMIT to 6 or 12, which will help with the grain issue but obviously give you a darker picture. For me that was worth the trade-off. 15 dB gain or above was pretty unusable and even 12 wasn't great.

Jim Cowan · February 5th, 2011, 11:04 PM

Hi Dave,
Of course this will depend on your subject, but a lot of times I also
drop the shutter down to 1/30. Watch out for any high contrast or
rapid movements or you might be doing a deinterlace to remove the strobing.

thanks
jim cowan

Dave Allen · February 6th, 2011, 04:39 PM

I wonder if it is time to upgrade to an NX5U or something, if this would solve the low light grainy/noise issues

Adam Gold · February 6th, 2011, 09:27 PM

It's several orders of magnitude better. My Z5 (which shares most of the same components with the NX5, including the chip) can practically see in the dark. Simply amazing.

Tom Hardwick · February 7th, 2011, 03:21 AM

I'm really surprised to hear you say that about the FX1 Dave, as I find it's grain/sharpness trade to be excellent, and as a first generation HDV camera nobody complained. Of course if left in its auto mode it'll jump to +18dB at the first opportunity, so it's best you stick to wide-angle, remove filters or lens converters and if possible light the talent.

My NX5 is indeed better in the gloom, but we're only talking just over a stop - no deal-breaker in the great big scheme of things.

tom.

Marcus Martell · February 8th, 2011, 06:34 AM

Where can i find the AGC in the menu?

Adam Gold · February 8th, 2011, 01:43 PM

AGC LIMIT is in the Picture Profile Menus. Page 35 in the FX1 manuals.

Dave Allen · April 3rd, 2011, 11:32 PM

What gain settings are best for low light?

The odd thing is, in low light, the external fold out LCD looks great in low light, the footage does not.

I can light things, but for run and gun, the subjects are often wearing light colored shirts which blow out everything, plus it just looks artificial compared to ambient light. Even inside rooms during the day with inside room lights turned on it looks really grainy.

Mind you, this is all using auto settings for everything.

Chris Barcellos · April 4th, 2011, 12:11 AM

This is a choice of personal preference over noise or darker image. Over the years, most users have said don't go over 12 db. I have to agree with that. So in shooting a dark scene its:

1. be sure NDs are off.

2. Set all setting for manual setting.

3. I assign gain buttons to L-0, M-6, H-12, In low light, you will switch through those, and in lowest light you will land on H-12.

4. Set shutter to 1/60

5. Set iris as wide as it will go.

6. If you are using Cinematone, in one of the presets that has it on, I would turn it off for a low light situation.

7. If you are still not there, step shutter down to 1/30, if this isn't a heavy motions scene.

8. If still not good, press the Gain button, and camera will go into autogain.... You will probably be at 18, depending on maximum you have set in menus.

And remember, if you are shooting in a dark situation, shouldn't your image be reflecting that ? Sometimes, people think they have to have the camera light up the scene like its daylight.

Tom Hardwick · April 4th, 2011, 01:22 AM

A good and comprehensive list Chris. I might add to your point 5 that using maximum wide-angle adds pretty dramatically to the low light performance. Avoid any telephoto settings, remove all filters and converter lenses.

tom.

Dave Allen · April 4th, 2011, 07:22 PM

>taking notes big-time!

Thanks!

February 5th, 2011, 04:15 PM	#1
Dave Allen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 497	Low Light settings? The FX1 seems to REALLY suck in low light settings on full automatic. Horrible levels of noise and graininess. Is there a settings work-around? __________________ Dave -

February 5th, 2011, 05:57 PM	#2
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	I wouldn't say it sucks -- it's much better than the V1/FX7 -- but it'll never match the PD or VX series. You could lock the AGC LIMIT to 6 or 12, which will help with the grain issue but obviously give you a darker picture. For me that was worth the trade-off. 15 dB gain or above was pretty unusable and even 12 wasn't great. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

February 5th, 2011, 11:04 PM	#3
Jim Cowan Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 34	Low Light Setting Hi Dave, Of course this will depend on your subject, but a lot of times I also drop the shutter down to 1/30. Watch out for any high contrast or rapid movements or you might be doing a deinterlace to remove the strobing. thanks jim cowan

February 6th, 2011, 04:39 PM	#4
Dave Allen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 497	I wonder if it is time to upgrade to an NX5U or something, if this would solve the low light grainy/noise issues __________________ Dave -

February 6th, 2011, 09:27 PM	#5
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	It's several orders of magnitude better. My Z5 (which shares most of the same components with the NX5, including the chip) can practically see in the dark. Simply amazing. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

February 7th, 2011, 03:21 AM	#6
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	I'm really surprised to hear you say that about the FX1 Dave, as I find it's grain/sharpness trade to be excellent, and as a first generation HDV camera nobody complained. Of course if left in its auto mode it'll jump to +18dB at the first opportunity, so it's best you stick to wide-angle, remove filters or lens converters and if possible light the talent. My NX5 is indeed better in the gloom, but we're only talking just over a stop - no deal-breaker in the great big scheme of things. tom.

February 8th, 2011, 06:34 AM	#7
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	Where can i find the AGC in the menu?

February 8th, 2011, 01:43 PM	#8
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	AGC LIMIT is in the Picture Profile Menus. Page 35 in the FX1 manuals. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

April 3rd, 2011, 11:32 PM	#9
Dave Allen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 497	Re: Low Light settings? What gain settings are best for low light? The odd thing is, in low light, the external fold out LCD looks great in low light, the footage does not. I can light things, but for run and gun, the subjects are often wearing light colored shirts which blow out everything, plus it just looks artificial compared to ambient light. Even inside rooms during the day with inside room lights turned on it looks really grainy. Mind you, this is all using auto settings for everything. __________________ Dave -

April 4th, 2011, 12:11 AM	#10
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Re: Low Light settings? This is a choice of personal preference over noise or darker image. Over the years, most users have said don't go over 12 db. I have to agree with that. So in shooting a dark scene its: 1. be sure NDs are off. 2. Set all setting for manual setting. 3. I assign gain buttons to L-0, M-6, H-12, In low light, you will switch through those, and in lowest light you will land on H-12. 4. Set shutter to 1/60 5. Set iris as wide as it will go. 6. If you are using Cinematone, in one of the presets that has it on, I would turn it off for a low light situation. 7. If you are still not there, step shutter down to 1/30, if this isn't a heavy motions scene. 8. If still not good, press the Gain button, and camera will go into autogain.... You will probably be at 18, depending on maximum you have set in menus. And remember, if you are shooting in a dark situation, shouldn't your image be reflecting that ? Sometimes, people think they have to have the camera light up the scene like its daylight. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

April 4th, 2011, 01:22 AM	#11
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Re: Low Light settings? A good and comprehensive list Chris. I might add to your point 5 that using maximum wide-angle adds pretty dramatically to the low light performance. Avoid any telephoto settings, remove all filters and converter lenses. tom.

April 4th, 2011, 07:22 PM	#12
Dave Allen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 497	Re: Low Light settings? >taking notes big-time! Thanks! __________________ Dave -