Gaining up at DVinfo.net

Randy Johnson · October 30th, 2013, 03:48 PM

What are the artifacts in gaining up with the NEX 50? at 21 db gain I cant see anything is it because it gets softer when you gain up or is it still just grain noise? Oh and just something I was thinking about going back to the 85 mm lens and digital zoom. from what we see it does get softer BUT which would get you a better image in a dark church would you get a better image using digital zoom with a very fast lens so your using less gain OR more gain with a slower lens BUT an optical zoom?...Discuss:)

Peter Rush · November 1st, 2013, 05:23 AM

Not sure what you are asking Randy - I don't like using the digital zoom at all and use canon EF lenses with my EA50. In a dark church I use a 24-105mm F4 (goes to f2.8 with the metabones) and limit my gain to 24db - I know there's a few on here that limit to 21db but I figure gain at 24db is passable.

Are you shooting the ceremony on an 85mm lens? what do you do for wide shots?

I use the kit lens for all outdoor work, the EF 25-105mm 2.8 for indoor work and the EF 70-200mm 2.8 for speeches - those 3 lenses pretty much do the trick - I've also just got a Tamron 24-70 (f2.8 but goes down to f2 with the metabones) for dark evening receptions.

Pete

Chris Harding · November 1st, 2013, 07:55 AM

Digital Zoom definitely makes the image a lot softer regardless what Sony say and if you get to the point where you physically run out of light and have to lift gain then it will decidedly look worse.

I have yet to have a reception where F2.8 doesn't work any more! If it's a really dime reception I'm use the Tamron 17-50 for speeches and then the Tokina 11-16 for closeup work. You guys must be pretty far away to use bigger zooms at receptions!! Even the Tamron at 50mm is way too much zoom for me!!

I still stick with a gain limit of 21db and I know I'll get decent footage ...I still have my video light on the camera and often I just need a touch on the light to bring up a face a bit better.

Chris

Randy Johnson · November 1st, 2013, 09:56 AM

I guess the question I was trying to pose was IF you had a really dark church and that extra stop would really be needed. Is the loss you get from using Digital zoom better or worse than the loss you would get by having to gain up more espcially in my case where I still have the stock lens which works for %90 of all videos. Also does the digital zoom degrade when your not zoomed in? If not then you would have a much faster lens that would only degrade when you need to get real tight?

October 30th, 2013, 03:48 PM	#1
Randy Johnson Trustee Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 1,067	Gaining up What are the artifacts in gaining up with the NEX 50? at 21 db gain I cant see anything is it because it gets softer when you gain up or is it still just grain noise? Oh and just something I was thinking about going back to the 85 mm lens and digital zoom. from what we see it does get softer BUT which would get you a better image in a dark church would you get a better image using digital zoom with a very fast lens so your using less gain OR more gain with a slower lens BUT an optical zoom?...Discuss:)

November 1st, 2013, 05:23 AM	#2
Peter Rush Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK/Yorkshire Posts: 2,069	Re: Gaining up Not sure what you are asking Randy - I don't like using the digital zoom at all and use canon EF lenses with my EA50. In a dark church I use a 24-105mm F4 (goes to f2.8 with the metabones) and limit my gain to 24db - I know there's a few on here that limit to 21db but I figure gain at 24db is passable. Are you shooting the ceremony on an 85mm lens? what do you do for wide shots? I use the kit lens for all outdoor work, the EF 25-105mm 2.8 for indoor work and the EF 70-200mm 2.8 for speeches - those 3 lenses pretty much do the trick - I've also just got a Tamron 24-70 (f2.8 but goes down to f2 with the metabones) for dark evening receptions. Pete

November 1st, 2013, 07:55 AM	#3
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Gaining up Digital Zoom definitely makes the image a lot softer regardless what Sony say and if you get to the point where you physically run out of light and have to lift gain then it will decidedly look worse. I have yet to have a reception where F2.8 doesn't work any more! If it's a really dime reception I'm use the Tamron 17-50 for speeches and then the Tokina 11-16 for closeup work. You guys must be pretty far away to use bigger zooms at receptions!! Even the Tamron at 50mm is way too much zoom for me!! I still stick with a gain limit of 21db and I know I'll get decent footage ...I still have my video light on the camera and often I just need a touch on the light to bring up a face a bit better. Chris

November 1st, 2013, 09:56 AM	#4
Randy Johnson Trustee Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 1,067	Re: Gaining up I guess the question I was trying to pose was IF you had a really dark church and that extra stop would really be needed. Is the loss you get from using Digital zoom better or worse than the loss you would get by having to gain up more espcially in my case where I still have the stock lens which works for %90 of all videos. Also does the digital zoom degrade when your not zoomed in? If not then you would have a much faster lens that would only degrade when you need to get real tight?