How good is Auto Mode on the PD170? at DVinfo.net

Jeff Toogood · June 16th, 2005, 04:23 PM

I have a wedding coming up in a month, and my normal assistant will not be able to make it. So I have hired someone who is decent at composition and all, but really has no idea how to use my camera and doesn't feel confident that they will learn it in time.
Will I be safe to leave the camera in auto mode? or should I just lock the levels before the ceremony and hope the lighting doesn't change that much?
I am afraid the camera will JACK the gain right up in auto mode.
What would you do?

Thanks

Mike Rehmus · June 16th, 2005, 05:07 PM

Depends on the time of day and how long the ceremony will last.

During the middle of the day, I'd probably set it in manual and lock it.

Early morning or evening and I'd put it in Auto and compensate it with a preference if you can.

Jeff Toogood · June 16th, 2005, 06:35 PM

Thanks

What do you mean by compensate it with a preference?

Mike Rehmus · June 16th, 2005, 07:45 PM

AE Shift. Page 50 on the manual. It allows you to control, to some extent, the automatic operation of the camera.

Pete Wilie · June 17th, 2005, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Toogood

Will I be safe to leave the camera in auto mode? or should I just lock the levels before the ceremony and hope the lighting doesn't change that much?
I am afraid the camera will JACK the gain right up in auto mode.

This is a difficult call. You might test the environment during the rehearsal.

It depends on how even the lighting is where your assistant will be shooting, and on the coverage you expect him/her to get.

If the lighting is fairly even, and the framing will be fairly consistent (i.e., all wide/med or all CU shots), then you're probably safe with setting the exposure at the beginning for the assistant to use.

If not you might be better off with auto, but the assistant will have to watch for the hot spots -- like a bright light behind the subject.

Two things you do can about the gain:
1. You can set the gain and shutter in manual, and leave the iris in auto.
2. If you put all exposure in auto, then you can set the max gain the camera will use in the menus.

Good luck on your shoot and let us know how it goes.

Advil Dremali · June 18th, 2005, 06:35 PM

What do you mean by put it in manual and lock it?

Doesn't lock just prevent you from accidently changing the settings?

June 16th, 2005, 04:23 PM	#1
Jeff Toogood Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: St.Thomas, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 428	How good is Auto Mode on the PD170? I have a wedding coming up in a month, and my normal assistant will not be able to make it. So I have hired someone who is decent at composition and all, but really has no idea how to use my camera and doesn't feel confident that they will learn it in time. Will I be safe to leave the camera in auto mode? or should I just lock the levels before the ceremony and hope the lighting doesn't change that much? I am afraid the camera will JACK the gain right up in auto mode. What would you do? Thanks __________________ Toogood Studios

June 16th, 2005, 05:07 PM	#2
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Depends on the time of day and how long the ceremony will last. During the middle of the day, I'd probably set it in manual and lock it. Early morning or evening and I'd put it in Auto and compensate it with a preference if you can. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

June 16th, 2005, 06:35 PM	#3
Jeff Toogood Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: St.Thomas, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 428	Thanks What do you mean by compensate it with a preference? __________________ Toogood Studios

June 16th, 2005, 07:45 PM	#4
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	AE Shift. Page 50 on the manual. It allows you to control, to some extent, the automatic operation of the camera. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

June 18th, 2005, 06:35 PM	#6
Advil Dremali New Boot Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 70	What do you mean by put it in manual and lock it? Doesn't lock just prevent you from accidently changing the settings?