PMW 200 - LCD vs Viewfinder

[Tiago Cristovao]

Hello people.

I cant fully trust in PMW 200 LCD (and i guess this happens with pretty much every camera) because the image it's not accurate and it's definately more brighter. I always have to see through viewfinder to make sure the image is fine.

For example: today i shot and interview, and if i relied in LCD the image would probably be a little underexposed, because in the LCD one part of the frame was overexposed but in viewfinder the image was ok and well balanced.

This is a pain because sometimes i need to be quick with some shots to catch some moments and i can't be that fast because i have to check the image in viewfinder as i'm afraid to rely in LCD.

How do you guys do?

Thanks!

[Rob Cantwell]

on my PMW 200 I use zebra set at 90 which gives me a little leeway, i also try and avoid full auto exposure and use the iris control and or ND filters, my gain settings are L -3 db M - 0db H - 6db, shutter speed at 1/50 at 25 p

[Tiago Cristovao]

Thank you. I forgot about Zebra function, i guess i've never liked it too much.

For example in this explanation : https://eyefish.tv/production-guide/...zebra-patterns


At 70%, the image looks overexposed in the girl's face but there is no stripes, while in the other one the stripes are in her face. Why there are stripes in the sky and not in the face in 70% image?

[Josh Bass]

Zebras are one of your best friends for exposure. Without them, your judgement can be way off. With them, you can eyeball and make those calls (let this be too dark or let that be too bright, or somewhere in the middle? Etc.). I would leave them on always.

Some folks leave 'em at 90 or 100%, some folks put 'em at 70 or 75 (can depend on cam and your taste) and use that to specifically judge skin tones (if you shoot a lot of people, not a bad way to go). The way this works, generally is you look for HIGHLIGHTS on the skin, take the face for instance, highlights on the cheeks, tip of nose/t-zone, forehead, etc. When those spots show zebras and nowhere else, you've nailed your exposure.

[Les Wilson]

Sound like you didn't calibrate your LCD. My EX1R LCD and VF were the same after I calibrated each of them using the camera's color bars. I expect the PMW-200 to be the same although I've read some complaints about a yellow tinge. But with proper calibration, you should be able to eyeball exposure in most situations, especially after you learn to use zebras. Here's an explanation on how to calibrate your camera, searching will find articles on how to use zebras as well:
http://www.xdcam-user.com/2012/06/ca...finder-or-lcd/

[Tiago Cristovao]

Originally Posted by Josh Bass

Zebras are one of your best friends for exposure. Without them, your judgement can be way off. With them, you can eyeball and make those calls (let this be too dark or let that be too bright, or somewhere in the middle? Etc.). I would leave them on always.

Some folks leave 'em at 90 or 100%, some folks put 'em at 70 or 75 (can depend on cam and your taste) and use that to specifically judge skin tones (if you shoot a lot of people, not a bad way to go). The way this works, generally is you look for HIGHLIGHTS on the skin, take the face for instance, highlights on the cheeks, tip of nose/t-zone, forehead, etc. When those spots show zebras and nowhere else, you've nailed your exposure.

Thank you for your reply.

So a few zebra stripe in the face? And what about when shooting a extreme wide shot for example, with lots os sky or landscaping, i assume you would't want too many stripes in that sky/landscaping?

Originally Posted by Les Wilson

Sound like you didn't calibrate your LCD. My EX1R LCD and VF were the same after I calibrated each of them using the camera's color bars. I expect the PMW-200 to be the same although I've read some complaints about a yellow tinge. But with proper calibration, you should be able to eyeball exposure in most situations, especially after you learn to use zebras. Here's an explanation on how to calibrate your camera, searching will find articles on how to use zebras as well:
Calibrating your viewfinder or LCD. | XDCAM-USER.COM

Thanks!

I didn't know it was possible to do that. I will have a look.

[Doug Jensen]

How to correctly use zebras on the PMW-200 is one of the topics covered in my 3-hour training DVD.
Mastering the PMW-200-160-150-100 Camcorders

(BTW, you don't want to see zebras on faces.)

[Brian Drysdale]

Regarding setting up the V/F and LCD with the colour bars in a PMW200. Making adjustments using the bars the screen image doesn't seem to change, however, using the camera output the screens do change with the brightness and contract adjustments.

I normally use the bars to set V/F etc up. Firmware 1.32 if that helps.

[Malcolm Hamilton]

A quick note... I couldn't get by without a Hoodman Loupe. Strap it onto the lcd viewfinder and you have a much better chance of getting everything the way you want it. Zebra too, of course. It's just so much easier to see everything in detail with the loupe.
Regards, Malcolm
P.S. I haven't used the viewfinder for as long as I can remember. I used it last, now that I think of it, when it was pouring rain and I had my camera covered in a rain cover (couldn't flip out my lcd in this situation).