In-camera VS In-Post

[filmguy123]

Watching the HVX200 DVDs and reading misc posts around here, I see a lot about different camera settings. I was wondering, which of these camera settings CANNOT be reproduced in post?

For example:

Crushing the blacks (via master pedastal)?
Adding grainy look (via 6db-12db of gain)?

Can these be done in post? What are some other settings that can and/or cannot be produced in post?

And, for settings that can be reproduced in post, is there any advantage to doing it in camera? I hear some people say it saves time in editing. I'm a very quick editor and I don't mind doing it in post. In fact, I prefer to do it in post as I have exact control of the effect and I can undo stuff I don't like (versus shooting it that way and being stuck with the look).... that and it saves me time in the field.

So besides saving time in editing...

Is there any advantage to changing those effects in camera rather than messing with grain/brightness & contrast/color correction etc in post?

AND... which in camera settings are valuable that CANNOT be redone in post (ie, the ones a guy like me should really know & be familiar with to affect the look of an image that can ONLY be done in camera)?

[filmguy123]

bump - come on guys, no one knows the difference between in camera & in post and the difference? In post I've got controls for gain, pedastal, adjusting brightness/contrast, changing coloring, etc. etc.

So when is it better to do in camera? What's the point if you don't care about saving time in post? And which features just don't work well in post that should always be done in camera if looking to achieve a certain effect?

[HVXguy]

Basically I would try to shoot as clean as possible......
the post guys can always screw it up.

[filmguy123]

Basically I would try to shoot as clean as possible......
the post guys can always screw it up.

I'm the post guy

[Ernie Kovacs]

Yeah, I'm on the side of as clean as possible to, except for framerate stuff. Slow frame rates (like 4 FPS, no shuter) that give great motion blur can be great effect. Is there a way to do this effectively in post?

[HVXguy]

Yeah, I'm on the side of as clean as possible to, except for framerate stuff. Slow frame rates (like 4 FPS, no shuter) that give great motion blur can be great effect. Is there a way to do this effectively in post?

You are right on that one. I never could get a decent look in post for that effect.
With the HVX I do shoot at 4 or 6 fps with an open shutter to get that motion blur effect.

[filmguy123]

I'm sorry, can you define what you mean by shooting clean? Do you mean:

A.) You prefer to shoot as close to what you want the final output to look like?

or

B.) You prefer to shoot the footage properly exposed, colored, no grain, etc. and then create the desired look in post by changing settings?


Because when I think of shooting clean, I imagine (B) - capturing "clean" footage and then having complete freedom in post to create the look that I want.... but it sounds like (HVXguy) you were saying shooting clean to mean (A)?

[HVXguy]

B.) I like to create the desired look in post.
DVCPRO HD is 8 bits and it is hard to undo
something if you did it in camera.
About the only filter I might use is
a pola or graduated ND....
I do sometimes show the client what
something might look like - cool or
warm WB or crushing blacks....
But I usually shoot as neutral as
possible. I use FCP and FCP Studio 2
with the addition of "Color" should really
help out....

[tippert]

so what are the ideal camera settings for shooting 'clean'?

[HVXguy]

You would have to determine that for yourself. There is no one setting that is perfect for the HVX.

It all depends on subject matter and lighting. Bight sunlight will be totally different set-up then a dramatically lit scene.

You really have to look at Barrys book and go through the set-ups.

When I say clean - I usually White and Black Balance. I don't do much with temp set-up - I don't boost the chroma too much.

I don't dial the pedestal too low or high. Again it is all a personal choice.

If you are working for a client you might want to preview different looks so you have an idea of what direction to go in post.