Newbie Q: Settings for Theater Show

Steve B

Steve B

New member
My first time out with my new 100 B will be to film a stage show of music and dance. There will be a lot of variation in lighting -- color effects, bright lights, dim lighting, one scene with fog.

I think it's best I keep things fairly simple since I'm brand new to video and this camera. However, can anyone make a few recomendations on my basic settings?

From what I've read about the camera so far, I'm planning to manually set White Balance. Can I use Auto Focus? Should I manually set the Iris and then leave it there for the entire show? Turn Gain Control to Low?

It's all a bit overwhelming!
 
You don't want to use autofocus, especially if the light is going to vary. And if you're planning to shoot 24p.

As for the iris, if you're going to try to capture the experience of the show, you should set it to expose properly the baseline light level -- what's "normal" lighting on stage. White balance to that as well.

Why? Because if you don't, you're changing the experience. If they intend dim light, you should record dim light, and not try to up the light level to "normal" levels. If you auto-track the white balance, you're going to lose any kind of artisitic color effects they intended with the lighting. If they want the actor/dancer blue, then blue he/she should be. ATW might not allow that.

As it's you're first time, stay with the F5 or F6 factory scene file settings.
 
Thanks David for the recomendations. Awesome!

One question: you suggest I set the Iris to expose properly the baseline light level. Should that be so that the brightest scene of the show is still not overexposed? Again, thanks!
 
You might have to keep an eye on it and adjust. But if you underexpose a little on the baseline, you might be OK for bright spots.
 
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