DVX 100AE - is F5 scene file ok to use?

F

FBAS

Well-known member
I never used the standard F5 scene file (25p cine-look) except for a very quick test - but now I'm going to shoot a small (no-budget) documentary with a friend who'd like it to have a film look.
I thought I'd just use the F5 setting. Would that be ok? Or can I achieve much better looks when I tweak around myself?

I'm not asking "what is the best setting" (which would be a stupid question), I'm just asking if the standard F5 is ok to use or if you think it looks so horrible compared to self-made scene files that I'd rather get into it and make my own.

Thanks in advance!
 
In short, your fine to use the standard settings when you switch to F5. It's not so much that you'll get a better look tweaking settings, but you are able to get a more personally desirable image especially if your trying to give your doc. a certain feel. Although there are still a lot of people out there shooting pretty flat (natural) and making their adjustments in post. Go ahead and experiment with different settings, and such to see if you find something you really like. Of course it helps to really understand what the settings do. I.E. if you lower your detail level, your going to get a softer image, if you make it higher you risk getting a look of an really electronically enhanced picture.
 
Although there are still a lot of people out there shooting pretty flat (natural) and making their adjustments in post
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That's what I usually did - using the DVX for tv (mostly news) I always shot plain, scene file F1.

So I think I'll make a few more test shoots with the F5 scene file and see if I can live with it. At least I won't run into problems that might occur when I make my own scene file without testing it thoroughly, right? The problem is I won't have much time until we have to start shooting...
 
It's unfortunate that you won't have much time to test and make decisions before your shooting. There really is no way to say that you "won't" run into problems. Chances are you'll be able to make adjustments in post if your unhappy with your settings, but there's no way of saying you'll be satisfied with those adjustments, also personally I think its better to shoot flat and do your work in post if your unsure of the exact look your going for, because it preserves more options. So to sum it up, do whatever tests you can, and if you can't decide on a look or settings fully, then just shoot standard F5 instead of thinking you like something and finding out later on you don't and you have trouble fixing it.
 
So to sum it up, do whatever tests you can, and if you can't decide on a look or settings fully, then just shoot standard F5 instead of thinking you like something and finding out later on you don't and you have trouble fixing it.
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I think that's what I'm gonna do. Thanks for the input!
 
Yes tests are a good thing. People please stop thinking of the scene files as 60i, 30p, 24p or 24pa. This can be changed in any scene file. The scene files are there so you can go to location and do things like tests and save the settings in. Scene file 1 to 6 can all be 24pa if you want.
 
ncje said:
People please stop thinking of the scene files as 60i, 30p, 24p or 24pa. This can be changed in any scene file. The scene files are there so you can go to location and do things like tests and save the settings in. Scene file 1 to 6 can all be 24pa if you want.
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Good Point. I think its just common for most people to refer to them that way because a lot of people just leave the recording modes the way they come.
 
Back in the old days, when film was cheaper... load up some color negative, light it to your eye, whip out your spectra meter, set the stop, and shoot! Lab can help you from there. Now my DVX 100B gives me wonder options to screw everything up! There's nothing like a test! Take that cool camera out and try all the menu opts...screw it up make it all ugly...make it pretty! Just take notes. Soon you'll have all the F1 through F6 to your liking! Have fun! I've learned more from bad video than I'll ever learn from getting lucky.
 
ncje said:
Yes tests are a good thing. People please stop thinking of the scene files as 60i, 30p, 24p or 24pa. This can be changed in any scene file. The scene files are there so you can go to location and do things like tests and save the settings in. Scene file 1 to 6 can all be 24pa if you want.
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Amen! And it took me awhile to figure that out...makes a world of difference.

-Bill
 
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