I dont like like my image..

M

mikecost

Active member
Okay, after looking at ALOT of footage shot by other users on the site im wondering: why doesnt mine look like that? I have a dvx100A and it seems that my video is always noisier and much less sharper and crisp than it should be. Im wondering why this is. I've played around with all the settings(detail, V detail, shutter speed, etc) and im lost. Can anyone help? I know this may sound very vague. I'll try to post a frame grab of something that illustrates my point better. Basically i think it looks more like a home movie when it should look much better. I need help.
 
yeah, you'll have to post some footage for use to look at in order to tell you what's going on. My guess would be that it is probably not scene settings, but lighting and camera work.
 
its not the gain. its almost always set to 0dB and i've shot outside in plenty of light. (enough to use 1/8 and 1/64 ND filters anyway) I'll shoot some footage and upload it today. What export settings would you reccomend to upload from Premiere Pro 1.5 to look the best?
 
hey mike,

I use PPro 1.5 as well and always export 100% quality MPEG 4 quicktimes. Then, I go into QT pro and export with H.264 codec and AAC audio compression. Great image and sound after.
 
Alright, i just learned a lesson after shooting some footage to show you guys. If i shoot video like a home movie, its going to look like a home movie. oh yeah and use a tripod too. I wont be using Media Encoder anymore either. Thanks for the help, problem solved
 
Yeah i guess i just needed to make a thread just to prove i was shooting crappy video...to prove to myself i can get a decent image from my dvx. so, thanks dvxuser.com haha
 
get an XL2......i had a DVX100a before hand and had the same problem as you, i was fed up, sold the DVX, got the XL2, now i am happy :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
hahaha, im not fed up with the DVX at all. I was just shooting handheld running around, not white balancing properly and im still learning how to manualy focus better. Im very happy with the dvx. I know alot enough about filmmaking and video to know why my images turn out the way they did, i guess i was just being lazy. As for the color grading and what not, it wasnt something that could easily be fixed in post. Notice how this image is noisy, and the colors seem to bleed together just a little and there are no sharp egdes(focus problem)? It looks much worse on my lcd monitor in premiere before i exported it as a frame grab.
door.jpg
 
mikecost said:
hahaha, im not fed up with the DVX at all. I was just shooting handheld running around, not white balancing properly and im still learning how to manualy focus better. Im very happy with the dvx. I know alot enough about filmmaking and video to know why my images turn out the way they did, i guess i was just being lazy. As for the color grading and what not, it wasnt something that could easily be fixed in post. Notice how this image is noisy, and the colors seem to bleed together just a little and there are no sharp egdes(focus problem)? It looks much worse on my lcd monitor in premiere before i exported it as a frame grab.
Click to expand...
A lot of that could just be the fact that you are judging the image quality by your computer monitor. I've filmed a lot of stuff that looks pretty darned crappy on my laptop, but looks fine when I play back the DVD or tape on my TV.

Though in that particular image it doesn't look like the camera is focused correctly. What was it focused on? Was it auto?
 
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I had, (and kinda still have) the same problem as you, which I think involves focusing. My images kept comingout soft, too soft. You'd be surprised how little you have to turn the ring to make a huge difference.
 
mikecost said:
hahaha, im not fed up with the DVX at all. I was just shooting handheld running around, not white balancing properly and im still learning how to manualy focus better. Im very happy with the dvx. I know alot enough about filmmaking and video to know why my images turn out the way they did, i guess i was just being lazy. As for the color grading and what not, it wasnt something that could easily be fixed in post. Notice how this image is noisy, and the colors seem to bleed together just a little and there are no sharp egdes(focus problem)? It looks much worse on my lcd monitor in premiere before i exported it as a frame grab.
door.jpg
Click to expand...

Oh no, it's the dreaded vertical bands! I can tell this shot was done with manual white balance. Look at the wall, there are these faint vertical stripes. The dangers of manual white balancing.
 
I can see those lines your talking about Joshua. very ugly. I think most of the problem was, at least for me, stepping up to a bigger, more professional camera. After using the little GS-400, theres a world of difference, especially focus. And yes, just a small nudge of the focus ring can soften the image. I cant remember what the white balance was set to and im pretty sure i had autofocus turned on. It was a VERY Run n Gun kinda thing. I just picked up my camera and started shooting. I guess if this happens again, i'll just sell my DVX and get an Xl-2...:)
 
You must never judge the image on your laptop! It will make you go crazy and make you thinking that the camera sucks! USE a monitor. It will look so much much better.

And check your RT settings in your editing program.
 
QUOTE: "Oh no, it's the dreaded vertical bands! I can tell this shot was done with manual white balance. Look at the wall, there are these faint vertical stripes. The dangers of manual white balancing."



---- what's wrong with manual white balancing? isn't that how it should be done? (I mean, white bal. w/white(or grey-ish white?) before each scene/new light location) ?

Or should I be using auto-white balance?
 
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