VERY low light with Letus Economy

R

RossS

Active member
Unbelievably tense shoot today in a prison with the Letus Economy. We had 5 minutes to shoot an interview with no lights in a dark cellblock. I realize it's NOT tack sharp focus, but this was like shooting in the dark! He is standing in the doorway of his cell. Canon 50mm 1.4...both the Canon and the HVX are wide open (obviously). Every other setting is set to zero. Any suggestions for future shots of this type to make things look better?

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Was it like your bedroom with a lamp on light? Or like your bedroom with the moonlight coming through the window light? Thanks for the first report on the Economy model.

Any footages?
 
It was akin to being in a darkened apartment hallway with a bunch of dark closets, each with two small flourescent lights in each closet (see background?). I can't really articulate how dark it was, but needless to say it was not conducive to artistic shooting! I'll try to post some footage in the coming days. Just simply downloaded the footage.
 
Haven't done anything with it yet, but assume I can push the mids and whites a little. I'm afraid I agree with you...not too much can help this. Hopefully his words will be dramatic enough to make people forget about the ugly video.
 
Oh and, per your question: Take the adapter off, if it doesn't bother you. You would've gained a stop of light and been able to work from there.

Any reason you kept it on instead of just popping it off and getting the shot?
 
Well, we really wanted to keep the look of the adapter, but I would've taken it off if there was a safe place to put it for the 5 minutes (I didn't carry the end caps). We really didn't expect to gain any access today and were shooting scenics earlier with the adapter. Hopefully I get another shot next week and I'll definitely go in adapter-less.
 
I gotcha I gotcha. Always something to keep in mind when you're faced with minimal light. Still, it looks like the Economy may be impressive NO light situations.
 
Yes, I notice a huge difference between the Economy and my old Letus FE. And Hien has been a huge help in this project. Can't say enough about the Letus folks.
 
now this is what I call low-light or rather no light. I am quite impressed to see the Economy perform this way under the conditions you described...
 
well there was at least enough light for the HVX to get a picture so it couldnt have been that dark..... The HVX is a light hog.
 
well, if it gets BETTER with the Extreme... oh my.

Im also tremendously happy to hear that the customer support is us there too!

Congrats on your shoot, it sounds like you are very happy with the Letus Economy.
 
Man, aren't we spoiled nowadays - I think the grab looks great for available light - very natural and I like the lighting on his face...

Imagine having to do this with 16mm 20 years ago ;)

I think we take the lack of grain in some instances for granted - still lends to a time when things were more organic - I likie but then again, I'm getting old...

cheno
 
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