10 Newbie Questions

Chris Messineo

Chris Messineo

Veteran
I got my camera on Wednesday (it is my first digital video camera) and I have spent every waking hour going over it in detail (it has been a lot of fun).

I have also read many books and many websites on the subject trying to educate myself.

I do still have some questions though and was hoping someone could help me out or at least point me in the right direction. Here goes:

#1 The camera auto-turns off after 5 minutes. Is there another way to turn it back on besides turning the power switch to off and then back to on?

#2 What is EVF DTL used for? Is this supposed to help you focus?

#3 The Gain Switch, what is the purpose of this and what are the pros and cons of using it?

#4 The Iris and Iris dial. I just wanted to confirm my understanding; this is the same as an f-stop on a camera - the higher the number - the less light gets in - the greater the depth of field. As a follow up, how come on auto you can still adjust the iris (just not as far)?

#5 Focus - I understand Auto Focus and Manual Focus - what the heck is infinite focus?

#6 ND Filter - What is this? Occasionally when shooting test footage I saw nd 1/8 on my screen - what does that mean?

#7 Shutter Speed - I realize on a still camera you would use this for say freezing a picture of a baseball in flight. I'm not sure I understand how shutter speed is used in respect to video.

#8 What is the Zebra Button used for? Is is just to alert you to potential areas of too much light? How is the "marker" used?

#9 Is there a general practice for order of configuring settings for a shot. For example, do you choose the zoom, focus, shutter speed, and then iris? I have no idea if there is a process for this.

#10 Finally, and perhaps I should have asked this first, is there a book or a website that walks the beginner like myself through many of these questions? I have gone through the manual in detail, but have found it lacking.

Thanks a lot,

Chris Messineo
 
Re: 10 Newbie Questions

#1 The camera auto-turns off after 5 minutes. Is there another way to turn it back on besides turning the power switch to off and then back to on?
Click to expand...

yes its in the menu.. change the setting from power off to standby


#2 What is EVF DTL used for? Is this supposed to help you focus?
Click to expand...

you got it.. its focus peaking that works very well.

The Gain Switch, what is the purpose of this and what are the pros and cons of using it?
Click to expand...

This boost the signal for low light.. I dont recommend every using it unless you hafta because it adds noise to the picture.

#4 The Iris and Iris dial. I just wanted to confirm my understanding; this is the same as an f-stop on a camera - the higher the number - the less light gets in - the greater the depth of field. As a follow up, how come on auto you can still adjust the iris (just not as far)?
Click to expand...

yes.. your understanding is right. You can fine tune exposure in auto mode so for example if you are using zebras you can restore or blow out the highlights/etc. a little more.

#5 Focus - I understand Auto Focus and Manual Focus - what the heck is infinite focus?
Click to expand...

infinate mean everything is in focus... so the background is in focus forever.

#6 ND Filter - What is this? Occasionally when shooting test footage I saw nd 1/8 on my screen - what does that mean?
Click to expand...

ND help you control the light hiting the lens.. allows you to control exposure without closing the iris. when it flashes 1/8 it means it suggests you use a 1/8 ND as the auto iris has run out of stops to close down.


phew.. thats enough for me. someone else can answer the last couple questions, or you can look in the manual, all these settings are explained in the manual.
 
Re: 10 Newbie Questions

Jarred,

Thanks for all the answers - it is much appreciated. Now, I am off to shoot some more test footage.

Chris
 
Re: 10 Newbie Questions

#7 Shutter Speed - I realize on a still camera you would use this for say freezing a picture of a baseball in flight. I'm not sure I understand how shutter speed is used in respect to video.

Same way! The higher the shutter speed, the faster the shutter moves thus not allowing the light in as long as a slower shutter speed would. The higher the shutter, the crisper the image, the lower, the more "fluid" "motion blur" the image.

#8 What is the Zebra Button used for? Is is just to alert you to potential areas of too much light? How is the "marker" used?

ZEBRA is as answered above.

#9 Is there a general practice for order of configuring settings for a shot. For example, do you choose the zoom, focus, shutter speed, and then iris? I have no idea if there is a process for this.

I always do IRIS last.
I would think the others are dependent on other variables? Shutter speed should be consistent within story? etc


#10 Finally, and perhaps I should have asked this first, is there a book or a website that walks the beginner like myself through many of these questions? I have gone through the manual in detail, but have found it lacking.

www.dvxuser.com :)
 
Re: 10 Newbie Questions

The power off to standby is in the "tape protect" menu setting on the 100 (not sure aboutthe 100A)
 
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