100a LCD Monitor

J

jdh3334

Active member
When the 100a calls for a higher ND setting, like 1/64, the image on the LCD appears to be darker than should be... And, in playback mode, the images appear a bit dark on the monitor (through camera VCR and DVCPro deck)... How do you compensate for this, particularly when on the scene. DO you simply trust the camera's request for 1/8 or 1/64? Is there a way of being relatively sure that the levels are good? I noticed I seem to need more light when shooting in 24p cine-like mode..... I'm in the midst of shooting a sequence for a marketing video and mostly concerned about letting enough light in for TV/DVD production.....

Thanks,
Jeff
 
Re: 100a LCD Monitor

There are two ways, but both require external monitoring equipment. Either pipe the video into a properly-calibrated production monitor, or send it through a waveform monitor and check the levels. If you have a laptop computer you can drag along with you, you can get both solutions by getting the DV Rack software from Serious Magic.

Serious Magic's monitor module is quite cool because it actually has "dark zebras", which let you know when you're underexposing too much.

Short of that, you can use the zebras and spotmeter/marker in your viewfinder/LCD to find out what the actual exposure value is. The brightest whites should trigger the zebras at around 100, and the darkest details should be visible in the marker at around 10 or so. If the highlights in your footage are showing a spotmeter/marker of less than 70 or so, you're probably underexposing.
 
Re: 100a LCD Monitor

Thanks Barry.... How can I get a visual display reading of the zebra percentage without depressing the zebra button. Is there a zebra percentage display feature? Also, I'm scheduled to shoot a rock concert tonight -- POV from stage... any suggestions on proper visual input settings with the 100a? I'm not as concerned about audio as the visual quality...

Thanks,
Jeff
 
Re: 100a LCD Monitor

The percentage comes when you use the Marker function, which brings up the two boxes in the center of the screen. There's a number in the lower left (?) that shows what the percentage of brightness is for whatever's in the Marker box. You get to the Marker by pressing the Zebra button a few times, so it cycles from Zebra 1 to Zebra 2 to Marker to Zebra Off.

As for the concert, you're talking about shooting the audience, right? Get some light on 'em, adding some light will do WONDERS for your image and will do far more than any tweaking of the settings ever would... other than that, without knowing more of what you're doing and what the circumstances are and what the available light is and what mode you're shooting in, etc., I don't know what else to say...
 
Re: 100a LCD Monitor

WOW BARRY !! I would never have believed it but just ended up at a big audiance event and stuck my 20watt PAGlite C6 on hot shoe. The differance was ASTOUNDING ! - I'd never have bothered with such a low wattage light for shooting such a big dancing crowd before - always tried to get a couple of killowatts on em ! but this time only had my 20w 'interview' light. - Glad I read this post first !! Thanks Barry.
Also Jeff - I find setting (auto) iris to manual then back to auto will sometimes 'kick' the exposure-decision circuits into action after a ND change. Has this any bearing on this prob? - Hope your gig went ok.
Paul.
 
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