2.35 Crop in Camera, possible firmware update request?!

jburke14

jburke14

Active member
Basically just a request for a future firmware update. But I have seen this discussed elsewhere.

I would love if there was a way to black out the top and bottom of the frame at different aspect ratios, most importantly something like a 2.35 to 1 crop used on a lot of movies.

3 Reasons why:

Easier to frame shots when planning to go 2.35 to 1 for final output.
Less time 'wide-screening' every shot in post.
AND
The most interesting, possibly the internal codec might be able to perform more efficiently using its data rate on less of the image (the parts blacked out that would normally be cropped in post would be not using up any data rate). I'm not one hundred percent positive this would be the case, but have heard some other AF100 users, saying that the codec is rather 'smart' and could probably act in this way.

Just a request, because for a lot of the narrative work I do, I crop to 2.35. I love the perspective. Other crops could be included as well, but definitely something that seems possible with firmware. The guide-lines now are hard to see and this would save a lot of leg work in post for people like me who like that 'cinematic' feel that comes with 2.35 to 1.
 
The guide lines are great... and most megalomaniac editors will want to have the footage to "reframe" in post. I wish there was a way to Squeeze the footage out to a monitor for shooting with Anamorphics.
 
I believe you can set your safe zones to that, and regardless, just protect for it. If the extra area is distracting, there is always gaff tape... but really, I would rather have the extra room for safety and just crop it down in post. If you protect the same on every shot, it should be a non-issue to make it 2.35 in post. It is not like you are gaining any horizontal resolution or anything out of it. My only intrest would be if you gained anything out of the codec, but frankly I feel the difference would be negligible, and the AVCCAM does well enough as is... if you need more, that is why there is an HD-SDI port. There are much more things I would rather see in a firmware update. If anything I would LOVE to be able to dial between green/magenta in addition to K values on the variable color balance setting along with a 1:1 zoom mode for focus would be at the top of my list, along with more standard markings on the sound level meters. Those are just ones off the top of my head... A way to easily and accurately color calibrate the monitor would be really nice too, but I am dreaming with that one, I know...
 
I wish it darkened the areas outside the guide lines JUST for visual feedback. Those tiny white lines are just not very easy helping me judge. Next time I am gonna gaffer tape my display based on the lines.
 
Rick Burnett said:
I wish it darkened the areas outside the guide lines JUST for visual feedback. Those tiny white lines are just not very easy helping me judge. Next time I am gonna gaffer tape my display based on the lines.
Click to expand...

+1

The white lines don't even reach across the entire frame to give me a proper sense of the aesthetic. But I do use my marshall for pretty much everything i shoot so that's taken care of. Would be a nice feature however to gray out the area.
 
I agree with everyone on this. I think the lines are just OK. Yeah I do happen to move my image around a lot when I crop to 2.35. And I enjoy that freedom when cropping. Just saying for time constraints, and just a better idea of the frame. Yeah my smallHD monitor has that ability and I use it. Would just be a cool probably simple addition for those who want to shoot and not worry about cropping in post. OR just as a visual guideline. EVEN if it is still recording it.
 
I have the bigger DP1x. So not sure about your monitor. However even with the DP1 it is a roundabout way. Using the scale and crop/position features allows you to set it so it's cropped at 2.35 and stretched to the right size. I don't know if the dp6 has the same features. I found it on the documentation
 
I love that my TVlogic monitor has the 2.35 guides with black bars in varying opacity...it's a dream! :) The guides on the AF100 really stink...
 
jburke14 said:
I have the bigger DP1x. So not sure about your monitor. However even with the DP1 it is a roundabout way. Using the scale and crop/position features allows you to set it so it's cropped at 2.35 and stretched to the right size. I don't know if the dp6 has the same features. I found it on the documentation
Click to expand...

I have a DP1X too but didn't bust it out to look. Yes, the DP6 has the scale/stretch presets as well. I'm going to contact smallHD about crop marks.

Guides are coming to the DP6 :)
 
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Rick Burnett said:
I have a DP1X too but didn't bust it out to look. Yes, the DP6 has the scale/stretch presets as well. I'm going to contact smallHD about crop marks.

Guides are coming to the DP6 :)
Click to expand...

Are guides really coming for DP6? That would be awesome! I been using paper tape.

As for the original post I wouldn't use that function because the ability to reposition is pretty nice!
 
Rick Burnett said:
I wish it darkened the areas outside the guide lines JUST for visual feedback. Those tiny white lines are just not very easy helping me judge. Next time I am gonna gaffer tape my display based on the lines.
Click to expand...

The "tiny white lines" are next to useless. We shot a project where all three operators kept forgetting to compose within them.

Would have camera/paper taped the crop (never put Gaffer on an LCD), but then the your not able to see if your recording footage or sound.

Best,
Bern
 
Many monitors have selectable cropping functions with selectable dimming in their marker menu.
And of course there is always translucent plastic sheet stock from a hobby store which can be cut to framing size.
 
KyleProhaska said:
I love that my TVlogic monitor has the 2.35 guides with black bars in varying opacity...it's a dream! :) The guides on the AF100 really stink...
Click to expand...

Yeah the TV Logic 5.6 kicks butt. Making the area outside 2.35 totally black, or I believe you can make it other colors too, like white, is awesome. And the other colors would be helpful in making sure your matte box flags aren't creeping into the shot. (Since black on black is hard to notice).
 
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