7 Neophyte Questions on External Buttons

[James Lee]

Hello to anyone reading,
I have a few newbie (camera) questions if anyone wouldn't mind answering a few of them. I just recently got to reading about video cameras and have access to a DVX 100 but there are many things that the manual assumes I know already.

I don't mind reading to find these answers out myself, but I figured before I went on a giant internet goose chase, someone here may be able to tell me. I know this thread seems long but there are only 7 or so actual Questions, all the other text is just context. Please though, feel free to email or reply to this with any essential books, websites, etc to look into for tender-eye cameramen like myself.

DVX 100 Questions

A Study of External Buttons​

Question #1. Why does the filter jump from 1/64 to 1/8th? What’s the significance of those numbers? Supposedly the light quantity is either reduced by 1/8th or 1/64. Naturally, I would assume 1/64th is less of a light reduction than 1/8th, but for some reason it cut the light even more. (It goes darker on 1/64...)




When I looked into what kind of info can be stored under each of the two “user” buttons I found that only 1 of 9 options can be chosen for each button. That's when I came across these options.
Option Spotlight: the auto iris control for the spotlight is set to on or off
Option Backlight: the auto iris control for the backlight is set to on or off

Question #2: To me, this sounds like I can decide which lighting (back or front) I can set the auto iris to pay attention to; If so, how is that possible? (Or does it mean backlight in the sense of a background light, such as a blown out window or somehting of that nature- I am thinking this may be the case, but the manual is not specific and when I hear the term backlight, I think this is synonamous with "Edge Light", or "Rim Light")


I read that one of the options under the counter button is the "M COUNTER", which shows the counter value in the “Memory Stop Mode”

Question #3: Can someone please explain a littme more about what exactly Memory Stop Mode is?

Another toggleable view under the counter button is User bit view.

Question #4: Can someone explain this as well.

Zerbras are a mystery to me as well, I understand what their purposeis but I am still in the dark about the purpose of having different percentages of Zebras etc.

Question #5: What is the point of allowing you to see 80% vs 100%, why the range, doesn't 100% mean pure white? (or blown out rather) If so, in what other scenarios would you care to see another percentage of white?

The Zebra button also allows the user to toggle to a "Marker" view, in which the video level of the image near the center of the screen is displayed in a percentile value.

Question #6: What does this mean? What is the Marker Percentage?

The OIS button, when turned on, is supposed to compensate for a shaky camera. It is recommended to keep it off when on a tripod.

Question #7: What is the drawback to OIS that is isn’t just a permanent feature? And for that matter, how does it stabilize the image?

Thanks again anyone who responded!

 

[ryan brown]

Hey James,

Not to offend or anything, but I doubt anyone's going to take the time to write up all the answers to your questions. They ALL have been answered MANY times before on this particular website. I'd suggest using the "search" fuction, and looking around the forums a bit to find out as many of the answers as you can. If you still have a few questions that you can't find, come back and post those one's, and we'll see what we can do. This forum has a wealth of knowledge in it, and it definitely would NOT be a waste of time. You'll learn stuff you weren't even looking for, and it'll be helpfull.

Quick rundown.

#1. That's the "ND" filter (neutral density), and for shooting outdoors or in bright light.

2. Don't really get your question.

3. - - - -

4 and 5. A common zebra = set one at 80% for correct exposure's on skintone's. Set the other on 100% so you know if any light is completely blowing out your shot. This way, you can check your 80%, and light your subject so you JUST see a bit of zebra on the subjects hot spots (forehead, etc). Then switch over to 100% to make sure nothing in your shot is blown out. If it is, you'll need to light your subject MORE, thus letting you close your iris a bit, thus not blowing out the background.

7. The drawback when keeping the OIS on when also on a tripod is this: if you do a slow pan with the OIS on, the camera will see the pan as a "shake", and try to compensate by keeping the image still. Well, once you get to a point on you pan, the camera will "let go" of the stabilizing and your shot will "jump" a bit back into place. This will repeat all the way through, giving you a bit of a "jittery" pan, instead of the smooth pan you were after. Get it? It sort of "holds and releases" because it's compensating for the movement.

Now stick around THIS website and do some searching of your own. Come back in a couple days, and I'll get more thourough with the questions you have remaining.

good luck.

-brown