B&W method

C

cassese

Active member
Is there a way to set up one of my scene files on the DVX100a to shoot in Black & White? Have not heard much on this, and only having the manual to go by, not much information. I HAVE ordered barry Green's book, but it has not arrived yet.

What is the standard to go by for this?
 
I don't think there's a B&W setting. You can probably drop your chroma level to get a B&W image in the scene file settings. I would shoot color and do it in post. You can set your viewfinder to monitor the shot in B&W if you are worried about getting the right contrast.
 
It's deffinetly always better to do your black and white in post. That way you leave all your color options open...
 
You can't get black & white in-camera. You can lower the chroma level to get a somewhat desaturated image, but nowhere near full black & white.
 
You can get black & white in camera ....but not both at the same time.

Black ... leave the lens cap on.
White ... massively overexpose the image

actually jokes side...I concur with the above gentlemen and it is best to post prod for B&W images. You will be surprised how many ways you can CC B&W.
 
B&W Response to all

B&W Response to all

Thanks for the info, I was pretty sure there was no practical way to do it in camera because it was not even mentioned in the manual, but wanted to get some input from "the experts" here.

Thanks to all for you response, once again you have helped and saved me time, which is what we all want, isn't it?
The problem I have is that my editor is using Vegas 5, and I wanted to do everything in Avid Xpress Pro. I cannot find an editor around here in New Hampshire, so I have thrown in the towel, and am accepting what I can get. The other possibility of course is for me to spend 14,000.00 on a complete editing system turn key, and read everything I can including all of the AVID manuals, but I have a feeling that will in no way come close to having a real editor. It was my choice to live here, so now I must lie in the bed I have made.

Thanks to all again.
 
I'm wondering why you're so intent on your film being edited with Avid Express? Since it sound s like you currently don't have an NLE, why should it matter what system your editor uses? Frankly, I think Vegas is superior to Avid Express unless you want to be able say your film was edited on an "Avid".
 
Have you ever used Vegas? I think you'll be surprised with how powerful it really is (especially considering the price).
 
cassese said:
The problem I have is that my editor is using Vegas 5, and I wanted to do everything in Avid Xpress Pro. I cannot find an editor around here in New Hampshire, so I have thrown in the towel, and am accepting what I can get.
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You have an editor... and no problem.

If he was using Betamax tape to tape, that may be reason to ditch him...

IMO it is a plus to not use Avid...
 
Well, well. I can see some strong thinking being expressed. To be honest, I don't care if it's edited with a knife and a loupe. I just want the best chance I can for it to get into any of the festivals and win an award, then have all of the holloywood agents ringing my phone off the hook begging me to do a feature with an unlimited budget and no strings attached.
After I wake up though, in this life I am in, I only want to use AVID because everyone else uses it. It is the only editor I am even remotely familiar with from raeding the manuals that I downloaded. That's the truth.
i am a victim of hype, advertising, and hooplah. More truth: I am a storyteller that happens to have bought a panasonic DVX100a, and before this I would tell my stories through stills; in that I mean large format, and before that 35mm.
I get the drift; the technology has progressed past the knife and loupe, and i should not be as worried about the actual program as the communication channel between my vision and my editor. Point taken all.
I have also heard that AVID has the tools bundled with it to produce a close variation on the finished product, as if I was shooting 35mm film. I know very little about tools available either bundled with Vegas or any other, so I admit my ignorance.
It is one thing to see it all in your head, and quite another getting it on to film EXACTLY the way envisioned.
My apologies to those I have offended by refferring to Vegas as being inferior in some way. Now that I have bared my soul - any other suggestions would be MOST welcome.
 
No offense taken.:laugh: We're just trying to reassure you. Avid makes a fine range of products, but they don't have any lock on the market and their low end stuff is a bit behind competing products. But the main point is not to assume your editor is a yahoo because he/she uses Vegas. If you liked your editor's reel, then let them use whatever program they feel comfortable with. Attempting to learn Avid Express and edit your project at the same time isn't going to help you in film festivals. There isn't any magical "edge" that Avid will provide. Now a good editor--there's an edge. For the record, the users on this site prefer Vegas for PCs and Final Cut Pro for Macs by a *wide* margin, and many of us have used a variety of NLE's. But we have folks using all the major NLE's including Premiere and any one of these programs is capable of doing an outstanding job in capable hands.
 
yeah, worry about the content before any NLE. I'm sure any hollywood director can take a Canon ZR300 and a Premier Pro set-up and can make something amazing.
My suggestion is to focus on the content of your movie.
 
cassese said:
I only want to use AVID because everyone else uses it.
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I really hate it when people say that! It has always touched a nerve with me. It is real sheep mentality. Sorry cassese, don't mean to dig at you mate, I just hate the above sentence. I am guessing here, but I would bet in 10 years Avid will not be the number one industry NLE. In 10 years, any home computer will handle uncompressed HD too! :laugh:

cassese said:
My apologies to those I have offended by refferring to Vegas as being inferior in some way.
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I don't think you offended anyone! We were just concerned that you thought that Avid was a must to make a good film. Personally, I try and stay clear of that evil, devil spawn, crappy, horrible shepard of a program :evil:
 
To "Mate"

To "Mate"

Careful there - my wife is a KIWI - Napier to be exact. Kidding aside, if I could do what I am doing here, over there, I would in a heartbeat. Where are you from , let me guess - an Aussie?

One the other note - I am buying Vegas 6 + DVD, and delving myself into it. i'll be back to ask more questions I am sure. Having no budget for the hardware required or even the software cost for AVID, I simply have no choce do I.

So, in the immortal words of what his name - I am shutting the @#$% up now. And whoever said it doesn't matter what tool is used is completely right - it's the vision that counts. Thank God I still have that in my head.
 
Vegas is incredible.. you would be amazed how many people use it. I cut a couple features on it and numerous other projects, and the EDL output now is compatible with avid, so you can still use your "touched by Avid" argument.

I only use Vegas now, and as long as they include the DVCHD-Pro codec for the HVX, I probally wont be changing anytime soon.
 
cassese said:
Where are you from , let me guess - an Aussie?
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Me? I am from England. North east of London. :grin:

Sorry if I sounded nasty then BTW, I didn't mean to be. I have just developed an irrational hate for Avid after being around too many people with an irrational love of it!
 
I feel the same way as mmm, and it makes me not want to ever use Avid.

Good luck with your film, you seem to be very open to people's input here.
 
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