FS7: Cine EI, Is this about the right exposure? And lighting for low light?

[Gene Sung]

I've been doing a bunch of test shots with 42 IRE in mind as middle grey for the FS7.

These images are CineEI at 2000 ISO. Looking at the waveform, it might be a bit under 42 IRE. The shots that were over a bit, looked a little over exposed.

Does this feel about right to you guys interns of exposure?

Also, I have an example of the low light shot graded down. Seems to have a bit less noise when you overnight and then bring it down in post. Is this how you guys would approach it

?

 

[starcentral]

Keep in mind Slog mapped values (below) also you always have to judge the scene for best approach. Will it have noise? Are there extreme highlights? Which is the lesser or two evils? Overexposing 1-2 stops eats your highlight latitude but it will give you a cleaner image later when you readjust in post for "normal" levels. In your case if you're grading something darker anyways because you want it to look night-like there is no reason really to overexpose. The process of darkening in post will always make a cleaner looking image with less noise (just as a tip).

Personally I tend to underexpose more than expose bang on or even overexpose. I am always worried about highlight rendition. This is not right or wrong, just my method. I also light my shadows so when underexposing they are not so close to the noise floor. Occasionally I do have to use noise reduction, just another tool in the box.

 

[Gene Sung]

Hey Dennis,

Looking at the waveform (I'm no pro at waveform reading), it seems to be a bit under exposed (I think). Am I reading the waveform right since most of the data seems to be under 42 IRE.

I also prefer to under expose a bit. Coming from the FS700 and that flavor of SLog 2, you always had to try and ETTR between 1 to 3 stops or else it was noise city. With S-Log 3, seems like I can expose more normally, either dead on or under a bit. Am I correct in this assumption?

 

[starcentral]

Well truthfully, it all really depends what you picked to expose for.

In the first image, looking at those vertical blinds they max out at 60% IRE on the waveform monitor. Normally a white piece of paper, or white card you would set to around 60%. Would you say those blinds are around the same brightness a plains white piece of paper? On the other hand you have some pockets of sunlight coming down on the ground there at around 80%. which isn't bad.

With the second image, it looks like that white fur from a jacket is up near 80%. To me that is a bit high because the white fur is probably duller than a white card or white piece of paper which when exposed right for slog would sit at around 60%. So if that white fur is being exposed 20% higher it would leave me to say that yes that image is probably a bit overexposed.