Color Balancing Between Two DVX 100B's

ENIGMACODE

ENIGMACODE

Active member
Hi Gang

My experience, (7 years with DVX100B), has shown that its very difficult, (almost impossible), to balance between two 100B's if exposures have been too far off from each other, (more than 1 F Stop). I'm talking about the same lighting conditions outdoor or indoor. Even with with FC6 which has the more advanced 'Color' application. Its frustrating when your camera peolpe don't understand this inherent weakness and don't follow direction. Expenisve re-creations which cannot be re-shot. It seems my only hope is to use Blk./Wht. or perhaps sepia which may work fine with WWII battle scenes. Wonder if others have had similar problems.

Thanx
Mike
 
I feel your pain. Myself included has been guilty of mis-matching cameras and having to try to fix unnecessary problems in post. It can really take the enjoyment out of editing an otherwise interesting multi cam project.
What is the problem, exactly? Exposure only or just off in color balance?
I've had some dvx100b footage that was WAY off in color from the other cameras and to my great surprise was able to match it up with my Matrox RT.X100. The exposure was the same but the white balance was horrible ..orange and red.
I could hardly believe it worked so well.
So perhaps your problem is fixable.
There are third party color software plugins from Boris and others that help. And Matrox still has color matching tools. GenArts Sapphire plugin "hueSatbright" has fixed my exposure several times when one camera was underexposed. Plus it can darken if needed. It's made dim rooms look like somebody turned the lights on :)
 
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Hello there firehawk

Thanx for your input. The DVX is not as trustworthy when it comes to color matching against each other. As I mentioned; Same camera - Same lighting conditions. The Matrox is a Video Card. As I mentioned, I've tried what's available in FC6; 'Color'. Its next to impossible when you've got 4 cameras all at different F Stops. In my experience, its a lot easier when shooters follow directions, and do not change aperature settings: Same camera - Same lighting conditions. Unless I'm missing something, I'm not sure 3rd party software will do what Color, or the 3-way color filter can do? Standard Def., and by nature, the DVX chip is limited. When you're trying to edit footage from multiple DVX cameras, different F Stops, the resulting color rendition is all over the map. That's why I may just resort to Sepia, or Blk/Wht.
 
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Yeah the 4:1:1 DV Colorspace is limited how far it can be pushed in post but I was surprised using multiple cameras (DVX) in the same event/lighting conditions that when we really messed up the color on one of them that the footage was able to be matched in post to the others considering how far off it was.
But just HOW far off it all is may make it impossible since there is a limit and it sounds like in your case they are just all over the map. The tools I listed have saved me several times but again can't work magic.
I really dislike fixing camera problems in post. (especially when its my fault :) ) It's so much easier to shoot it right and so frustrating when it's not.
The only thing I know to do if it can't be fixed is like you said, put a filter or effect on all of it or go B&W etc.
 
Hi firehawk

"put a filter or effect on all of it or go B&W"

You mean by that, use an 'effect' like sepia, or use the 3-way color plug in FC6, and remove all color = B&W

Yes?

Thank you firehawk
 
Yes. Sepia or black and white like you said.
Or if you have any 3rd party filters or color/tone effects (Boris, Magic Bullet) I've used those to help make mismatched cameras look more the same by giving all the footage a dramatically different "look".
Sorry I can't help. That's all I know to do. Either match it, or if it can't be matched then hide it with a different look by changing all the footage like we talked about.
Hope your people listen to you better in the future so you don't have the same problem to deal with.
 
Color Problems with DVX 100BE

Color Problems with DVX 100BE

Hi, I have the same problem, large color differences betwee my cameras, can not adjust the color on my last camera.
I've tried different settings, for example. Camera 1, the color is okay, "I tested on the same picture," Z61 - AF40 - F4, 0 - AUTO, picture perfect!
Camera 2, Z61 - AF37 - F5, 6 - AUTO, bad picture.Camera 1: White balance Z61 - AF39 - F5, 6, perfect photo! Camera 2: White Balance Z61 - AF38 - F6, 8, bad Picture! Camera 1 to the left, the picture is perfect! I have EDIUS 6:54 for editing and color correction, but it is very difficult to create accurate color! The Camera may be out of service?

TESTBILDER DVX 100BE.JPG
 
Not sure what all of those settings mean, but I see an "auto" in there - that can hurt you. Do it all manually, exact same settings (you can transfer DVX settings from camera to camera as I recall??). That should at least tell you if one is out of whack.

I find saturation, white balance, and master ped. are the things that get you closest between cameras - but SD footage just can't be pushed around that much after the fact.
 
NB. the different values ​​of white balance,
Camera 1: Z61 - AF39 - (F5, 6) good picture!
Camera 2: Z61 - AF38 - (F6, 8) bad image?
I can not adjust the camera 2 to f5, 6?
Something is wrong in camera 2, but what?
 
The problem is solved for me, it was black balance was wrong, (can happen if the camera has not been used for a long time), currently works with both auto and white balance are very good after correction of black balance, both cameras have almost exactly the same color after the test!
 
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