DJ reception lighting problems?

F

firehawk

Veteran
Hi , I am looking at buying a panasonic hck10, which as I understand is a 3mos camera sharing similar guts as the hmc40 and hmc80, so I expect similar performance.

I don't have access to any of these cameras to test so I need to know how they perform in a reception dance scenario, which I perceive to be among the most difficult of lighting environments I intend to do.
Imagine a very dark reception with flashing dj dance lights on the floor, walls, and lasers. We're talking bright multi color flashing lights. Sometimes spotlights as well. Is that going to cause the same rolling shutter problems as camera flashes with the MOS sensors?

On really important shots I can turn on an led light from an accompanying hpx150 to aid in some light, but the hck10 would be getting difficult moving pole cam shots.
I dont know if it's MOS sensors can handle the task.
Have you guys used your hmc40/80 in those environments?
The closest comparison to what I'm trying to do with the hck10 on the pole would be like using an hmc40/80 on a remote jib. If they can pull that off, then I should be ok.
 
Hi Firehawk

Wedding reception dancing is usually total venue blackout with just the DJ's lights on which makes it a very, very darl scenario to shoot in!! I always use a LED light (6 x 3W PowerLEDS) (15W) on either HMC82 as without them it was very noisy!! Even the AC-130's needed LED lighting ...I'm not sure how far away this camera will be from the HPX but it will need light ...at most, if not all, receptions even the 1/3rd chip cameras need lighting. I haven't had any issues at all with either of my HMC82's with the MOS chips...using a Panasonic Lumix GH1 you get bad banding cos of the single big sensor but the 1/4 and 1/3rd cips seem OK

Chris
 
Thank you again, chris.
I'll plan on using led lighting.
I was concerned the flashing DJ lights would cause banding with the 1/4 3MOS.
Not really a problem? I just dont want to dump 3 grand on the camera only to find out I can't use it for those dancing reception shots. It'd be so much easier than setting up the jib.
 
I am getting very bitter about Dj's that think they are Lighting Designers. I know several really talented Lighting Designers and for the most part I think if they brought their iPhone/iPod and lit the room it would be so much better. Depending on the Dj and how much they spend on their lights the real issue is the trend of LED up-lights surrounding the room. With the cheaper ones you get banding in every direction and usually a stop or even 2 or 3 brighter than the dance floor. I know this does not help you but it is one of my biggest Wedding gripes.
 
Hi Guys

Part of the pain we have no option but to live with..sadly it isn't going to go away either!! I get virtually no banding at all on the HMC82's at weddings...Banding on big MOS sensors like on the GH1 and GH2 are very noticeable but it doesn't seem to be anyway near as bad on the 1/4" chips ...I think as the chip size increases the banding gets worse. I had AC-130's for the last bit of the wedding season and flash banding on that is way worse than the HMC's as the 130's had 1/3" chips. Just remember that although all your colour balance goes out the window on the dance floor, the bride and guests also see it and expect it too!! If you make sure you are fairly close to dancing couples with an LED light on the cam..their faces look quite normal and the ambient lighting around them still has weird and crazy colours but that's the overlook "look" from the DJ. It's a lot better to just light 2 or 3 people at a time than try to light the entire floor as you have no chance of competing with the DJ's barrage of FX lights!!

Despite their smaller size 1/4" sensors will give you less issues but will need a tad more light for a decent exposure

The HCK10 is really a POV Industrial camera and has much the same specs not as the HMC40 but the AC-7 which is also a 1 chip camera BUT costs only a mere $1100 at B&H ....the actual "head" section to me looks exactly like the front of the AC-7 and I would say the sensors and lens are the same....you are HAVE to going to light that camera with just one chip so if you need a light why not just use a GoPro for a fraction of the cost... ??? I will admit I've never strapped mine to a light and used it at a reception but why shouldn't it work??? $300 is way better to "waste" than $3000 I have another wedding next week..I might even try it!!!


Chris
 
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Thank you, everyone.
I've been looking at gopros and other cheap pov cams as well.
I know the receptions have crazy lighting, but the only experience I have shooting them have been with 1/3 and 1/4 3ccd cameras and 1ccd pov cams.
The dvx100b and dvc60 have done well. Without led lighting, the footage is ok, but is certainly better with the lights.
The 1ccd pov cams do not do well at all.

I'm about to get hmc150s for most of the main coverage because I like CCDs and hear they handle it well, but I need a pole
cam and to get framing right on moving and sweeping shots I need to be able to monitor it. That's where the cheap pov cams fall short.

It sounds like you guys are having pretty good results using 1/4 3MOS with the crazy lighting, so it seems the hck10 would likewise do as well, with some help from additional light.

I may go ahead and get a cheap pov camera first and see if it can get usuable footage. I dont want to waste $300-600, but in actuality, even if it can't do weddings, it could still do outdoor daylight shots.
 
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