Exposure Compensation, on DVX100?

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Ericc22

New member
Greetings,

I am new to the DVX100a. I have plenty of experience with a still camera (Canon 10D), but very little with a video camera. I am trying to translate something I did with my still camera to the DVX - exposure compensation.

With my camera, it is very easy to dial in exposure compensation of -1 stop eg, so all shots will be automatically underexposed by 1 stop.

For the video camera, let's say I am in a situation where I want to underexpose a person by 1 stop. I can let it auto expose for metering, then go to manual iris and dial in my f-stop. But then if my subject moves to a different lighting situation my exposure will be off because I am still on manual Iris. Another option is to keep it on auto-iris after dialing down the f-stop but the camera will not maintain my desired underexposure. So neither option works. What I want is the ability to just set the camera to underexpose everything by 1 stop.

I have placed 'backlight' and 'spotlight' onto my USER buttons, but neither one satisfies, as there performance is not predictable. I know I can affect this through the maneu and 'A. Iris' but that is not practical for quick changes - I want something I can press quickly if a person moves to an all white room, eg.

So the best I've found so far is to switch Iris to manual, dial in what I want using the Zebra stripes to guide me, and then switch to 'Iris Auto' when possible. I then have to hope lighting doesn't change, and that I remember to switch it back! Any better suggestions?

FYI, I am shooting a training video in a manufacturing facility, and following a person through the factory as he goes about his biz. So I can't control light or of course, where the person goes.

All suggestions for figuring out how to do exposure compensation with the DVX 100A are most appreciated. Thanks!

Eric
 
Yep, I've done that. That's what I referred to as A. Iris. I am looking for something though I can do while I am shooting, on the fly. The problem is that I might suddenly be in a room and want to make a quick change. Working through the menu won't work. If 'backlight' and 'spotlight' worked consistently that would be the perfect solution as I can do them fast, with the USER button.

Any other method? And, thanks for the response!

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Ericc, the difference between a video camera and a still camera is that the video camera is giving you constant realtime feedback. Turn on your zebras and then adjust the exposure to your liking. I too work alot with still photography and use the exposure compensation alot, depending on the situatuion. It just isn't isn't nessesary to use exposure compensation in the same way when working with video.
 
Scharky -- thanks! I got some adjusting to do. How do you expose out of curiosity? Here is what I am thinking:
1. Start with automatic to set exposure
2. Switch to manual
3. Finalize exposure with the help of the zebras
3a. I put my Zebras on 80% to check faces, and the other at 105% to protect from blow outs

What still bugs me a bit is how I adjust exposure as lighting changes. Given the above, would you just keep the camera on Manual Iris and use the dial to adjust on the fly? I am thinking that might make the most sense. My concern is that doing this in real time I'd have to be real good (which I am not!) so as to not make it obvious on the footage that I am changing the f-stop. I can see doing this with no problem if I had time to stop, and set exposure. But I don't as I am following a person around for documentary work.

Thanks everyone for the help and patience!!

Eric
 
I wouldn't even start with automatic exposrue, just use your zebras and or spot meter to check exposure, once you start shooting alot with the dvx, you can just keep your zebras on and know what a good exposure will look like in the viewfinder. I always keep my iris on manual, even for doc work, otherwise very light and dark objects in the frame will continue to change your exposure and give you very poor results. Just watch for blow outs at 100ire or 105, I usually keep it at 100 just to be on the cautious side. So my thumb of my left hand is always on the iris, while my ring finger and thumb can be also be used on the zoom and focus. It takes some getting used to, but shooting fully manual will give you the best results when you are familiar with your camera.
In this way shooting still photos and video are completely different. Video is constantly captureing, and does not allow you to auto set and exposure adjust for each shot. For this reason, keeping things in manual, and "shooting from the hip" will give you prefereable results in that you have completel control at all time of the camera. Hope that makes sense.
 
Scharky - great feedback. Thanks! I'll give it a try. It definitely makes sense.

Out of curiosity, how do you use the viewfinders? I turn them both on, check the LCD for white balance, and then use the eye piece, set to B&W, to check light/exposure. (I know I should use the EVF to check focus though I can't see much difference yet -- I understand that will come.) But while shooting, when possible, I use the eye piece set to B&W because, right or wrong, I just feel more confident with it.

Again, all feedback is most appreciated!

Eric
 
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