Filming AF102 Against Backlight

B

BlitzWerkz

Active member
Dear all,I have an AF102 (Pal version of AF100). I am primarily an event shooter. Recently I shot an interview scene with it mounted with an EF24-70mm f2.8 L lens against a sunny backlight window. I could see that on the LCD of the AF102 is correctly focused, however after converting the mts files with Adobe Media Encoder, the clips are soft.I know that there is a button to select 'Backlight' but cannot work / or it seems no effect at all, after setting the function to User 1 button. The clips are MP4 files. All other correctly exposed scenes and underexposed scenes are fine and is sharp on MP4 files.All other functions such as 'fade' on User 3 button can be used.Anyone has encountered simliar problem? TIA.I am using "Cam Mode" such that I am selecting ISO instead of gain on "Film cam" mode. Any effect on this regarding the soft scenes?
 
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Dear all,I have an AF102 (Pal version of AF100). I am primarily an event shooter. Recently I shot an interview scene with it mounted with an EF24-70mm f2.8 L lens against a sunny backlight window. I could see that on the LCD of the AF102 is correctly focused, however after converting the mts files with Adobe Media Encoder, the clips are soft.I know that there is a button to select 'Backlight' but cannot work / or it seems no effect at all, after setting the function to User 1 button. The clips are MP4 files. All other correctly exposed scenes and underexposed scenes are fine and is sharp on MP4 files.All other functions such as 'fade' on User 3 button can be used.Anyone has encountered simliar problem? TIA.I am using "Cam Mode" such that I am selecting ISO instead of gain on "Film cam" mode. Any effect on this regarding the soft scenes?Please kindly advise. Thanks.Regards
 
The "backlight" button is used with the automatic iris system. Using a Canon lens, the camera can't control the iris, and so the backlight button can't do anything. It can only work with lenses where the camera speaks to the lens and automatically controls the lens' iris.
 
On some cameras, I've noticed that backlight can confuse auto-focus. Apparently the camera "sees" the bright background, and assumes that must be the important subject, so it focuses on that. It might look "in-focus" on the camera's tiny LCD screen, but when seen blown up on the computer monitor, the focus looks soft. Try manually setting focus with the focus-in-red function.

I think "backlight" buttons affect exposure, not focus.

-- Ken

P.S. -- I just noticed that you're using a Canon lens, so I guess you're on manual focus and exposure? Did you use the focus-in-red function?
 
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Are you getting light entering the lens? This will Lower the contrast ratio of the image and perceived sharpness will be lower, even with a new series multi coated lens.

post a screen grab
 
XSVpro said:
Are you getting light entering the lens? This will Lower the contrast ratio of the image and perceived sharpness will be lower, even with a new series multi coated lens.

post a screen grab
Click to expand...


Might be the case. Besides the 24-70 lens, I have the 4/3 mount too.
 
BlitzWerkz said:
Might be the case. Besides the 24-70 lens, I have the 4/3 mount too.
Click to expand...

You could test for light leaks with the mount by recording with the lens cap on in the dark and shining a torch directly at the place the mount meets the camera and lens body.

be great if you can share a screen grab, a few of these "I have a problem" threads go on for ages with no real help to the user or the forum without a picture to understand what went wrong.
 
If you're way over in the background your foreground is going to be soft. You need to control your light levels not your camera settings.
 
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