Gain in camera vs post production

[zigipha]

Sorry I am posting to the wrong forum, but this seemed the closet.

I have read in quite a few places that "gain is bad", and will result in noise, especially in the dark areas.

I experimented with the hv30, exposure lock trick.

I filmed in a dark area, and then boosted the levels in Sony Vegas Pro; campared to increasing gain in the camera (increase exposure)

Quite honestly, I dont see much of difference between the gain in the camera vs the gain post production.

Am I missing something?

Thanks!

 

[kennedymax]

I really doubt that there will be any perceptible difference as to where a given gain is applied, however, if applied at the camera you will, at least, know whether you have a desired exposure and acceptable noise level or not. Applying in post may require more gain than anticipated and result in more noise, than expected.
The advantage, though, to adding gain in post is that you may be able to increase gain in smaller increments than is available at the camera. All in all, it is a judgement call.

 

[Moseph]

When you add gain in camera, the signal from the sensor is boosted before it gets compressed, correct? If this is the case, I could see how doing it in camera would actually be better than in post. Once the image gets compressed, it becomes much more difficult to alter, but I feel like if all the sensor data is there that the camera should be able to do a slightly better job at raising the levels.

 

[j]

It depends. In theory it should be better to apply gain before compression. However gain adds noise and noise is poison for compression. Also, the computer inside the camera usually doesn't have as much hardware to think about it and as sophisticated software as your desktop or laptop.

I've found it varies. Short answer is the cinematography mantra: "As always, test, test, test."