adamr316
Well-known member
<rant on>
So everyone once in a while a colleague of mine borrows/rents the EX1 from me. I show every one of them how to properly focus/expose/white balance/set audio levels. Even though a field guide and instructional DVDs are included with the camera I know most people do not RTFM so I show them the basics so they don't screw up their shoot.
I tell them make use of peaking and expanded focus. Make use of zebra stripes and the histogram. Do not rely on the LCD monitor and don't even use the viewfinder. And for pete's sakes use the Warm Cards that were purchased for that very purpose.
Footage comes back. Out of focus. Under or overexposed. Bluish cast to the color. This is not run and gun footage but short films/interviews were you have time to "get things right."
"I don't like having blue outlines on my screen." "It looked sharp on the LCD." "Zebra stripes look weird." "We just used a piece of white paper." "No I didn't use headphones." "Yeah, we turned your color profile [note: that is for neutral/everyday shooting] off." O.......M.......G!!!!!!
Yes, I did show them that with one button press you can disable zebras/peaking once your exposure and focus are set. But they don't listen/remember...ARGH!!!!
I have used cameras in the past that were horrible at the basics. Improper zebra readings, color that looked off even when using Warm Cards and no way to tell if proper focus was in place.
My eyes are worse than some of the elderly due to my 16+ years using computers. But thanks to the features Sony put in the EX1 I am able to get nearly flawless footage. I'm not saying I am perfect at this but don't blame the damn camera when it's your fault! There's just no excuse for this guys (and gals), no excuse.
</rant off>
So everyone once in a while a colleague of mine borrows/rents the EX1 from me. I show every one of them how to properly focus/expose/white balance/set audio levels. Even though a field guide and instructional DVDs are included with the camera I know most people do not RTFM so I show them the basics so they don't screw up their shoot.
I tell them make use of peaking and expanded focus. Make use of zebra stripes and the histogram. Do not rely on the LCD monitor and don't even use the viewfinder. And for pete's sakes use the Warm Cards that were purchased for that very purpose.
Footage comes back. Out of focus. Under or overexposed. Bluish cast to the color. This is not run and gun footage but short films/interviews were you have time to "get things right."
"I don't like having blue outlines on my screen." "It looked sharp on the LCD." "Zebra stripes look weird." "We just used a piece of white paper." "No I didn't use headphones." "Yeah, we turned your color profile [note: that is for neutral/everyday shooting] off." O.......M.......G!!!!!!
Yes, I did show them that with one button press you can disable zebras/peaking once your exposure and focus are set. But they don't listen/remember...ARGH!!!!
I have used cameras in the past that were horrible at the basics. Improper zebra readings, color that looked off even when using Warm Cards and no way to tell if proper focus was in place.
My eyes are worse than some of the elderly due to my 16+ years using computers. But thanks to the features Sony put in the EX1 I am able to get nearly flawless footage. I'm not saying I am perfect at this but don't blame the damn camera when it's your fault! There's just no excuse for this guys (and gals), no excuse.
</rant off>
