Highlights and External Recorders

[Shooter]

hmm im learning new things here
whats the safest low IRE before things go noisy and cant be cured? 25%? 35%?

It doesnt really work like that.

Every shade on a grey scale from Black to White (thru grey) has an optimum position on the IRE scale due to its luminance (reflection of the light from each one ) that represents its true value eg Black 0% and White 100%. Everything else falls in between these.

So it depends on what shade you are specifically asking about in your question.

 

[dcloud]

well since underexposing to 90% seems to be a preferred choice, what level of IRE should i stop before i underexpose my skin to the point of unusable?

 

[Shooter]

well since underexposing to 90% seems to be a preferred choice, what level of IRE should i stop before i underexpose my skin to the point of unusable?

Not necessarily. People can set the white ( highlight) where ever depending on other factors...but it seems to be consensus that one needs to protect the white highlight by exposing it 95% ish with the AF100. Small highlights peaking out can look great... so it is really a choice of the photographer and there are no rules.

Why dont you do a skin test because there is no simple answer to that apart from expose it correctly for the desired purpose in the first instance. It might be useable at 10 IRE for a scene in a coalmine or 75% in a blazing hot desert scene for example . Skin tones differ for different purposes eg... in bright sun, the seedy bar, at night in the alley, in a dark room lit by a candle.

To understand exposure. I suggest to anyone... get a grey scale card and shoot it. Include a face in there and a color chart as well if desired.
First at correct exposure ( incident reading or refelcted of a standard grey) then at 1 stop increments each way. Observe the scopes and observe the effect on the image.

Then you have also something to look at and play with in your NLE and CC / Grade system.

Exposure technique and knowledge is all about "the grey scale"

Forgot to add - Things get noisy when you push them too hard. Its not because of where you expose them.

 

[dcloud]

Yeah ok i just thought there was an easier way. But yeah testing it would be my best option.
Thanks and i understand the greyscale concept.

 

[el presidente]

well since underexposing to 90% seems to be a preferred choice, what level of IRE should i stop before i underexpose my skin to the point of unusable?

I think your question here is "how off a good exposure can I go before the compression falls over and renders clip blocky/muddy?"

Craig