HVX Low Light

mb72378

mb72378

Well-known member
After reading a lot about people complaining about the low light performance of the HVX, I decided to go out last night and see what all the fuss was about. I have to tell you that I was extremely pleased with my HVX's low light performance (although it took a little tweaking). The place I went to didn't have any streetlights. There were only a couple small lights on the brick wall so I would actually consider this no light. I proved that even in no light the HVX still does good. Just think about what you can do with the proper lighting. The following images are all stock. No editing was done in photoshop or anything. I know that the shots still are a little dark so don't complain. I think that they are really good for not using any lights. This was totally run and gun.

(1)
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(2) This was actually lit by my cellphone screen!
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(3)
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Yeah everyone complains about it, and i sometimes see why but mostly dont.
Ha i shot with a Sony V1U for a year and i do a lot of night shoots. Imagine that, well imagine it when i tell you it has only 1/4" cmos chips.
So to me the low light of hte HVX is amazing compared to what im used to. For others they do not like it as much.
I cant imagine what its like using 2/3" chips.
 
I love that first shot mb.
Maybe you could spread a little of the knowledge. Whenever I try and do anything even vaguely dark, I get sucked into grainy picture hell.
So, what am I doing wrong? I've read (skimmed) the manual and watched Barry's (excellent) DVD's, but have never managed to find settings that don't grain up the blacks.

share the love dude :)
 
I would find it hard to believe that you didn't experience a fair degree of noise in these shots. Stills at less than quarter rez will look good no matter what. I'd like to see a few seconds of full rez motion.
 
New FULL RES Grabs. VERY LARGE pictures (1080)

New FULL RES Grabs. VERY LARGE pictures (1080)

I updated the pictures for those that wanted full res proof. Here ya go. No compression or touch up.
 
I know scene settings, for most folks, are closely held secrets, but can you share your camera set up on this shoot?
Jim
 
No prob.

No prob.

I would be more than happy to. As soon as I get home this evening and get my hands on my camera I will post the settings. One of the things that makes a huge difference is Black balancing. Push and hold you white balance button until you see the shutter close and the LCD go black. Then your camera will be able to handle blacks better.
 
Go and shoot with sony FX1 and you will see that the hvx sucks in low light. I hate the hvx when i shoot events or weddings. But on a sunny day, nothing (affordable) can beat it.
 
senne said:
Go and shoot with sony FX1 and you will see that the hvx sucks in low light. ...
Click to expand...


mb72378 said:
I know that the shots still are a little dark so don't complain. I think that they are really good for not using any lights...
Click to expand...


I wouldnt put the FX1 in the same category as an HVX... everybody that shoots HVX knows its low light limitations, the original post was about finding ways to overcome it, NOT which camera to go shoot with for better low light performance.

I have a few "low-light" scene file settings, Im curious to see what you are doing for low light situations mb72378
 
low light = low video level = more noise visible
But noise are everywhere, even in bright scenes. Just look a HVX image in a waveform.
Anyway, all video cameras have some noise.

ulisses
 
I know I said this before but I am serious this time. As soon as I get home tonight, around 9:30 pm or 10, I will post my settings.
 
senne said:
Go and shoot with sony FX1 and you will see that the hvx sucks in low light. I hate the hvx when i shoot events or weddings. But on a sunny day, nothing (affordable) can beat it.
Click to expand...

I don't think the HVX is the best choice for a Wedding video because of all of its features unless you shot it in auto mode with 2X16 gig cards. Th FX1 would be better suited, however the HVX is perfect for short films and documentaries and for other high end applications where the FX1 is not.

But like an artist you paint with your preferd brush stroke as you would when you select a camera for your project film.
 
Play around with it yourself. That is the best way. I would try to stay away from the Mater Ped so that you don't lose your valuable latitude. Anyways, you can do that easy enough in post. Lower you detail settings. It will clean out your blacks. Good luck!
 
Im sorry guys. I didn't forget. What happened was whe I turned my camera off all of the settings returned to normal. Let me play with it a little over the next few nights and i will try to get it back to the way it was in those posted pictures. Im really sorry, I will do what I can.
 
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