Image Quality

[dsk]

One month into my DVX journey my experinces bring me back to a post I read before I bought my camera. In a nutshell the post went something like this:

The DVX can look amazing, or it can look like &$^% if you do not know what you are doing.

I read this, processsed it and ran to the store.

hmmm..... That post is ringing very true right now. I have shot footage that blows my mind, freaks me right out it is so good. Then, I shoot footage that looks no better than my GL1. (which really disturbs me)

I knew going into this that the learning curve was going to be big and the jump in technology significant... But I guess I am a bit baffled.

Could someone offer some suggestions or links to information that may assist me in getting the most out of my camera each and everytime I press the red button. At times I seem to have a tough time finding that crisp, clean, sharp footage .

In my amature opinion it seems as if this camera requires just the right amount of light. If the iris is just a bit too open or closed things things get a little tough.

Anyone else feel this frustration early on?


Dave

 

[travis]

Re: Image Quality

Dave
What kind of shotting do you do?
I mean why sometimes you think it´s amazing and others not. There should be changes in your way of shooting.
I guess that practices will lead you to the blows my mind kind of footage.

Sometimes i have that impression but it is not because of the camera. It is because of the action that i shoot. There is somethings that cannot work even with the best technology

 

[dsk]

Re: Image Quality

Travis -

I shoot a wide variety of stuff. Most recently I shot a commercial outdoors. We shot it from 7am 9:45 pm to avoid harsh lighting. I couldn't have asked for better conditions. To me it looks just OK, when I feel as if It should look great. It looks a bit grainy and well..... to me, not much better than the camera that it replaced.

Maybe technically I'm not there yet. I was so used to the fairly idiot proof GL-1 that maybe I am still a long way from understanding what makes this baby tick. I'll keep reading and experimenting.



Dave

 

[Kandinsky]

Re: Image Quality

Hi Dave, try reading Lighting for Digital Video & Television
by John Jackman. You will probably understand afterwards almost all of your mistakes.

 

[dsk]

Re: Image Quality

Kandinsky -

I'm reading that book currently. It is an amazing book and I feel as if it will provide me with more knowledge to improve my image quality.

 

[Jay_Blanchard]

Re: Image Quality

A quick tip that has yielded me some good results--miniDV works best when you're shooting with the iris open or very close to it. Try filtering to get to that point if you're working with too much light & lighting carefully if it's not enough.

Also, shooting with an NTSC monitor, whenever it's a possibility, will make you much more aware of your image than the viewfinder or LCD. Even if it's just a cheap 9" color home television, it's a better conceptual starting point than a tiny on-camera screen.

It's kind of a matter of preference, but I prefer "creating" my images in post--lighting for shadow and contrast (as if shooting B&W), and then doing my color correction in post. Five years ago, I would never have done such a thing, but with the incredible color correction tools out there now (even in FCP & such, not to mention the wonderful Sapphire CC tools), you can really become a pixel painter and get any aesthetic you can dream up.

 

[ullanta]

Re: Image Quality

[quote author=dsk link=board=Events;num=1083612086;start=0#2 date=05/03/04 at 13:22:47]Travis -

It looks a bit grainy and well..... to me, not much better than the camera that it replaced.

Dave [/quote]

There's lots of threads around here - on "Black Noise" and "Color Noise"... yes, the DVX is far from idiot-proof, in fact, it seems idiot-enhancing sometimes! Basically, standard settings for detail level and sometimes the master ped will give you very ugly, grainy images. First thing to try is cutting detail level!

 

[dsk]

Re: Image Quality

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to respond. I will continue to search the forum for related topics.

Jay - I agree with you on the NTSC monitor - The last piece I did was filmed in a location where I had no source of power. 2 of the remaining 3 spots to be filmed for this campaign will be filmed mostly indoors, so power to run a NTSC will not be an issue.

Thanks again.

 

[jaredalv]

Re: Image Quality

Jay's comments on shooting 'for contrast' as in B&W are spot on for good footage. i.e. If your talent has a camouflaged shirt and is standing against a background of a forest, the picture will end up flat and plain. Think of the color composition in terms of B&W and contrast. A better move would be to have the talent wear something bright red against such a background, giving plenty of separation. Along with that, light for the mood you are trying to achieve. Lots of shadow for mystery, lots of light flooding the scene for happy, etc. If you're outdoors w/no HMI's, try using bounce cards and such.

Also, keep that iris wide-open and make sure that your DOF is extremely shallow which will lend nice depth to your picture. Having some nice dolly shots will accentuate the DOF and give your final product a really pro look.