Nirv
Carbonite Member
I bumped down the exposure (via ND) and bumped up the black level, and started seeing detail
under the tree, which had previously been 'crushed' so that it was just total black. It was crazy, I didn't realize the dynamic range this litte
guy has.
The black level doesn't change the dynamic range it just sets the black level reference. A black level of -15 and +15 don't change the amount of blacks recorded. The DR of the camera is affected by the knee and slope controls and making sure they're set right for the gamma curve you're using.
I have been saying for a long time that people should "use the force" as far a blacks are concerned. Protect the whites from clipping and the camera will take care of the blacks even though the LCD will look like the blacks are clipped, they aren't. Raising the Black level just makes them more easy to see on the LCD.
The Zacuto shoot would've shown the FS100 to be one of the leaders of the pack if the operator there had shot to protect the whites rather than allowing them to clip like he did.
I can't stress this enough, protect your whites and the blacks WILL look after themselves even if the LCD says otherwise.
