No continuous exposure adjustment

K

klengfilmen

New member
I must have missed this: The GH1 in "creative" movie with shutter priority mode adjusts the exposure during shooting when light is changing. In my case it does this in steps (1/3 diaphragm?) which are very visible. I can't find the setting to avoid this and have a true continuous adjustment, although it seems to me that many vid's show it. Can anyone help me?
 
Are you using the kit lens? Could it be related to the maximum aperture varying from 4.0 to 5.6 through different zoom levels?
 
Jalad said:
Are you using the kit lens? Could it be related to the maximum aperture varying from 4.0 to 5.6 through different zoom levels?
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When shooting in Shutter Priority mode you can see the changes as the camera switches apertures while recording.

I often use Shutter Priority for weddings, and it is pretty noticable outdoors when the light levels change quite a bit. The best thing to do for me when using Shutter Priority is stop recording, lock the exposure with AEL, then record. However, if you need the camera to keep rolling, you can't do that.

Of course, if you're shooting a "movie", you'd probably want to keep the camera in Manual mode, and not let the auto exposure bounce around in the middle of scene.
 
swyzlstyx said:
When shooting in Shutter Priority mode you can see the changes as the camera switches apertures while recording.

I often use Shutter Priority for weddings, and it is pretty noticable outdoors when the light levels change quite a bit. The best thing to do for me when using Shutter Priority is stop recording, lock the exposure with AEL, then record. However, if you need the camera to keep rolling, you can't do that.

Of course, if you're shooting a "movie", you'd probably want to keep the camera in Manual mode, and not let the auto exposure bounce around in the middle of scene.
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It's problems like this that make me keep using my HMC151s for weddings. While the GH1 captures some incredible footage, it's really no substitute for a proper camcorder with proper iris controls, ND filters and of course the audio features.
 
Exact said:
It's problems like this that make me keep using my HMC151s for weddings. While the GH1 captures some incredible footage, it's really no substitute for a proper camcorder with proper iris controls, ND filters and of course the audio features.
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Absolutely!

I'd love to have an HMC150 for ceremonies, and use the GH1 for receptions, where it kills in low light with the 20mm f1.7. I'm just too cheap to buy the HMC150...I make super-cheap cookie cutter wedding videos for a living. :D I also wish it had at least 400mm (35mm equiv) on the long end...since I get stuck shooting from the balcony/back pew of the church a lot.
 
Jalad said:
Are you using the kit lens? Could it be related to the maximum aperture varying from 4.0 to 5.6 through different zoom levels?
Click to expand...

It is visible with the kit lens and the pancake lens 1.7/20. However yes, it is very visible when zooming out at the beach with the kit lens, getting more and more sky in the picture ...

This said, i have found the answer via the vimeo forum: if you shoot in A or P mode, then the adjustment is smooth! I suspect that the iris only works in steps and the shutter and/or ISO values are adjusted seamlessly.
Marc
 
Exact said:
It's problems like this that make me keep using my HMC151s for weddings. While the GH1 captures some incredible footage, it's really no substitute for a proper camcorder with proper iris controls, ND filters and of course the audio features.
Click to expand...

Indeed, the ergonomics of a camcorder are much better for weddings and other video reporting tasks.
 
swyzlstyx said:
Absolutely!

I'd love to have an HMC150 for ceremonies, and use the GH1 for receptions, where it kills in low light with the 20mm f1.7. I'm just too cheap to buy the HMC150...I make super-cheap cookie cutter wedding videos for a living. :D I also wish it had at least 400mm (35mm equiv) on the long end...since I get stuck shooting from the balcony/back pew of the church a lot.
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I have no problems with the HMC 150 for this either. We shoot with 4x HMC150 (151s) and often have one in the balcony.

We also have few problems at the reception. OK - so sometimes it's a little on the dark side, but when it's important we have small lights.

The GH1 is great for bridal prep where shallow DOF is often nice. It's good for 'some' parts of the reception, but for the rest of the time the HMC 151 is a far better workhorse.

How go you capture your audio?

How do you link multi cam shots when all the time code starts at 00:00:00:00 on the GH1 ?

With the HMCs I jam the time codes at the start of the day, tell the editor to create a multicam sequence from all the (HMC) cameras and I've got an instant snapshot of all the camera angles across everything that happened that day on all cameras. The GH1 is the only one I have to mess about with syncing (OK the HMCs could be a couple of frames out - but that's much easier to fix).

.... or are you shooting weddings with only one camera? Any samples we can look at ?

I've always thought that shooting with multiple cameras certainly helps get much better results and means you don't have to move around at all!
 
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Exact said:
I have no problems with the HMC 150 for this either. We shoot with 4x HMC150 (151s) and often have one in the balcony...

.... or are you shooting weddings with only one camera? Any samples we can look at ?

I've always thought that shooting with multiple cameras certainly helps get much better results and means you don't have to move around at all!
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More cameras are always better when shooting a live event. But, I take kind of a different view on weddings...I figure just one dude with a camera is distracting enough...especially when you have 1-3 photographers running around the church. ;) (But like you say, multiple cameras means everyone can stay put...which helps to remain less obtrusive.)

Plus, I'm cheap...if a bride wants to pay for more cameras...she can...she can hire someone else. I wouldn't touch a 4-camera shoot for less than $10,000USD. For now, I've scaled back, have no employees/shooter/editors...I do everything...averaging about $1200 a week doing simple 1-camera shoots...COOKIE CUTTER to the max. I have to keep my gear and time to a minimum to scrape a profit.

I also have a 1-week turnaround...I can finish editing my basic package in about 1 day...depending on how much beer I drink on Monday morning for breakfast. :D I took my life BACK from the editing backlog monster a while back...I'm not going back there. I'd rather work at WalMart than have an editing backlog.

I also offer a "highlights" video option, which about 50% or more of my brides get...they really like them. They take me about an hour to make...for $250USD. I also include a free Blu-Ray, and dirt cheap extra copies. I've got this stuff down like an assembly line. lol

I don't need time code for my little wedding videos. I use PluralEyes. In the time it takes to drink a half a can of Bud, it will sync the ceremony video from my GH1, the balcony cam, and three Yamaha CX audio recorders. This saves me about a half a days worth of work...PluralEyes rules.

Right now I've selling videos for $899...when paid in full...to help pay for a new camera and some other toys. It's funny because I can still actually make money on it that cheap. I'm sure the other videogs in town love me for it. :D


To be on topic, in my sample below, you can plainly see the stepping of the aperture, because I had it in Shutter Priority. It's not the camera's "fault"....it's mine for having it in that auto mode. It just doesn't bother me...I usually leave the camera in Shutter Priority the whole day for weddings. For my little "side" projects, I always shoot in Manual.

The music is royalty free for YouTube....


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I AGREE
 
Thanks for the prompt reply. Sorry if what I said came across as some sort of criticism. It was certainly not meant like that - but reading it again I can see how some people may see it like that. So, sorry if that's how it sounded to you.

I'm actually intrigued how you do the Cookie Cutter weddings? I'd like to know more about what they are like. $10K would be nice but not many sales around here for that amount of money :( So, what do people get for $899?
 
Exact said:
Thanks for the prompt reply. Sorry if what I said came across as some sort of criticism. It was certainly not meant like that - but reading it again I can see how some people may see it like that. So, sorry if that's how it sounded to you.

I'm actually intrigued how you do the Cookie Cutter weddings? I'd like to know more about what they are like. $10K would be nice but not many sales around here for that amount of money :( So, what do people get for $899?
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Oh no, these days I don't have any shame in doing one-cam videos for so cheap. I think there's room for both types of videographers, depending on what the bride wants. For example, I no longer book many Indian, Asian, Mexican, or Aggie weddings that require more cams and WAY more hours of coverage...they just won't buy it. I hardly even do church weddings anymore.

When I was a noob I tried to go "bigger", but went about it all wrong, and got stuck in the "backlog" hell, which took me years to dig myself out of. I'd hire shooters, have huge packages, and didn't see the sunlight for 5+ years while I ate Ramen noodles in my roach infested apartment downtown.

Now I work a few hours a week editing, my packages only include 4 hours of coverage, I have an unmatched (by a LONG shot) delivery time, live/work in a loft I've always dreamed about (cost of living is low here), and actually get away from the computer...trying new restaurants and drinkin' Bud...spending time with my girlfriend...and making videos of other stuff for the experience during the week.

But it's still not a long term viable business...wedding video is just NOT something most brides want. I'm kinda just milking it until I'm done having fun...then I'll have to get another business rolling...or get a day job again. Check a bridal forum....video is nearly unheard of here. :Drogar-Thinking(DBG

Plus, it's hard to compete with this asshole in Texas: Bud's Videotaping Service
 
I saw some exposure bumps in your video?

I saw some exposure bumps in your video?

swyzlstyx said:
Oh no, these days I don't have any shame in doing one-cam videos for so cheap. I think there's room for both types of videographers, depending on what the bride wants. For example, I no longer book many Indian, Asian, Mexican, or Aggie weddings that require more cams and WAY more hours of coverage...they just won't buy it. I hardly even do church weddings anymore.

When I was a noob I tried to go "bigger", but went about it all wrong, and got stuck in the "backlog" hell, which took me years to dig myself out of. I'd hire shooters, have huge packages, and didn't see the sunlight for 5+ years while I ate Ramen noodles in my roach infested apartment downtown.

Now I work a few hours a week editing, my packages only include 4 hours of coverage, I have an unmatched (by a LONG shot) delivery time, live/work in a loft I've always dreamed about (cost of living is low here), and actually get away from the computer...trying new restaurants and drinkin' Bud...spending time with my girlfriend...and making videos of other stuff for the experience during the week.

But it's still not a long term viable business...wedding video is just NOT something most brides want. I'm kinda just milking it until I'm done having fun...then I'll have to get another business rolling...or get a day job again. Check a bridal forum....video is nearly unheard of here. :Drogar-Thinking(DBG

Plus, it's hard to compete with this asshole in Texas: Bud's Videotaping Service
Click to expand...

If you hit ae lock, it wouldnt do that, well I dont think it would ;-)
 
swyzlstyx said:
Oh no, these days I don't have any shame in doing one-cam videos for so cheap. I think there's room for both types of videographers, depending on what the bride wants. For example, I no longer book many Indian, Asian, Mexican, or Aggie weddings that require more cams and WAY more hours of coverage...they just won't buy it. I hardly even do church weddings anymore.

When I was a noob I tried to go "bigger", but went about it all wrong, and got stuck in the "backlog" hell, which took me years to dig myself out of. I'd hire shooters, have huge packages, and didn't see the sunlight for 5+ years while I ate Ramen noodles in my roach infested apartment downtown.

Now I work a few hours a week editing, my packages only include 4 hours of coverage, I have an unmatched (by a LONG shot) delivery time, live/work in a loft I've always dreamed about (cost of living is low here), and actually get away from the computer...trying new restaurants and drinkin' Bud...spending time with my girlfriend...and making videos of other stuff for the experience during the week.

But it's still not a long term viable business...wedding video is just NOT something most brides want. I'm kinda just milking it until I'm done having fun...then I'll have to get another business rolling...or get a day job again. Check a bridal forum....video is nearly unheard of here. :Drogar-Thinking(DBG

Plus, it's hard to compete with this asshole in Texas: Bud's Videotaping Service
Click to expand...
dude, seriously, this is the best post you've delivered to date...great to know more about you, and even bette to know how NOT to chart a pricelist(the asshole)....that pricelist sounds threatening...very impersonal. he's a gunslinger.:kali:competition
 
Those sudden changes in shutter-priority video are a much bigger problem to me than the whole "mud" thing addressed by Ptool, and it's always surprised me that it's relatively undiscussed. Much more noticable by the average viewer than "mud".

I guess the kind of GH1 users in these forums are mostly those who shoot full manual, but the numerical majority across the GH1 user base would probably be those rarely using full manual.
 
great stuff mr swyzltx, "The Wedding Wars"... i see a doc in you future... from rusty's testimonials website seems the guy is a regular januz kaminski....

Rusty,
We received the package of wedding videos on Friday night, and everything is wonderful. The tin-case packaging is so attractive and classy. The video is great. Thank you for including so much of the Mass. That means a lot to us to have all of the readings, prayers and the homily captured for posterity. And the reception footage is so much fun. We especially liked the bit at the end where the other colors fade into black and white while Jenny's red dress remains the sole spot of vibrant color on the screen! Again, thanks so much for being so easy to work with and so fast in delivering the video. We really appreciate that given how busy the run up to the wedding was and how much more stuff there was to do post wedding as we settled into a new place. If any one asks, we will definitely recommend you as a videographer. Cheers, Jim and Jenny
 
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