Questions!!!! (Please Read)

G

gkidd_3187

Member
I'm very familiar with filming (I've done some shorts on a DCR-TRV80) and editing, but now I'm jumping into the professional stage of film-making. I've never had a problem when using consumer camcorders, since it was very simple to point, shoot, and edit, but prosumer camcorders are a whole other story. I plan on purchasing a DVX100 within a month and I have a few questions ???.

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  • What is the purpose of a matte box?
  • What is the fuction of Zebra pattering?
  • What is Iris?
  • What is Gain?
  • What is an ND filter?
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I know some of you might think the answer to these questions are obvious, but I've been used to using camcorders with less manual control, so all of these functions are new to me. Although I've pretty much mastered the TRV80 and made some good short movies with what I've got, I'm ready to take a step up, but would like to new what I'm doing before tinkering with a 3k+ camcorder. ;)
 
Re: Questions!!!! (Please Read)

It's not so much that the answers are obvious, but they are well-covered on this site -- you'll find much of what you're looking for by doing a search.
 
Re: Questions!!!! (Please Read)

ok, I'm not Barry Green but I'll give it a try:

- the purpose of a mattebox is to avoid glare/flare on the lens,
thus acting as a sunshade. Matteboxes also hold filters (even rotatable). Plus a mattebox makes your cam look at least double professional ;)

- Zebra patterns show which areas of your frame are 80% or 100% white (depends on setting). You want to avoid 100% white in your frame, as these areas have no more texture and look "burnt out".

- Iris is a device with adjustable diameter to control how much light enters the camera (f-stop)

- Gain "boosts" the signal inside the camera so that you get more "output" in low light situations. Downside is, that you also get more noise.

- ND stands for Neutral Density, this is a neutral grey filter, that reduces the amount of light entering the camera.
 
Re: Questions!!!! (Please Read)



What is the purpose of a matte box?
allows you to use drop in filters such as ND and Color Gradients and the like

What is the fuction of Zebra pattering?
The zebra function is a visual way of showing you that the whites or even colors are blown out - too much light- and that you should more then likely bring the apperature/iris down depending on the look your going for

What is Iris?
The iris is what adjusts the amout of light that hits the ccd...the more light you have the better and the lower you can set your iris increasing your depth of field...the iris is the apperature of a still camera....You should pick up a book on basic still 35mm SLR still photography it will help you out in learning the basics of light and parts of a camera...then u can just relate it to video and learn from ure mistakes..


What is Gain?
Gain is like artificial light....its in increase of the signal making it hotter and usually grainy...use it only when you have to use it try to avoid...gain=grain with video....


What is an ND filter?
Nuetral Density Filter it is used to cut down on the amount of light comming into the camera ...on a really sunny day it allows you to adjust ure iris with having it at its smallest setting...when its too bright...allowing you to create the depth of field you are looking for

hope this helps...
ure lucky im so bored at work right now...heh....
 
Re: Questions!!!! (Please Read)

a matte box keeps light sources that are not in the frame field of view of the lense from acting on the image, i.e. a light to the side or above the camera casting a glare or hue onto the image taht is undesireable. in studio settings or in bright daylight very important. they were more necesary on film cameras to measure proper exposures for film stock as well. never hurts though.
 
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