Scene Files and More

G

ggrantly

Veteran
It's been a little quiet here at HMC40. Here is a new scene file I've been working on to rev things up. But first I want to ask about the HMC40 aperture-ND thingy. I have used my HMC outside mostly, in sunlight, and for the most part have had a polarizer parked on the lens. While doing some scene file testing, I removed it and.....in several cases couldn't get stopped down enough before the aperture closed completely. I hadn't noticed this before, but this does seem to be a serious flaw considering this is a cam to be used in ample light. The polarizer went back on just to act as a ND and gives me something north of a full stop. Do you do the same thing or carry NDs with you also? I was thinking about a W/A attachment, but without filter threads, that is a real problem.

Now for the scene file. I have been working on matching the HMC40 to a HPX170 for outdoor scenic work. It is incredible how good the HMC40 footage looks compared the the HPX. For sharpness of image, the HMC is simply better (in sunlight).

If you try this out, please give comments.
720/30p
Detail +2
VDetail +2
Coring +2
Color Temp +1
Pedestal -5
Gamma CineD
Knee Mid
Matrix Cine
Skin On

If it isn't listed, it is zero or off. For a HPX match, I'll probably reduce the detail and coring settings, the HMC is just too sharp. Once again this is for outdoor scenic work. The thing I am still considering in the scene file is the warmth factor. Using the CineGamma and CineMatrix, the overall look gets pretty warm, so I have reduced the color temp to +1, and may take another notch out of it yet. Red objects in the frame look fine, it is the overall warming that is the issue.

try it out.

Grant
 
Graham,

I missed that earlier thread and is exactly to the point. The Century .65 WA lens does have filter threads FWIW, so if I go that route, I would go Century. It is also a extra $100 over the Panna. Bleh

I suppose for me the ND issue isn't a huge deal since I hadn't even noticed till I removed my 43mm polarizer. In this case I was shooting over the top of my driveway gravel on a bright but not the brightest day. I think I'll pickup an extra ND for safety, but no doubt it would introduce vignette if used with a polarizer.

But the WA lens could be very problematic without threads. Still, it makes you wonder what the Panna engineers were thinking. They make a great daylite cam without enough ND, huh? As one poster said it, you could cover this with shutter speed, but that is a hassle to adjust on the fly, and might change the look of the video from scene to scene.

On the scene file I posted above, there is nothing much spectacular about it, but will give you a good starting point for all purpose outside shooting. You might also try using Bpress for the gamma, but if you do, you might want to take the chroma up +2.

Despite the flaws, this is still a great cam for the buck.

Best Regards,
Grant
 
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