Setting exposure on the HDX900

S

SantaCruzMichael

Well-known member
For years I've been using zebras at 80% and 100%, frequently pushing exposure up to the point where 100% zebras start to show up and then backing off until they disappear...

On the HDX900 rental I am using this week, the zebras were set to 70% from the rental house. That got me thinking: does the improved dynamic range of the HDX mean that I don't have to push the exposure as high?

Aside from using the waveform, can anyone who has used the HDX900 (or the HPX3000) provide a good rule of thumb for exposure with this camera?

Any other hints and tips on using the HDX would be appreciated...

Thanks!
 
We had an HDX900 and currently have an HPX2700. I send the cameras out with 65% and 100% zebras, however, the gamma one selects has a bearing on zebra level. In general, I find that when using Filmlike gammas or Film-Rec, flesh tones will be lower than the norm of the 70% range. Knee compression can have an impact on flesh tones with film gammas, and generally whites are run lower as well vs. HD Norm gamma.

In the case of Film-Rec(HDX900 does not have this), it is typical to expose an 18% gray card at 30 IRE. This will tend to put skin lower than 70 IRE, but take advantage of the greater highlight handling of Film-Rec. Filmlike 3 on the HDX900 is the closest to Film-Rec, offering the most highlight range.

I think a general rule of thumb with any of the gammas is skin at 65-70% to make sure that knee settings don't cause any compression issues and preserve highlight detail.
 
Thanks Jeff!
This is quite helpful. I'm always mindful of knee compression when I use it but hadn't really considered the impact of gamma.
I am in the Bay Area as well, so perhaps we'll run into each other at some point.


Michael Thomas
Monark Pictures
 
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