shooting straight into headlights

T

Tlalconetl

Well-known member
Will I ruin my DVX's chip if a car's headlights shine right into the lens?? I want to shoot a night scene of a car coming straight into the camera.
 
The light falling on CCD also depends on the lens aperture. If you can keep the brightest part from going too far over 100IRE, then you're safe.
 
You may want some sort of fill light to help equalize the contrast ratio between the headlights and dark night. Otherwise you will most certainly have underexposed or overexposed footage.
 
Shaw said:
You may want some sort of fill light to help equalize the contrast ratio between the headlights and dark night. Otherwise you will most certainly have underexposed or overexposed footage.
Click to expand...

Can street lights serve as fill?? And thanks for the feedback, both of you!
 
I doubt seriously that headlights will damage your CCD's even if overexposed. I've heard of people shooting the setting sun with it. I haven't but some have.
The setting sun has to be much brighter than any auto headlight.
 
Video has a pretty wide latitude, so the street lights may be okay as fill. Move the headlights slightly off center when you set your exposure. That way you'll get some details in the shadows. The headlights may be over exposed, but that's probably the look you want anyway. Play with the iris setting to see what looks best to you.

Sirius mentioned shooting into the setting sun, which reminded me that I've shot some hot air balloons looking right into the rising sun, and it wasn't a problem at all. Just get the exposure right.
 
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