C100: Skin-tones range using waveform monitor

S

sodotoguwangus

Well-known member
Question: what is the proper range for Caucasian skin tones using a waveform monitor?

I would assume it would be about 70 since this is what is commonly used when using zebras. Am I correct, or would I want to expose more toward middle grey for skin-tones?
 
70%-75% is kind of an "old wives tale". For sit-down interviews most of the time I'm in the 50%'s-60%'s. I have my zebras on all my cams set to kick on at 70%. I usually don't have any zebras on a face except maybe just one or two lines on the brightest part. Maybe. A series I worked on about 10 years ago had a consulting DP who told me there were some shows exposing down into the 40%'s.
 
Run&Gun said:
70%-75% is kind of an "old wives tale". For sit-down interviews most of the time I'm in the 50%'s-60%'s. I have my zebras on all my cams set to kick on at 70%. I usually don't have any zebras on a face except maybe just one or two lines on the brightest part. Maybe. A series I worked on about 10 years ago had a consulting DP who told me there were some shows exposing down into the 40%'s.
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I do this too... just the tiniest bit of bars on the brightest part of the face at 70%.
 
Run&Gun said:
70%-75% is kind of an "old wives tale". For sit-down interviews most of the time I'm in the 50%'s-60%'s. I have my zebras on all my cams set to kick on at 70%. I usually don't have any zebras on a face except maybe just one or two lines on the brightest part. Maybe. A series I worked on about 10 years ago had a consulting DP who told me there were some shows exposing down into the 40%'s.
Click to expand...

I tend to set my '18% grey' card at 50% IRE. Hence, 'caucasian' skin would be around 60%. This of course is to get the values in a 'normal light' setting. If the scene is 'dark'... well then the skin tone would be darker... but still about 1 stop open from whatever the grey card is...

Some people and manufacturers do recommend 40-45% for the grey card, and given a linear relationship at that point on 'the curve' of the camera, with about 10% change per stop, that would suggest 50-55% for the light complexion.

For darker complexion, often the lighting needs to 'outline' the face/features rather than adding 'more light' to bring the skin tone to 50%...
 
Can't speak to waveforms, but yes, I've been taught to set exposure so the highlights just barely trigger the zebras, and Zebras are set to 70, 75 (one guy I know says 75 for Sony cams and 80 for Panasonic). It's easier not to go off things like that and make your own judgment calls IF you have a monitor you trust for judging that sort of thing. . .if left with nothing but a tiny camera LCD/EVF, I'll go by the zeebs.
 
You guys are only talking about zebras at 70 on the skin tones, correct? Or are you maxing out at 70 for everything?
 
aside from exacting IRE, you always want to remember that (unless shooting raw) you can't rescue blown out stuff. so, say you find yourself shooting a very shiny face in bright sun, you blow out those reflections and they're never coming back. of course the best idea is to give the person a towel to wipe off, but it's no perfect world. my point being, it's safer to underexpose than to overexpose in some situations rather than try and nail an exact IRE for the overall skintone
 
Guys, I feel like I wasted an opportunity with all the great response.

I left out ONE crucial piece of information in my original question.

I wanted to know what value you shoot for on your WFM when shooting caucasion skin-tones -- WHEN IN Wide-DR mode specifically.

I know things change a bit when using C-log (and I understand those values), but what about Wide-DR mode? Where should skin-tones fall on WFM in WDR?
 
sodotoguwangus said:
Guys, I feel like I wasted an opportunity with all the great response.

I left out ONE crucial piece of information in my original question.

I wanted to know what value you shoot for on your WFM when shooting caucasion skin-tones -- WHEN IN Wide-DR mode specifically.

I know things change a bit when using C-log (and I understand those values), but what about Wide-DR mode? Where should skin-tones fall on WFM in WDR?
Click to expand...

Since I don't own the C100 that was used in the last shoot, I can't 'test' with various options... but one fundamental principle in all this is...

Test for yourself...

I do know that for the C100, with the settings used... don't know if it was Wide-DR or not... that we shot with 'fair' complexion hitting about 50-60% and the actor and actress were both 'very fair'...
 
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