(The right) Prime Lens.

Given you want to go raw out of the camera and not touch it in post, yes, I think you'll be fine. The issue comes in when you want to change the coloring of a scene, most of the fluorescents used in these stores are NOT full range. If you find the brand and look up the spectrum, it has very sharp spikes so as to look as close to full range as possible. That's when people run into problems.

Also, be weary of flickering on the lights. I have seen some fluorescents flickering when I've recorded even at 1/50. It's not a total on off, but a product of the beat frequency between the lights and the exposure. And anything faster seems to cause the problem even worse.

test test test. best thing to do.
 
Well, the first 'official short video' I'm going to make as an overall controlled-ability test, I want to film it in a local Big Lots. I'm just going to have two of my friends participate, and even contradictory to what I said, I've even decided I'm not going to use any camera filters (I don't suspect I'll need anything like UV or ND inside a store), and generally, I don't do held shots, I only work with a tripod for now, so I think I'll be fine. I may use a reflector for light shining up on my subject's face (there's going to be alot of close-up face, like on 50 People: 1 Question) to distinct it from the backdrop just a bit. I'm going to make sure my subjects also have appropriate make-up and clothes on. I also want to experiment using a white/grey card for my white balance/exposure, seems easier.

Just I think the thing I'd like to know, again, is truly what is the best preset (either one I can download on the net, or adjust myself, or whatever) combination that seems to produce the most cinematic, yet not overdone, video style straight from the camera, and also keeps the blacks black and noise low. Even Superflat looks very pretty style wise to me, but since this is going to be more of a non-post test, I care more about just filming the clips as-is (best on-camera white balance, exposure, and settings I can get) and not worrying about editing beyond slapping the clips together. I'm not gonna even do sound, it's gonna be one of those music ones.

So overall, I think this is going to be half an ability test and half a style test. I won't lie for a second when I say that it's also overwhelming when it comes to trying to find the best white balance (deciding what type of grey/white card to use despite what people say), using the best exposure, and finding the picture style's best settings for the shot. Especially when you can't adjust the picture style while looking at an example of what you're doing :P. On top of all that, it's even tough deciding what focal lengths I'm going to use....I can generally work with whatever, preferring a 35mm or 50mm prime for the wide angle backdrop, face effects, and light, but that annoys the actor as you have to get a foot from their face to get a good depth of field. So I may have to settle on getting a zoom lens...mehhh. Too little money in my pocket and not enough camera stores in the area (the nearest camera store is more than 4 hours away, with one rental store being 2 hours away.) so I have no way to even test what I need.
 
Last edited:
If you're not going to grade, then use the "Faithful" preset in the camera. It does a nice job and gives good colors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top