Video levels too low in cinegamma mode

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vshaneo1

New member
I was shooting the other day in 24P mode. I had adjusted the settings on the camera (DVX100A) to give me the best possible look. On the camera and the monitor everything (video levels) looked fine. When I went to edit on FCP I noticed that the video levels were very low (loss of detail in areas). I ran some test and found that switching from cinegamma to normal brought the video levels up considerably. I really loved the look cinegamma gave me though. I would appreciate any suggestions on how to boost my video levels while using cinegamma? Also, what would you set the knee at? (Low, Mid, or High)? I have read Barry Green's book and watched the DVD and would like to know what you think. Thanks.
 
CineGamma lowers all levels, making room for more exposure latitude at the top end of the scale. So yes, what you experienced is exactly what happens. How do you get more level out of it? Just raise your exposure some. But watch out for highlights, if you overexpose the highlights they'll blow out and look OOOGLY.

"knee" is irrelevant in CineGamma; the CineGamma mode doesn't use the knee.
 
When I shot cinegamma the first time and looked at what i've shot on a computer monitor, the first feeling was disappointment for the way it looked: flat and dull and underexposed.

but i realized the same images on tv it rendered beautifully, because of the different brightness and contrast capabilities of the TV screen with respect to the pc monitor.

before understanding that, in some occasions i also tried to manually open up the iris when shooting to get a little more levels, and i ended up with overexposed shots. i slowly learned to trust the camera.

Andrea
 
Thanks you guys. As far as "knee" goes, I understand that in cinegamma the knee is locked in on AUTO, I was wondering what setting(Low, Mid, High) you would set the knee at in "Norm" mode? I have been using "Mid" and it seems alright? Whatdaya think?
 
Barry_Green said:
if you overexpose the highlights they'll blow out and look OOOGLY.
Click to expand...

Why does everybody always say this... that was one of the reasons I used the DVX, I could blow out highlights whereas I couldn't with my canon ZR60.

I love blown out highlights. Mmm they're so good. mmm blown... out... highlights they own me
 
I think most people say that because most people don't like the look of clpped highlights from a digital medium. Of course, that is a matter of opinion, as many movies today are made to look like video with their clipped highlihts (ie Man on fire). It is a matter of style and theme, if that is the look you are going for, the dvx sure can achieve it quite well. I on the other hand prefere not to have hard video highlights, and do whatever I can to avoid clipping, or I will clip and soften the highlights in post, if that is the look. But yes, that is a matter of opinion, and nobody should tell you how to shoot your video.
 
Do we know what the DVC30 does? There is no knee control, but does it turn it off (internally) also when in cinegamma?

Just would like to know. Thanks,
 
yes, there is no knee in the cine-gamma, but unhelpfully, the dvx100 menu option displays this lack of option as "AUTO".
i had found a graph of all the various curves somewhere online, but can't seem to find it just yet.

... in the meantime here's a really useful link with comparisons of the main gammas and color-matrices:

http://www.bealecorner.com/dvx100/color/index.html
 
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