Where should I set my Zebra to?

Dillon Novak

Dillon Novak

Well-known member
75%? 80%? 85%? 90%? 95%?

I don't usually use zebra, but I have someone else that is going to be doing camera B work on an upcoming music video and I'd like to make sure that they get proper exposure..

thanks so much!
 
There are two zebras. A lot of people set them at 70/100 or 70/105, but it's really a matter of preference.
 
I used to set it to 80 for nice skin tones, but I learned that I get way better quality and less noise when I use a 100 Zebra and grade it in post. The HVX sensors love to be saturated in light.

Frank
 
I used used to use 85% and 100% on my DVX, but on the HPX I've gone to 90%.

Do you have a HPX? If so, don't forget about the waveform monitor. Set it to a user button and it is pretty easy.

Grant
 
Postmaster said:
I used to set it to 80 for nice skin tones, but I learned that I get way better quality and less noise when I use a 100 Zebra and grade it in post. The HVX sensors love to be saturated in light.

Frank
Click to expand...

is the final image a lot brighter with zebra at 100% and then you take it down in post?
 
Exactly. Saturating the sensors with light as much as possible (before the white burns out) gives you much cleaner images to play with.

Frank
 
Hey Dillon , Im a fan of your work and I cant wait to see what you come up with next


BTW what Postmaster,said and I have set mine to 95 and 105 depending on the scene .
Lately I worry less about the " slight noise " and more about the dynamic range .
 
With my HVX, I generally set my zebra to 100% and iris down until only the areas where I don't need grade information are zebra'd (specular highlights, sun reflections, etc.). I find on the HVX funny things happen to the color near 100% (goes yellow) - but this could just be my color matrix or any number of other settings.
 
Postmaster said:
Exactly. Saturating the sensors with light as much as possible (before the white burns out) gives you much cleaner images to play with.

Frank
Click to expand...

Okay, I'll try that out. I have one HPX-170+SgBlade & HVX200a (No Adapter)

I'll set them both to 95% just to be safe...



Everts said:
Hey Dillon , Im a fan of your work and I cant wait to see what you come up with next


BTW what Postmaster,said and I have set mine to 95 and 105 depending on the scene .
Lately I worry less about the " slight noise " and more about the dynamic range .
Click to expand...



Thanks man! Glad you have been following. :)



tbob said:
With my HVX, I generally set my zebra to 100% and iris down until only the areas where I don't need grade information are zebra'd (specular highlights, sun reflections, etc.). I find on the HVX funny things happen to the color near 100% (goes yellow) - but this could just be my color matrix or any number of other settings.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.
 
ggrantly said:
I used used to use 85% and 100% on my DVX, but on the HPX I've gone to 90%.

Do you have a HPX? If so, don't forget about the waveform monitor. Set it to a user button and it is pretty easy.

Grant
Click to expand...

How do you use the Waveform Monitor? Is there a tutorial? This will be my first time with the HPX.
 
The Barry Green book has a good primer on the waveform. At the most basic level, it is pretty easy; bring your exposure up on the graph until some portion of it hits 100 in the vertical dimension. There is more depth, but that will assure the brightest portion of your image is properly exposed and you don't blow out. It is the most important upgrade from the hvx-200 imho.

Grant
 
As a general practice, set them at 70 and 100. 70 is for properly exposing faces. When you start getting zebras on the highlights of your subject's face (little on the nose, cheek bone, forhead), then you have good exposure for that face. Use 100, in a controlled lighted environment to expose for the maximum brightness (perfect for studio environments).

In general, 100 will basically give you an idea of the over exposed areas that you need to concern yourself about. And anything above 70 will usually mean your colors start to wash out, and fixing that in post is not as pretty as if it was properly shot in the first place. All in all, it all depends on what you need, and the look you're going for.
 
The waveform monitor is one of my single favorite features on the HPX/HMC, it's like having infinite zebras!
 
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