Zebras

2

2000lux

Member
I've been using a friend's DVX-100A from time to time. I noticed that even when I go in to the menu and set the zebras for 80ire, it still registers them only at 100ire. There are two sets of zebra bars. I switched off the second set and set the first set to 80 and saved the file. Then when I switched on the color bars, it showed them in the 100ire white box at the bottom of the screen and not in the top left line like it should. In the menu the zebras were still set to 80. This is driving me nuts! I was told I could trust the zebras, so the first time I used it I went against my better judgement after seeing the color bars and a lot of that footage is blown out. Is there some way to actually set the zebras for 80, or am I stuck using them at 100?

If any one from Panasonic is reading this... The thing that keeps me from buying one of these cameras is that the zebras on are big, obnoxious, and distracting. Why aren't they be subtle like the ones on the boradcast cameras? I usually shoot with them on so I can keep an eye on my exposure. However, on this camera I find them so distracting I just shut them off and generally go with the best auto iris exposure I get. It works most of the time, but it isn't very professional.

I do like that you can turn on the peaking (monitor / eye piece detail) and use the zebras at the same time. For some reason it's one or the other on some of the Sony palmcorders.

The other thing I would change is that when you white balance, it just says "WHITE BALANCE OK" in the monitor. It doesn't tell you what kelvin reading you got like a boradcast camera does. I need that information. I don't trust the fold out monitor enough to make decisions just based on that.
 
Well, what you're asking for apparently comes on broadcast cameras (I have never used one), but one reason that they don't come on the DVX probably stems from the fact that it's in the sub 4000 dollar price range, and that may have been a feature they chose to leave out, along with alot of others. As far as I know, it sounds like you're doing the correct thing in adjusting the color bars for 80...I don't have my camera in front of me right now, so I can't comment 100%. I guess if you don't want to trust the on cam LCD, which actually shouldn't be trusted at all so bravo on that, you could always rent or buy a broadcast quality field monitor....As far as not getting a kelvin reading when you white balance, again, I believe it's just another consequence of this being a less expensive camera than a broadcast camera. The DVX100A is an excellent camera, and the best in it's class as far as I am concerned, but it can only do so much. I have always trusted the Zebra, and I have always gotten good exposure. If the "big, obnoxious, and distracting" zebra's are annoying, it's for good reason, because if you're seeing alot of them you are no doubt over exposing your footage, so in that regard, they are probably doing their job pretty good.
 
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