I tried the face detection on one of my SR11s this weekend. Focus seemed to work well when zooming in on off center subjects and this feature could be very useful on a pro level camcorder. I wasn't too impressed with exposure though, I found faces tended to blow out. I guess the answer is to use AE shift when it happens.

My guess is the face tracking function is programmed to err on overexposing the face(s) in more complexly lit scenes e.g. changing lights, shifting light sources or color temperatures etc. To most users of cameras such as the SR11, a slightly overexposed face is probably more acceptable than an underexposed one. The system nevertheless is useful in run and gun shooting and it will be just a matter of time before it is incorporated into professional cameras. I believe some makers will soon split the face tracking function into focus tracking (most useful), exposure tracking (less useful) and also maybe white-balance tracking (quite useful!) instead of lumping them altogether in one function that can wholely be either on or off.

I also like the idea of assigning more bit rates on the faces when the background or foreground is too out of focus to exhibit meaningful details.

Let's wait and see.

Wacharapong

I believe some makers will soon split the face tracking function into focus tracking (most useful), exposure tracking (less useful) and also maybe white-balance tracking (quite useful!) instead of lumping them altogether in one function that can wholely be either on or off.

That would be very useful, hope it happens!

I can't ever think that over-exposing has a plus point in digital as it's much easier to rectify under-exposed footage in post, and I use the Canopus 'region' filter to do this on many an occasion.

Maybe the 'spotlight' mode could be used in conjunction with the face detection when your background's predominantly dark, Tony?

tom.