I have been trying to learn more about what the Zebra Pattern Settings actually mean. What is the difference between an 80 setting vs. a 90 setting.

I barely see the difference in the view finder. Can anyone educate me on this?

Thanks,
Frank

The setting means how early it kicks in. If you set it at 100 it will
show the stripes when you are already blowing out the highlights.

If you set it at 90 you have a 10% window. So when you start to
see some stripes you still have a way to go before they actually
blow out (this is the setting I use).

80 leaves you with a 20% window. It is all about safety. The lower
the setter the more early you are warned problems will occur.
The higher the settings the less room you'll have and you are
probably already loosing highlights.

Thanks Rob for your fast reply. I now have a clue on what the settings mean. My next question is that if 100 means that you have already burned your subjects faces why have such a setting at all?

How usefull is a setting of that sort? It seems that for my line of work (strictly weddings) using the 80% setting will be the best.

Regards,
Frank

It depends on what you use your camera for. If you are making
films like I try to do it can be useful. You setup your camera and
dial in and if stripes start to appear you just dial down a little bit
until they are gone and you don't have any blown out stuff (if
you have it set at 100).

If you do much run and gun work an earlier warning might be
adequate indeed. I set mine to 90 because I like to have some
bandwidth available for my shooting (so I have more room in
post to change the look of the picture). Together with a floor
of 0 IRE and 90% bars I'm a pretty happy camper.

Thanks Rob. You have been very helpfull.

Frank

"Together with a floor of 0 IRE and 90% bars I'm a pretty happy camper."

What setting do you use or like using on set-up level? for:
1) Making Films
2) Run and Gun shooting

Or do you just the set up level in the centre at all times? Or what settings and when?

Also I ask for strictly PAL, I have no intention of video being broadcast in NTSC, however slight chance it may just be shown on NTSC TVs from DVD, but thats not definite.

I've always used the minimal setup level (far left) and zebra
stripes of 90...