I'll be brief. I just purchased a Z-1. My intention is to get 4-5 and shoot music concerts. I am new and have no background in film work, however, I am very studious. Some things just seem easier to just ask than to struggle searching for so here goes:

I recently shot a practice tape with my Z-1 and Obviously the white balance was way off - too bright. How do I use a white card? I know where the settings are but I don't know which ones to use.

I was also told that the quality resolution on the Z-1 isn't "GOOD" enough for HDV broadcasters (HDNET). I suspect it is because of the price differential in the camera. Any comments? and lastly, does anyone know of a school in the Dallas, TX area that I could check into or possible online schools?

Hope to be a frequent patron of this sight. I hope my inexperience is not a deterrent!

Jeff

You want to fill the whole screen with the white card, put the camera on a or b then make sure exposure is correct then push the manual white balance button.
If the picture is to bright then it is because you over expose your picture, not because of white balance is off, set your zebra at 100 IRE and adjust exposure about a stop below you see zebra.
Be sure to put gain, iris, shutter on manual in order to adjust exposure manually, then use iris to adjust exposure.
Good luck.

'set your zebra at 100 IRE and adjust exposure about a stop below you see zebra'

Is that not going to underexpose your shots in many situations, eg outdoors, windows in frame etc (genuine question not a criticism of the comment)

Andrew

Howdy from down the road in North Garland (at the end of the George Bush Tollway)

Which NLE are you planning on using?

Check out http://www.thewindowchannel.com - they may want your stuff. And some of the stock footage companies are ready to take HDV.

I meant to use that as a measurement on what you want to exposed, if your subject is standing in front of a window, you will see zebra on the window, but make sure you don't see it on your subject face.

If you have your zebras set at 70 IRE (probably the factory setting) then you will indeed underexpose by this method. 100 IRE is the limit at which the image will clip, and so you should definitely be under this.

Khoi's rule of thumb of about a stop or so (assuming the subject is what we're talking about) is pretty reasonable, I think...

Of course, this only holds true if you're shooting in "standard" lighting conditions for a "standard" effect (it's a rule of thumb, after all) - if you're shooting a noir, or day-for-night, or anything else a bit interesting then it becomes a bit more complex.