Do you guys have any tips for avoiding overexposure with the HVX200? Use the zebra lines, but what do you recommend setting them at?

For narrative, I keep mine at 100 and 85. Haven't done much doc work with the HVX yet, but I'd probably set to 95 or 90 in order to be totally safe. This is a pretty subjective thing though.

The center marker is an awesome tool, but I can't see myself using it for run-and-gun shooting all that much because it only gives a reading for the small box. For narrative though, I love it-- it's like a poor man's waveform.

You have to remember, exposure isnt being under 100 using the Zebra lines, an image can be completely be blown out, but well within the broadcast safe range of 95 or 80.

There is no real-certified way to guarentee proper exposure, you can use the Zebra function of the camera as a guide or tool. The Best thing that you are going to be able to do is use your eye.

If you dont quite understand, the Zebra stripes are for rating the Brightness, the rating can go from 0 - over 100, Broadcast safe signal is under 100, but in no way does that mean the exposure is correct is when you have no zebra stripes showing.

Another tool that would help get proper exposure, is a light meter, It can tell you what Fstop to use to get proper exposure of a given light source. Good ones can be quite expensive but are a great tool in making a decision to what fstop to use.

I hope that helped explain a little bit, I have my zebras set for 80 and 100, but it doesnt tell me when a shot is properly exposed, it just tells me that my footage is going to be useable when it gets transmitted over the airwaves.

[QUOTE=Greg Almond]Another tool that would help get proper exposure, is a light meter, It can tell you what Fstop to use to get proper exposure of a given light source. Good ones can be quite expensive but are a great tool in making a decision to what fstop to use.QUOTE]


Greg http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=4540 ?

Light meters are of limited use when determining exposure for video since the cameras sensitivity is not linear over its range. A meter really is only good for checking ratios in the video world.

But IMHO a production monitor and your eyes are better at checking ratios