So.. if the knee setting modulates how quickly overexposed areas turn to pure white, and turning that setting to low gives a better look in those overexposed areas.. then why have the setting? Isn't it better to delay getting a pure white signal?

My guess is that you lose something when you use the "low" setting. Maybe it darkens the whole image? There must be some cost to the setting otherwise, it wouldn't be a setting.. :-)

David,

Good question and not a stupid one at all. The reason you can adjust it is to match the content you are taping at that given point in time. Yes, there are going to be reductions of luminance from some brighter parts of the scene as you try to control blowout. But if the really bright areaas aren't there and you don't need to roll them off with the knee, then you have that choice.

It's really all about choice so you can adapt and get the most dynamic range crammed into the limited range of video signals when you have to.

The higher end cameras have even more knee adjustments such as knee slope, knee aperture, white clip, DCC (a type of auto-knee), etc.

-gb-

Correct, what if you NEED it to look like video? Or if you are going for a punchy contrasty look? It is good to have options, you can make a Varicam look like a 1985 VHS cam if you want. =o)




ash =o)

...you can make a Varicam look like a 1985 VHS cam if you want. =o)

Now Ash, that's just wrong to do something like that to a Varicam. :-)

-gb-