C100 in Bright Sun

Dave Mercer · February 6th, 2013, 11:52 AM

Wondering what you're all doing when 6 stops of ND isn't enough to keep proper exposure with aperature wide open (say f2.8 or f4.0 depending on the lens) and ISO set at 850.

Thanks!
Dave

Warren Kawamoto · February 6th, 2013, 11:55 AM

Change iso to 320?

Dave Mercer · February 6th, 2013, 02:09 PM

Yup I've tried that, despite hearing the C100 is optimized for use at 850 ISO. But even at 350 ISO with 6-stop ND I can still get overexposed images (I think Guatemala is at a similar latitude to Hawaii - ie. bright, tropical sun).

Matt Davis · February 6th, 2013, 02:46 PM

I've dug out my VariND when doing 'accumulation' or 'slow' shutter work (1/3rd second shutter) in noon-day Floridian sunlight. Even my EX1 was a bit sweaty in those conditions.

Pedanes Bol · February 6th, 2013, 04:39 PM

I would attach an external ND filter on the lens.

Dave Mercer · February 6th, 2013, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedanes Bol

I would attach an external ND filter on the lens.

That's what I thought. Just wondering if anyone had any other ideas - hate to go back to screw-on ND filters ...

Andy Wilkinson · February 7th, 2013, 05:24 AM

Not tried this yet on my C100 (very bright sunshine is rarely a problem in the UK!) and I'm not sure this is the right way to go....but what about trying Exposure Compensation (AE Shift) - see page 60 in the Manual.

Let us know if this works!

Monday Isa · February 7th, 2013, 07:38 AM

Because I shoot 30P with the C100 I also crank up the shutter when I have ND-6 and Aperture at 1.8 outside. Highest shutter was in the 200's don't remember the exact number as the shoot was last month.

Matt Davis · February 7th, 2013, 07:45 AM

Okay, I'll call the Elephant In The Room: Negative Gain.

I'd prefer to tote an ND in a spare pocket, rather than use Negative Gain.

You can select -3 and -6 dB gain, but this is chopping off your shadow detail - instead of blowing your highlights, you're blowing your shadows. Maybe this isn't huge for some setups, but it's in bright contrasty lighting (noonday sunlight) where you're trying to squash the tonal range, so having 1-2 stops of DR taken away at the bottom end is something to be avoided. So much so, I've 'not even gone there'.

But it would be an interesting concept to illustrate some day...

Dave Mercer · February 8th, 2013, 10:42 AM

Monday - Increasing the shutter speed is an interesting option. I'll have to take a look and see how it affects motion when shooting regular, everyday life. How have you found shooting at 200+? Stuttery?

Andy - Exposure Compensation is something I've never looked at. Time to do so!

Matt - interesting idea, and a feature I'd never looked at. But think you're right, it'd be a last ditch solution.

Thanks all!

Darren Levine · February 8th, 2013, 11:00 AM

i'll be heading to galapagos and hawaii, and will just be bringing a 3 stop nd and a CPL. mostly going to be shooting long lens high aperture, but for the occasional superspeed stuff, 9 total stops should be more than enough

Matt Davis · February 8th, 2013, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Mercer

How have you found shooting at 200+? Stuttery?

Hey look, as an FS100 shooter, I've been caught in brighter sunlight than I'm prepared for and I'm not proud: I've used 10,000th of a second when I had to.

Is it stuttery? Yes. There gets a point when quite frankly, the difference between 1/250th and 1/10,000th is no difference at all, it's all Dog Beach from Saving Private Ryan. Or better still, RangeRover vs Tank on Top Gear.

If you're faced with dirty (or missing) NDs and you have to kick the shutter speed up, I've not really seen the difference between 1/250 and 1/10,000 because the subject matter is missing the motion blur, period. So fill your boots. Just like Jazz: hit a bum note? Do it again - LOUDER. Make it a feature. Chalk it all up to artistic direction.

Yes, it's stuttery. I MEANT it that way! :)

Monday Isa · February 8th, 2013, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Mercer

Monday - Increasing the shutter speed is an interesting option. I'll have to take a look and see how it affects motion when shooting regular, everyday life. How have you found shooting at 200+? Stuttery?

Shooting 30P you get the stutter but I don't mind as long as my camera movements aren't fast. I also shoot 80% at 1/120 in 30P. If you're shooting 24P I don't honestly know but in 30P the stutter is more then 1/60 but what you going to do if you want the Shallow DOF.

Evan Bourcier · February 9th, 2013, 10:38 AM

Not on a c100 yet, but I hop shutter on the 5diii a lot, I kinda like the look. Depends what you're shooting, but I find for a lot of stuff it conveys motion better actually.

Dave Mercer · February 9th, 2013, 03:00 PM

I shoot 50i for broadcast news (uhhh interlaced I know). Will try to ramp up the shutter and see how it looks. Might pick up a 3 stop ND as well.

Thanks all!

February 6th, 2013, 11:52 AM	#1
Dave Mercer Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Lake Atitlan, Guatemala Posts: 346	C100 in Bright Sun - NDs insufficient Wondering what you're all doing when 6 stops of ND isn't enough to keep proper exposure with aperature wide open (say f2.8 or f4.0 depending on the lens) and ISO set at 850. Thanks! Dave

February 6th, 2013, 11:55 AM	#2
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	Re: C100 in Bright Sun - NDs insufficient Change iso to 320?

February 6th, 2013, 02:09 PM	#3
Dave Mercer Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Lake Atitlan, Guatemala Posts: 346	Re: C100 in Bright Sun - NDs insufficient Yup I've tried that, despite hearing the C100 is optimized for use at 850 ISO. But even at 350 ISO with 6-stop ND I can still get overexposed images (I think Guatemala is at a similar latitude to Hawaii - ie. bright, tropical sun).

February 6th, 2013, 02:46 PM	#4
Matt Davis Trustee Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 1,562	Re: C100 in Bright Sun - NDs insufficient I've dug out my VariND when doing 'accumulation' or 'slow' shutter work (1/3rd second shutter) in noon-day Floridian sunlight. Even my EX1 was a bit sweaty in those conditions. __________________ Director/Editor - MDMA Ltd: Write, Shoot, Edit, Publish - mattdavis.pro EX1 x2, C100 --> FCPX & PPro6

February 6th, 2013, 04:39 PM	#5
Pedanes Bol Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Boston MA Posts: 167	Re: C100 in Bright Sun - NDs insufficient I would attach an external ND filter on the lens.

February 7th, 2013, 05:24 AM	#7
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Re: C100 in Bright Sun - NDs insufficient Not tried this yet on my C100 (very bright sunshine is rarely a problem in the UK!) and I'm not sure this is the right way to go....but what about trying Exposure Compensation (AE Shift) - see page 60 in the Manual. Let us know if this works! __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

February 7th, 2013, 07:38 AM	#8
Monday Isa Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: College Park, Maryland Posts: 913	Re: C100 in Bright Sun - NDs insufficient Because I shoot 30P with the C100 I also crank up the shutter when I have ND-6 and Aperture at 1.8 outside. Highest shutter was in the 200's don't remember the exact number as the shoot was last month.

February 7th, 2013, 07:45 AM	#9
Matt Davis Trustee Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 1,562	Re: C100 in Bright Sun - NDs insufficient Okay, I'll call the Elephant In The Room: Negative Gain. I'd prefer to tote an ND in a spare pocket, rather than use Negative Gain. You can select -3 and -6 dB gain, but this is chopping off your shadow detail - instead of blowing your highlights, you're blowing your shadows. Maybe this isn't huge for some setups, but it's in bright contrasty lighting (noonday sunlight) where you're trying to squash the tonal range, so having 1-2 stops of DR taken away at the bottom end is something to be avoided. So much so, I've 'not even gone there'. But it would be an interesting concept to illustrate some day... __________________ Director/Editor - MDMA Ltd: Write, Shoot, Edit, Publish - mattdavis.pro EX1 x2, C100 --> FCPX & PPro6

February 8th, 2013, 10:42 AM	#10
Dave Mercer Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Lake Atitlan, Guatemala Posts: 346	Re: C100 in Bright Sun - NDs insufficient Monday - Increasing the shutter speed is an interesting option. I'll have to take a look and see how it affects motion when shooting regular, everyday life. How have you found shooting at 200+? Stuttery? Andy - Exposure Compensation is something I've never looked at. Time to do so! Matt - interesting idea, and a feature I'd never looked at. But think you're right, it'd be a last ditch solution. Thanks all!

February 8th, 2013, 11:00 AM	#11
Darren Levine Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NJ/NYC Posts: 563	Re: C100 in Bright Sun - NDs insufficient i'll be heading to galapagos and hawaii, and will just be bringing a 3 stop nd and a CPL. mostly going to be shooting long lens high aperture, but for the occasional superspeed stuff, 9 total stops should be more than enough __________________ C100 - GH4 - NYC Shooter www.DarrenLevine.com

February 9th, 2013, 10:38 AM	#14
Evan Bourcier Major Player Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Mashpee, MA Posts: 251	Re: C100 in Bright Sun - NDs insufficient Not on a c100 yet, but I hop shutter on the 5diii a lot, I kinda like the look. Depends what you're shooting, but I find for a lot of stuff it conveys motion better actually. __________________ DSLR Photographer/Videographer from Massachusetts Portfolio at http://ebourcier.com

February 9th, 2013, 03:00 PM	#15
Dave Mercer Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Lake Atitlan, Guatemala Posts: 346	Re: C100 in Bright Sun - NDs insufficient I shoot 50i for broadcast news (uhhh interlaced I know). Will try to ramp up the shutter and see how it looks. Might pick up a 3 stop ND as well. Thanks all!