Random Color Changes at DVinfo.net

Peter Moore · January 12th, 2003, 12:43 PM

I've begun to notice something odd. Every so often, including in manual exposure mode, the colors on the picture start to change, going from saturated to less saturated, back and forth. It's occasional, and it's subtle, but it's definitely there. What might this be? Bad filter? Bad tapes? Something wrong with the camera?

Ken Tanaka · January 12th, 2003, 01:15 PM

Peter,
My guess is that you're using Auto White Balance and that the camera is confused on its white weight. If so, either use one of the presets or manually set your white balance (preferable).

Barry Goyette · January 12th, 2003, 03:52 PM

Peter

Interesting...I was recently viewing some footage taken on a friends sony tr-17 and I watched as the footage fluctuated in saturation, quite randomly, not in response to any color or white balance change. I've never seen this on my gl2, with auto wb on or not...but it is a phenomenon that puzzles me, and I'm not sure what would cause it...(and I don't think it's white balance.)

Barry

Jeff Donald · January 12th, 2003, 04:13 PM

Where are you seeing the color change? In the view finder, on monitor or both? I've seen color cycling with bad termination of video and bad cables. If it's doing it in the VF and recording it to tape consistently and its repeatable, I would send it in to Canon with a copy of the tape showing the problem. If it was a one time occurrence I would chalk it up as a bad WB setting or mixed light source that couldn't be corrected properly.

Jeff

Peter Moore · January 12th, 2003, 05:45 PM

It is the white balance. Exactly like Ken said, it was on Auto and when I do it manually it's fine.

I have to say in general I don't like the GL2's automatic settings. But at lesat manually I can get the picture perfect (and with a little color grading in Premier).

Which is another funny tidbit - I used to think that film looked so much better color-wise because of the medium. Then I watched the featurette on the Lord of the Rings DVD about Digital Color Grading, and learned how to do the same thing with my footage. It's real cool and because the Canon picks up such rich colors, I can color grade with no problem at all and make the scene look perfect (cold and blue, warm and red, green and brown, whatever)

January 12th, 2003, 12:43 PM	#1
Peter Moore Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Arlington VA Posts: 1,034	Random Color Changes I've begun to notice something odd. Every so often, including in manual exposure mode, the colors on the picture start to change, going from saturated to less saturated, back and forth. It's occasional, and it's subtle, but it's definitely there. What might this be? Bad filter? Bad tapes? Something wrong with the camera?

January 12th, 2003, 01:15 PM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Peter, My guess is that you're using Auto White Balance and that the camera is confused on its white weight. If so, either use one of the presets or manually set your white balance (preferable). __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

January 12th, 2003, 03:52 PM	#3
Barry Goyette Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: San Luis Obispo CA Posts: 1,195	Peter Interesting...I was recently viewing some footage taken on a friends sony tr-17 and I watched as the footage fluctuated in saturation, quite randomly, not in response to any color or white balance change. I've never seen this on my gl2, with auto wb on or not...but it is a phenomenon that puzzles me, and I'm not sure what would cause it...(and I don't think it's white balance.) Barry

January 12th, 2003, 04:13 PM	#4
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Where are you seeing the color change? In the view finder, on monitor or both? I've seen color cycling with bad termination of video and bad cables. If it's doing it in the VF and recording it to tape consistently and its repeatable, I would send it in to Canon with a copy of the tape showing the problem. If it was a one time occurrence I would chalk it up as a bad WB setting or mixed light source that couldn't be corrected properly. Jeff

January 12th, 2003, 05:45 PM	#5
Peter Moore Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Arlington VA Posts: 1,034	It is the white balance. Exactly like Ken said, it was on Auto and when I do it manually it's fine. I have to say in general I don't like the GL2's automatic settings. But at lesat manually I can get the picture perfect (and with a little color grading in Premier). Which is another funny tidbit - I used to think that film looked so much better color-wise because of the medium. Then I watched the featurette on the Lord of the Rings DVD about Digital Color Grading, and learned how to do the same thing with my footage. It's real cool and because the Canon picks up such rich colors, I can color grade with no problem at all and make the scene look perfect (cold and blue, warm and red, green and brown, whatever)