Canon HF-S200 Exposure Control Question at DVinfo.net

Steve Struthers · May 2nd, 2010, 08:34 AM

The HF-S200 doesn't have a gain control as such, but it looks like you can adjust gain in half-step increments from 0 to 3 using the exposure control.

Does anyone have any idea how many decibels of gain each step corresponds to, assuming that '0' on the exposure dial = 0dB?

Luis A. Diaz · May 5th, 2010, 06:22 PM

Hi Steve:
Are you sure the S200 does not have Gain Control?????

Last time I looked it has Gain control in addition to Exposure control thru the Custom Key or the knob controller next to the lens.

Check it out under other features at the Canon site.
I have the S21 and it works the same.

Luis

Steve Struthers · May 5th, 2010, 08:03 PM

Thanks for the tip, Luis, I found the gain control. I didn't even have to look at the manual or check the Canon site to find it.

What I found interesting about the gain control is that it doesn't work in Cine mode - but that makes perfect sense, considering that Cine is supposed to be a flat-shooting mode. But at least I know now that if I need the gain control, it's available to me in another recording mode, and I can always colour-grade the resulting footage for a more 'cinema-like' look.

Benoit Matthys · June 9th, 2010, 06:14 AM

I have a somewhat related question:

With my current HF-11, 'manual exposure' means moving an onscreen slider to over- or underexpose, using a scale relative to the current (auto) exposure.
Reading the user manual for the HF-S21/200 series ("The adjustment range may vary depending on the initial brightness of the image, and some values may be grayed out."), I understand it works the same way with these units, making it impossible to set an "absolute" manual exposure (i.e. independently of the current lighting conditions) . Is this correct ?

IOW, is there a way to somehow "memorize" a specific exposure, so that it will survive a power off, and/or can be restored when the lighting conditions have changed ?

I often record theatre shows with multiple camcorders, and my HF-11 runs as a unattended cam; I can set the exposure to manual during rehearsals, but when the real show is about to start, the stage is in a deep shadow, yet I need to set the manual exposure to the value I had during the rehearsal....

"Spotlight" mode auto-exposure does not work well for me, and is therefore not a good workaround.

Any suggestions ?

Benoit Matthys · June 17th, 2010, 12:55 PM

Help, anyone ?

May 2nd, 2010, 08:34 AM	#1
Steve Struthers Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 170	Canon HF-S200 Exposure Control Question The HF-S200 doesn't have a gain control as such, but it looks like you can adjust gain in half-step increments from 0 to 3 using the exposure control. Does anyone have any idea how many decibels of gain each step corresponds to, assuming that '0' on the exposure dial = 0dB?

May 5th, 2010, 06:22 PM	#2
Luis A. Diaz Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Miami, Florida. USA. Posts: 138	Canon HF-S200 exposure control Hi Steve: Are you sure the S200 does not have Gain Control????? Last time I looked it has Gain control in addition to Exposure control thru the Custom Key or the knob controller next to the lens. Check it out under other features at the Canon site. I have the S21 and it works the same. Luis Last edited by Luis A. Diaz; May 5th, 2010 at 06:24 PM. Reason: question mark

June 9th, 2010, 06:14 AM	#4
Benoit Matthys New Boot Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Brussels, Belgium Posts: 15	'absolute' manuel exposure ? I have a somewhat related question: With my current HF-11, 'manual exposure' means moving an onscreen slider to over- or underexpose, using a scale relative to the current (auto) exposure. Reading the user manual for the HF-S21/200 series ("The adjustment range may vary depending on the initial brightness of the image, and some values may be grayed out."), I understand it works the same way with these units, making it impossible to set an "absolute" manual exposure (i.e. independently of the current lighting conditions) . Is this correct ? IOW, is there a way to somehow "memorize" a specific exposure, so that it will survive a power off, and/or can be restored when the lighting conditions have changed ? I often record theatre shows with multiple camcorders, and my HF-11 runs as a unattended cam; I can set the exposure to manual during rehearsals, but when the real show is about to start, the stage is in a deep shadow, yet I need to set the manual exposure to the value I had during the rehearsal.... "Spotlight" mode auto-exposure does not work well for me, and is therefore not a good workaround. Any suggestions ?

May 5th, 2010, 08:03 PM	#3
Steve Struthers Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 170	Thanks for the tip, Luis, I found the gain control. I didn't even have to look at the manual or check the Canon site to find it. What I found interesting about the gain control is that it doesn't work in Cine mode - but that makes perfect sense, considering that Cine is supposed to be a flat-shooting mode. But at least I know now that if I need the gain control, it's available to me in another recording mode, and I can always colour-grade the resulting footage for a more 'cinema-like' look.

June 17th, 2010, 12:55 PM	#5
Benoit Matthys New Boot Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Brussels, Belgium Posts: 15	Help, anyone ?