HF S20 exposure tips? at DVinfo.net

Kent Fraser · May 12th, 2010, 10:04 PM

Getting acquainted with the new camera and was wondering if anyone has some tips/tricks they can share regarding the best way to control the exposure in indoor shoots. I'd like to have shallow dof as much as possible, but I also want to shoot at 1/60 shutter speed for 30p recording. The camera doesn't have a manual exposure setting, but I'd like to be able to control as much as possible. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Kent Fraser · May 20th, 2010, 11:44 AM

Is there anyone who has figured out work-arounds for cameras without full-manual control in order to get as much control as possible?

Sure would appreciate some input.

Thanks

Michael Gruich · August 10th, 2010, 08:03 AM

Your biggest asset here is the "exposure" lock feature on these cameras. Set the mode (TV, AV, Etc.), Set Shutter, Set WB, then locak the exposure on something in the area with the best lighting. There is a term called "The Cell Phone" trick that works quite well to keep the grain/gain down in lower light situations, or others with shadows. For this I use a cheap LED Keychain light myself.

Here are my personal settings for my live concerts and events I cover with a couple of the cameras in this series used a "B" cams.

TV mode, WB-Tungsten (allows best correction of multicolored lights on stage), lock exposure,
shutter 2x frame rate, Neutral color, 1080-30p.

I then render these out at 720p for the web or DVD.

Great camera by the way!

May 12th, 2010, 10:04 PM	#1
Kent Fraser Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bemidji, MN Posts: 75	HF S20 exposure tips? Getting acquainted with the new camera and was wondering if anyone has some tips/tricks they can share regarding the best way to control the exposure in indoor shoots. I'd like to have shallow dof as much as possible, but I also want to shoot at 1/60 shutter speed for 30p recording. The camera doesn't have a manual exposure setting, but I'd like to be able to control as much as possible. Any ideas? Thanks.

May 20th, 2010, 11:44 AM	#2
Kent Fraser Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bemidji, MN Posts: 75	Is there anyone who has figured out work-arounds for cameras without full-manual control in order to get as much control as possible? Sure would appreciate some input. Thanks

August 10th, 2010, 08:03 AM	#3
Michael Gruich New Boot Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: IOWA Posts: 22	Your biggest asset here is the "exposure" lock feature on these cameras. Set the mode (TV, AV, Etc.), Set Shutter, Set WB, then locak the exposure on something in the area with the best lighting. There is a term called "The Cell Phone" trick that works quite well to keep the grain/gain down in lower light situations, or others with shadows. For this I use a cheap LED Keychain light myself. Here are my personal settings for my live concerts and events I cover with a couple of the cameras in this series used a "B" cams. TV mode, WB-Tungsten (allows best correction of multicolored lights on stage), lock exposure, shutter 2x frame rate, Neutral color, 1080-30p. I then render these out at 720p for the web or DVD. Great camera by the way!