HF S200 for flim look at DVinfo.net

Lee Mullen · December 18th, 2010, 06:06 AM

Could some of your more experienced users of this fine camera, please the best settings to get that film look if possible please?

Thanks

Lee

Daniel Webb · December 20th, 2010, 11:42 AM

also interested in this if anyone has any input

Adam Grunseth · December 20th, 2010, 09:52 PM

This is a really hard question to answer, because there isn't any one specific film look. There are a huge variety of visual styles that you can see in films, so it is hard to say "do this and get a film look". It would be much easier to offer a specific set of instructions if you posted a frame from a movie and asked "How can I create something that looks like this?" Then we would be able give advice on how to create that look. Just saying film look in general is awfully vague.

With that said though, there are some things you can do to mimic the general look of film.

-Shoot progressive scan, either 24p or 30p. Film is not interlaces, so your video shouldn't be either.

-I don't remember if the vixia cameras let you manually set your detail level or not, but if they do, set it to the lowest setting.

-If you have an editing program that lets you adjust your gamma curve, modify the curve to give it a slight "S" shape instead of a straight lane.

-Manually set your shutter. If you are shooting 24p your shutter should be 1/48. If 30p you should be 1/60.

-Manually set your exposure. Auto exposer will tend to be a little too bright. Manually set your exposure and try to under expose just a hair.

-The majority of what we associate with the film look comes from technique, not camera settings. You can actually shoot film that looks like poorly shot video. Manage your lighting carefully, if shooting exteriors try to shoot during the "golden hour". Don't zoom while shooting, move the camera instead. Don't pan or move the camera too fast.

I hope this helps! Good luck!

Robin Davies-Rollinson · December 21st, 2010, 03:39 AM

Adam makes some good points, especially using your NLE to adjust the gamma curves.
Avoid all all times the Canon built-in Cinema mode. It will give you a different gamma curve, but at the cost of definition. Why Canon can allow this image degradation, I really can't understand. Try it for yourself and see what I mean.
In the custom settings, I keep colour as normal, the same for brightness, but I turn contrast down (there are only three settings anyway!)
As Adam also says, use manual for exposure. I'm a great believer in slighly under-exposing - that goes back to my film cameraman days. You can always find detail in the shadow areas in post, but you can't put them back if they've been blown out by over-exposure.
Applying an 'S' curve in post can really be an eye-opener sometimes: the amount of extra detail that you don't normally see will really leap out.
And of course, shoot progressive!

Daniel Webb · December 21st, 2010, 08:34 AM

excellent input!!! Thanks. I am going to try the gamma curve thing in vegas now!

December 18th, 2010, 06:06 AM	#1
Lee Mullen Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Western Australia Posts: 576	HF S200 for flim look Could some of your more experienced users of this fine camera, please the best settings to get that film look if possible please? Thanks Lee

December 20th, 2010, 09:52 PM	#3
Adam Grunseth Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Eugene Oregon Posts: 393	Film Look This is a really hard question to answer, because there isn't any one specific film look. There are a huge variety of visual styles that you can see in films, so it is hard to say "do this and get a film look". It would be much easier to offer a specific set of instructions if you posted a frame from a movie and asked "How can I create something that looks like this?" Then we would be able give advice on how to create that look. Just saying film look in general is awfully vague. With that said though, there are some things you can do to mimic the general look of film. -Shoot progressive scan, either 24p or 30p. Film is not interlaces, so your video shouldn't be either. -I don't remember if the vixia cameras let you manually set your detail level or not, but if they do, set it to the lowest setting. -If you have an editing program that lets you adjust your gamma curve, modify the curve to give it a slight "S" shape instead of a straight lane. -Manually set your shutter. If you are shooting 24p your shutter should be 1/48. If 30p you should be 1/60. -Manually set your exposure. Auto exposer will tend to be a little too bright. Manually set your exposure and try to under expose just a hair. -The majority of what we associate with the film look comes from technique, not camera settings. You can actually shoot film that looks like poorly shot video. Manage your lighting carefully, if shooting exteriors try to shoot during the "golden hour". Don't zoom while shooting, move the camera instead. Don't pan or move the camera too fast. I hope this helps! Good luck!

December 20th, 2010, 11:42 AM	#2
Daniel Webb New Boot Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 23	also interested in this if anyone has any input

December 21st, 2010, 03:39 AM	#4
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	Adam makes some good points, especially using your NLE to adjust the gamma curves. Avoid all all times the Canon built-in Cinema mode. It will give you a different gamma curve, but at the cost of definition. Why Canon can allow this image degradation, I really can't understand. Try it for yourself and see what I mean. In the custom settings, I keep colour as normal, the same for brightness, but I turn contrast down (there are only three settings anyway!) As Adam also says, use manual for exposure. I'm a great believer in slighly under-exposing - that goes back to my film cameraman days. You can always find detail in the shadow areas in post, but you can't put them back if they've been blown out by over-exposure. Applying an 'S' curve in post can really be an eye-opener sometimes: the amount of extra detail that you don't normally see will really leap out. And of course, shoot progressive!

December 21st, 2010, 08:34 AM	#5
Daniel Webb New Boot Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 23	excellent input!!! Thanks. I am going to try the gamma curve thing in vegas now!