HV20: Controlling Exposure Memo at DVinfo.net

Nathan Shane · June 21st, 2007, 04:36 PM

For those of you who have read Barry Green's article on controlling exposure on the HV20 in CineMode (see link below).

http://www.dvxuser.com/jason/hv20/

I have an additional creative idea to add. I recently got a Sony PSP for video/image playback (and the occasional game) because it has an excellent looking 4.3" widescreen (480 x 272 pixel resolution). I actually did get the PSP for being able to quickly show others any videos I create using the HV20.

Anyway, in Barry's article, he made use of a white picture saved to his cell phone as a consistent source of light to be used to lock the HV20's shutter and gain for a given range of exposure settings. Well, I just did the same thing using the Sony PSP, and boy does it work, and what's more, the PSP has 3 levels of brightness control when operating on battery (and 4 levels when plugged in). I used a photo editing program to create an all white image then uploaded it to the PSP.

When pointing the HV20 directly at the PSP screen, you have the following f-stops that will occur for each of the three brightness settings on the PSP.

Low = f/2.6
Med = f/3.4
High = f/4.4

Using the Med f/3.4 seems to be just perfect for allowing a fully usable range of exposures on the HV20 with a fixed 1/48 shutter and 0dB of gain.

Ian G. Thompson · June 21st, 2007, 06:00 PM

Thanks for that Nathan...and I was already thinking of getting a PSP.

Fergus Anderson · June 22nd, 2007, 05:29 AM

great tip - I have a PSP but hadnt thought of that!

Steve MacDonald · June 22nd, 2007, 10:17 AM

Great idea! Another way of doing this is with a video supported ipod the 30, 60 or 80GB. Create a white jpeg background in photoshop, import that jpeg into iphoto and sync that into your ipod photo section.

June 21st, 2007, 04:36 PM	#1
Nathan Shane Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Addison, Texas Posts: 178	HV20: Controlling Exposure Memo For those of you who have read Barry Green's article on controlling exposure on the HV20 in CineMode (see link below). http://www.dvxuser.com/jason/hv20/ I have an additional creative idea to add. I recently got a Sony PSP for video/image playback (and the occasional game) because it has an excellent looking 4.3" widescreen (480 x 272 pixel resolution). I actually did get the PSP for being able to quickly show others any videos I create using the HV20. Anyway, in Barry's article, he made use of a white picture saved to his cell phone as a consistent source of light to be used to lock the HV20's shutter and gain for a given range of exposure settings. Well, I just did the same thing using the Sony PSP, and boy does it work, and what's more, the PSP has 3 levels of brightness control when operating on battery (and 4 levels when plugged in). I used a photo editing program to create an all white image then uploaded it to the PSP. When pointing the HV20 directly at the PSP screen, you have the following f-stops that will occur for each of the three brightness settings on the PSP. Low = f/2.6 Med = f/3.4 High = f/4.4 Using the Med f/3.4 seems to be just perfect for allowing a fully usable range of exposures on the HV20 with a fixed 1/48 shutter and 0dB of gain.

June 21st, 2007, 06:00 PM	#2
Ian G. Thompson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rockledge, Florida Posts: 351	Thanks for that Nathan...and I was already thinking of getting a PSP.

June 22nd, 2007, 05:29 AM	#3
Fergus Anderson Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 321	great tip - I have a PSP but hadnt thought of that!

June 22nd, 2007, 10:17 AM	#4
Steve MacDonald New Boot Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA Posts: 17	Great idea! Another way of doing this is with a video supported ipod the 30, 60 or 80GB. Create a white jpeg background in photoshop, import that jpeg into iphoto and sync that into your ipod photo section.