HV20 Outdoor Overexposure at DVinfo.net

Kirt Schumann · July 24th, 2007, 05:35 PM

Okay, Have my HV20, but am a total NOOB. Take video of Aspen Grove with Grass and flowers and Hummingbirds. Settings = Full Auto no beach or snow settings.

The video in the shadows is really good, but much of the grasses and flowers are really way over exposed. I would post a piece of the video, but am just learning how to do that.

Any start out clues?

Kirt

Dave Blackhurst · July 24th, 2007, 05:51 PM

press the joystick, tap it down until exposure comes up, joystick up ot selct exposure adjustment, and tap left to taste - also set zebras so you can see what's blown out, and correct with the exposure.

Chris Barcellos · July 24th, 2007, 06:44 PM

Dave didn't mention you first have to put the camera in P mode with the slider on the right side.

Then you go into menu, and on the top line of menu and you can select TV for shutter priority, or AV Fstop priority. P provides an auto exposure that selects both settings, and Cine mode provides a similar setting but also seem to provide a wider latitude in the picture. In fact that works very good for outdoor situations, because it will show shadow detail more.

As far as the brighter objects in the picture, if you turn on zebras, you will be able to see the overexposed areas, and adjust further by pushing on the toggle, selecting exposure, and once selected, sliding the exposure right or left with the toggle to take the zebras out of the picture.

Matt Buys · July 24th, 2007, 08:10 PM

I was shooting in colorado this summer and noticed alot of overexposure in the skies where I did not have the problem here in North Carolina. Like the other poster said, adjusting the exposure helps but I would also suggest either lowering your state or maybe trying some different filters.

Ray Bell · July 24th, 2007, 08:56 PM

You might want to turn on " markers " in the menu also... this wont' help with the exposure but is a great aid in keeping the shots squared up....

If you still have issues with brights being blown out, you should consider getting a polarizer or a nutral density filter to help the cam out....

The polarizer will also help in other ways besides knocking down the blown highlights.....

Colin Gould · July 24th, 2007, 09:48 PM

My ND & UV filter kit is on its way from Amazon, I hope that helps my HV10 as well...
meantime per suggestions on the forum, I select Av (aperture pri) mode, and close down the iris a lot (sometimes all way down to 8.0), and this dims things a lot while still leaving auto-exposure active (since the Exp lock features are "fixed" and will be wrong if you point to differently lit scene. eg it's not an AE Shift , but a lock, unfortunately.)
This will affect your depth of field etc some so you lose some "artistic" latitude, but works decently to fix bright outdoor scenes in the meantime.

Kirt Schumann · July 25th, 2007, 08:14 AM

I have printed the thread and will try up in the hills this weekend. BTW, "lowering your state" brought out and audiable chuckle.

Thanks,

K

Fergus Anderson · July 25th, 2007, 08:54 AM

Shooting in cine mode always prevents blown out highlights for me. I colour correct and sharpen in post.

Luc Fender · July 28th, 2007, 10:52 AM

I also noticed when it's dark the HV20 aggresively turns up the gain making the video lighter than it actually is.

I second that Cinemode doesn't do this overexposure but not sure yet if I always want to shoot in Cinemode (due to loss of perceived sharpness and contrast and too lazy to do always PP). Have to do more comparisons between these two...

Prech Marton · August 4th, 2007, 07:44 AM

Colin:
i don't see why a ND filter helps the overexposure problem.
Maybe a polarisation filter is good, but ND reduce all the incoming light.
You become darker picture in darker areas. Dont you?
A gradual ND is better, but this need a good straight horizont.

July 24th, 2007, 05:35 PM	#1
Kirt Schumann New Boot Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 7	HV20 Outdoor Overexposure Okay, Have my HV20, but am a total NOOB. Take video of Aspen Grove with Grass and flowers and Hummingbirds. Settings = Full Auto no beach or snow settings. The video in the shadows is really good, but much of the grasses and flowers are really way over exposed. I would post a piece of the video, but am just learning how to do that. Any start out clues? Kirt

July 24th, 2007, 06:44 PM	#3
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Dave didn't mention you first have to put the camera in P mode with the slider on the right side. Then you go into menu, and on the top line of menu and you can select TV for shutter priority, or AV Fstop priority. P provides an auto exposure that selects both settings, and Cine mode provides a similar setting but also seem to provide a wider latitude in the picture. In fact that works very good for outdoor situations, because it will show shadow detail more. As far as the brighter objects in the picture, if you turn on zebras, you will be able to see the overexposed areas, and adjust further by pushing on the toggle, selecting exposure, and once selected, sliding the exposure right or left with the toggle to take the zebras out of the picture. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

July 25th, 2007, 08:14 AM	#7
Kirt Schumann New Boot Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 7	Thanks to all who replied I have printed the thread and will try up in the hills this weekend. BTW, "lowering your state" brought out and audiable chuckle. Thanks, K

August 4th, 2007, 07:44 AM	#10
Prech Marton Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: hungary Posts: 462	Colin: i don't see why a ND filter helps the overexposure problem. Maybe a polarisation filter is good, but ND reduce all the incoming light. You become darker picture in darker areas. Dont you? A gradual ND is better, but this need a good straight horizont. __________________ Relaxing clips with waterfalls and music, 3D photos, 3D videos: www.3d-video.hu

July 24th, 2007, 05:51 PM	#2
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	press the joystick, tap it down until exposure comes up, joystick up ot selct exposure adjustment, and tap left to taste - also set zebras so you can see what's blown out, and correct with the exposure.

July 24th, 2007, 08:10 PM	#4
Matt Buys Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 426	I was shooting in colorado this summer and noticed alot of overexposure in the skies where I did not have the problem here in North Carolina. Like the other poster said, adjusting the exposure helps but I would also suggest either lowering your state or maybe trying some different filters.

July 24th, 2007, 08:56 PM	#5
Ray Bell Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,414	You might want to turn on " markers " in the menu also... this wont' help with the exposure but is a great aid in keeping the shots squared up.... If you still have issues with brights being blown out, you should consider getting a polarizer or a nutral density filter to help the cam out.... The polarizer will also help in other ways besides knocking down the blown highlights.....

July 24th, 2007, 09:48 PM	#6
Colin Gould Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Foster City, CA Posts: 123	My ND & UV filter kit is on its way from Amazon, I hope that helps my HV10 as well... meantime per suggestions on the forum, I select Av (aperture pri) mode, and close down the iris a lot (sometimes all way down to 8.0), and this dims things a lot while still leaving auto-exposure active (since the Exp lock features are "fixed" and will be wrong if you point to differently lit scene. eg it's not an AE Shift , but a lock, unfortunately.) This will affect your depth of field etc some so you lose some "artistic" latitude, but works decently to fix bright outdoor scenes in the meantime.

July 25th, 2007, 08:54 AM	#8
Fergus Anderson Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 321	Shooting in cine mode always prevents blown out highlights for me. I colour correct and sharpen in post.

July 28th, 2007, 10:52 AM	#9
Luc Fender Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 61	I also noticed when it's dark the HV20 aggresively turns up the gain making the video lighter than it actually is. I second that Cinemode doesn't do this overexposure but not sure yet if I always want to shoot in Cinemode (due to loss of perceived sharpness and contrast and too lazy to do always PP). Have to do more comparisons between these two...