Dark Video with xha1 at DVinfo.net

Andy Loos · July 22nd, 2009, 08:09 PM

Whenever I film inside towards a bright window the complete picture goes a lot darker, what setting do I need to use to make this stop happening and I would like it to be automatic if possible so the room stays normal and the window just stays bright. any ideas?
thanks.

Michael Ojjeh · July 22nd, 2009, 08:45 PM

You have to use the manual mode or Tv mode,
M-manual mode, you can set your aperture to make your subject bright and the window behind them will be washed-out.
Tv-mode, you can zoom in on your subject then push the EXP.LOCK button to lock your exposure then zoom out and your subject will stay bright.

Auto gain must be off too.

Bill Pryor · July 22nd, 2009, 09:22 PM

Turn ALL the auto stuff off--auto gain, auto iris, auto shutter, auto white balance. Shoot on manual.

The camera metering is reflective, which means it reacts to light coming to the lens from the source. If you're in auto iris, the camera thinks there's too much light when it sees a white wall or window, so it stops down. Conversely, when it sees a black wall, it thinks there's not enough light, so it opens up. Learn to shoot on manual, use the zebras and your problem is solved.

Taky Cheung · July 22nd, 2009, 09:35 PM

You don't have to switch to other mode.. still continue the shooting. Then hit the exposure lock button (the round button on the left side.. very easyto locate). then rotate the iris ring counter-clockwise. It works very well.

Glen Elliott · July 23rd, 2009, 02:00 AM

My best advice is turn off AGC, AWB, and never shoot in any other mode other than M.

Peter Manojlovic · July 23rd, 2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen Elliott

My best advice is turn off AGC, AWB, and never shoot in any other mode other than M.

Does the AWB hinger low light shooting? Or are you explaining this as generally good practice overall?

Taky Cheung · July 23rd, 2009, 11:30 AM

I found the AWB works quite well on XH-A1. I left it on all the time.

Glen Elliott · July 23rd, 2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Manojlovic

Does the AWB hinger low light shooting? Or are you explaining this as generally good practice overall?

Anything auto has the chance of shifting/making changes when you don't necessarily want it to. Just like panning past a subject in front of a bright background with an auto iris. It will meter the frame as whole and stop your image down causing your subject to be a silloutte.

The same concept goes with AGC. Your footage will have no continuity if it's constantly riding gain up and down. I'm very against anything auto when shooting, apart from relying on auto focus to track subjects walking toward your camera with your iris wide open (ie during a precessional).

Andy Loos · August 3rd, 2009, 06:24 PM

Thanks for the help guys. I was able to fix the problem now!!

Taky Cheung · August 3rd, 2009, 06:30 PM

Mind sharing with us what you did to fix that?

July 22nd, 2009, 08:09 PM	#1
Andy Loos Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 84	Dark Video with xha1 Whenever I film inside towards a bright window the complete picture goes a lot darker, what setting do I need to use to make this stop happening and I would like it to be automatic if possible so the room stays normal and the window just stays bright. any ideas? thanks.

July 22nd, 2009, 08:45 PM	#2
Michael Ojjeh Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 338	You have to use the manual mode or Tv mode, M-manual mode, you can set your aperture to make your subject bright and the window behind them will be washed-out. Tv-mode, you can zoom in on your subject then push the EXP.LOCK button to lock your exposure then zoom out and your subject will stay bright. Auto gain must be off too. __________________ Dragonfly Production http://www.dragonflyproduction.net/ http://www.vimeo.com/user432181

July 22nd, 2009, 09:35 PM	#4
Taky Cheung Inner Circle Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 2,114	You don't have to switch to other mode.. still continue the shooting. Then hit the exposure lock button (the round button on the left side.. very easyto locate). then rotate the iris ring counter-clockwise. It works very well. __________________ LA Color Pros Blog RODE Authorized Reseller . Comer LED Camera Lights . TakyBox HTML5 Menu Generator Last edited by Taky Cheung; July 23rd, 2009 at 09:40 AM.

July 23rd, 2009, 02:00 AM	#5
Glen Elliott Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,898	My best advice is turn off AGC, AWB, and never shoot in any other mode other than M. __________________ Glen Elliott Cord 3 Films

July 23rd, 2009, 11:30 AM	#7
Taky Cheung Inner Circle Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 2,114	I found the AWB works quite well on XH-A1. I left it on all the time. __________________ LA Color Pros Blog RODE Authorized Reseller . Comer LED Camera Lights . TakyBox HTML5 Menu Generator

July 22nd, 2009, 09:22 PM	#3
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Turn ALL the auto stuff off--auto gain, auto iris, auto shutter, auto white balance. Shoot on manual. The camera metering is reflective, which means it reacts to light coming to the lens from the source. If you're in auto iris, the camera thinks there's too much light when it sees a white wall or window, so it stops down. Conversely, when it sees a black wall, it thinks there's not enough light, so it opens up. Learn to shoot on manual, use the zebras and your problem is solved.

August 3rd, 2009, 06:24 PM	#9
Andy Loos Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 84	Thanks for the help guys. I was able to fix the problem now!!

August 3rd, 2009, 06:30 PM	#10
Taky Cheung Inner Circle Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 2,114	Mind sharing with us what you did to fix that? __________________ LA Color Pros Blog RODE Authorized Reseller . Comer LED Camera Lights . TakyBox HTML5 Menu Generator