Zebra Pattern Settings at DVinfo.net

Frank Daghigh · August 20th, 2003, 10:10 AM

I have been trying to learn more about what the Zebra Pattern Settings actually mean. What is the difference between an 80 setting vs. a 90 setting.

I barely see the difference in the view finder. Can anyone educate me on this?

Thanks,
Frank

Rob Lohman · August 20th, 2003, 10:17 AM

The setting means how early it kicks in. If you set it at 100 it will
show the stripes when you are already blowing out the highlights.

If you set it at 90 you have a 10% window. So when you start to
see some stripes you still have a way to go before they actually
blow out (this is the setting I use).

80 leaves you with a 20% window. It is all about safety. The lower
the setter the more early you are warned problems will occur.
The higher the settings the less room you'll have and you are
probably already loosing highlights.

Frank Daghigh · August 20th, 2003, 11:55 AM

Thanks Rob for your fast reply. I now have a clue on what the settings mean. My next question is that if 100 means that you have already burned your subjects faces why have such a setting at all?

How usefull is a setting of that sort? It seems that for my line of work (strictly weddings) using the 80% setting will be the best.

Regards,
Frank

Rob Lohman · August 21st, 2003, 06:04 AM

It depends on what you use your camera for. If you are making
films like I try to do it can be useful. You setup your camera and
dial in and if stripes start to appear you just dial down a little bit
until they are gone and you don't have any blown out stuff (if
you have it set at 100).

If you do much run and gun work an earlier warning might be
adequate indeed. I set mine to 90 because I like to have some
bandwidth available for my shooting (so I have more room in
post to change the look of the picture). Together with a floor
of 0 IRE and 90% bars I'm a pretty happy camper.

Frank Daghigh · August 21st, 2003, 07:26 AM

Thanks Rob. You have been very helpfull.

Frank

Christopher Hughes · August 21st, 2003, 08:35 AM

"Together with a floor of 0 IRE and 90% bars I'm a pretty happy camper."

What setting do you use or like using on set-up level? for:
1) Making Films
2) Run and Gun shooting

Or do you just the set up level in the centre at all times? Or what settings and when?

Christopher Hughes · August 21st, 2003, 08:53 AM

Also I ask for strictly PAL, I have no intention of video being broadcast in NTSC, however slight chance it may just be shown on NTSC TVs from DVD, but thats not definite.

Rob Lohman · September 9th, 2003, 08:04 AM

I've always used the minimal setup level (far left) and zebra
stripes of 90...

August 20th, 2003, 10:10 AM	#1
Frank Daghigh Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Phoenixville, PA Posts: 25	Zebra Pattern Settings I have been trying to learn more about what the Zebra Pattern Settings actually mean. What is the difference between an 80 setting vs. a 90 setting. I barely see the difference in the view finder. Can anyone educate me on this? Thanks, Frank __________________ Frank Daghigh Panorama

August 20th, 2003, 10:17 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	The setting means how early it kicks in. If you set it at 100 it will show the stripes when you are already blowing out the highlights. If you set it at 90 you have a 10% window. So when you start to see some stripes you still have a way to go before they actually blow out (this is the setting I use). 80 leaves you with a 20% window. It is all about safety. The lower the setter the more early you are warned problems will occur. The higher the settings the less room you'll have and you are probably already loosing highlights. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

August 20th, 2003, 11:55 AM	#3
Frank Daghigh Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Phoenixville, PA Posts: 25	Thanks Rob for your fast reply. I now have a clue on what the settings mean. My next question is that if 100 means that you have already burned your subjects faces why have such a setting at all? How usefull is a setting of that sort? It seems that for my line of work (strictly weddings) using the 80% setting will be the best. Regards, Frank __________________ Frank Daghigh Panorama

August 21st, 2003, 06:04 AM	#4
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	It depends on what you use your camera for. If you are making films like I try to do it can be useful. You setup your camera and dial in and if stripes start to appear you just dial down a little bit until they are gone and you don't have any blown out stuff (if you have it set at 100). If you do much run and gun work an earlier warning might be adequate indeed. I set mine to 90 because I like to have some bandwidth available for my shooting (so I have more room in post to change the look of the picture). Together with a floor of 0 IRE and 90% bars I'm a pretty happy camper. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

August 21st, 2003, 07:26 AM	#5
Frank Daghigh Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Phoenixville, PA Posts: 25	Thanks Rob. You have been very helpfull. Frank __________________ Frank Daghigh Panorama

August 21st, 2003, 08:35 AM	#6
Christopher Hughes Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sunderland, England (y Merida, Mexico) Posts: 269	"Together with a floor of 0 IRE and 90% bars I'm a pretty happy camper." What setting do you use or like using on set-up level? for: 1) Making Films 2) Run and Gun shooting Or do you just the set up level in the centre at all times? Or what settings and when?

August 21st, 2003, 08:53 AM	#7
Christopher Hughes Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sunderland, England (y Merida, Mexico) Posts: 269	Also I ask for strictly PAL, I have no intention of video being broadcast in NTSC, however slight chance it may just be shown on NTSC TVs from DVD, but thats not definite.

September 9th, 2003, 08:04 AM	#8
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I've always used the minimal setup level (far left) and zebra stripes of 90... __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors