okay to shoot TV screen at DVinfo.net

Graham Jones · June 22nd, 2004, 03:29 AM

I have a JVC GR-PD1 and need to shoot off a TV screen. Is there any danger to the camera doing this? I'll be shooting 25p.

Thanks.

Graham Jones · June 22nd, 2004, 03:30 AM

..just to clarify, I mean: getting close-up shots of what is actually showing on a TV

Robert Knecht Schmidt · June 22nd, 2004, 03:45 AM

There is no danger of harming your camera. The light coming off your television screen is many times less than the light coming off the sky.

The general rule is: if you wouldn't point your retinas at it, then think twice before pointing your video camera at it.

Whether you'll be able to get a clear image without phase effects--strobing, or a line scrolling down the screen--is another matter.

Ed Smith · June 22nd, 2004, 05:44 AM

Your biggest problem will be syncing the TV with the camera, being that they operate at completely different refresh rates. I believe that the XL1s has a TV refresh button for this type of application.

Bill Pryor · June 22nd, 2004, 09:42 AM

You can try shutter adjustments to minimize the roll, but without something like Sony's "clearscan" or the XL1s equivalent, you may not be able to get rid of the roll entirely.

If you're simply shooting a closeup of a screen, life is not too difficult, but if you want to see an image on the TV in a longer shot with people in it, you'll have to do some color matching tricks. Say you light the scene with 3200 tungsten lights...the colors of whatever is on the TV will be way off. If you put up something white on the TV and white balance to that, the colors on your people in the scene will be way off. What I do in that situation is run a video cable from the camera to the TV and switch on my color bars. Then adjust the color of the TV until the bars look reasonably proper. This will cause the color on the TV to look weird, but the camera will like it.

Graham Jones · June 22nd, 2004, 01:30 PM

Thanks for all those helpful responses. Yeah, I'm only going for shots were the TV picture fills the frame - it wouldn't be part of any other film... and yeah, I figured rolling would be a problem. To a certain extent I want it to look bad but if I can get rid of the rolling that would be good. I'll experiment with frame rate. I have 50p and 25p and then 25i which I suppose wouldn't help. Then of course shutter speed...

It was just that years ago I had a Panasonic VHS camera (1989) and I filmed off TV and totalled it. The worst thing was it was warned against in manual! There's nothing like that in this cam's manual (GR-PD1) but I just wanted to be sure there really is absolitely no such danger.

Graham Jones · June 22nd, 2004, 01:31 PM

sorry, I meant to say 'it wouldn't be part of any other SCENE... '

Bill Pryor · June 22nd, 2004, 01:53 PM

I don't see how shooting a TV screen could damage a camera, even old tube cameras. I shot TV screen back in the tube camera days.

One thing that would help is if you could find an LCD monitor to use instead of the regular CRT screen. The LCD would not have the bad roll. Might be a good excuse to go out and buy a new TV, heheheh.

Graham Jones · June 23rd, 2004, 04:37 AM

thanks for the LCD tip.

Yeah, it was interesting that happened with that old Panasonic VHS cam.

It literally said it in the manual and totalled the cam when i did it - stupid.

June 22nd, 2004, 03:29 AM	#1
Graham Jones Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 489	okay to shoot TV screen I have a JVC GR-PD1 and need to shoot off a TV screen. Is there any danger to the camera doing this? I'll be shooting 25p. Thanks.

June 22nd, 2004, 03:45 AM	#3
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	There is no danger of harming your camera. The light coming off your television screen is many times less than the light coming off the sky. The general rule is: if you wouldn't point your retinas at it, then think twice before pointing your video camera at it. Whether you'll be able to get a clear image without phase effects--strobing, or a line scrolling down the screen--is another matter. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

June 22nd, 2004, 05:44 AM	#4
Ed Smith Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hampshire, England Posts: 1,545	Your biggest problem will be syncing the TV with the camera, being that they operate at completely different refresh rates. I believe that the XL1s has a TV refresh button for this type of application. __________________ Ed Smith Hampshire, UK Good things come to those who wait My Skiing web www.Frostytour.co.uk For quick answers Search dvinfo.net \| The best in the business: dvinfo.net Sponsors

June 22nd, 2004, 03:30 AM	#2
Graham Jones Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 489	..just to clarify, I mean: getting close-up shots of what is actually showing on a TV

June 22nd, 2004, 09:42 AM	#5
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	You can try shutter adjustments to minimize the roll, but without something like Sony's "clearscan" or the XL1s equivalent, you may not be able to get rid of the roll entirely. If you're simply shooting a closeup of a screen, life is not too difficult, but if you want to see an image on the TV in a longer shot with people in it, you'll have to do some color matching tricks. Say you light the scene with 3200 tungsten lights...the colors of whatever is on the TV will be way off. If you put up something white on the TV and white balance to that, the colors on your people in the scene will be way off. What I do in that situation is run a video cable from the camera to the TV and switch on my color bars. Then adjust the color of the TV until the bars look reasonably proper. This will cause the color on the TV to look weird, but the camera will like it.

June 22nd, 2004, 01:30 PM	#6
Graham Jones Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 489	Thanks for all those helpful responses. Yeah, I'm only going for shots were the TV picture fills the frame - it wouldn't be part of any other film... and yeah, I figured rolling would be a problem. To a certain extent I want it to look bad but if I can get rid of the rolling that would be good. I'll experiment with frame rate. I have 50p and 25p and then 25i which I suppose wouldn't help. Then of course shutter speed... It was just that years ago I had a Panasonic VHS camera (1989) and I filmed off TV and totalled it. The worst thing was it was warned against in manual! There's nothing like that in this cam's manual (GR-PD1) but I just wanted to be sure there really is absolitely no such danger.

June 22nd, 2004, 01:31 PM	#7
Graham Jones Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 489	sorry, I meant to say 'it wouldn't be part of any other SCENE... '

June 22nd, 2004, 01:53 PM	#8
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I don't see how shooting a TV screen could damage a camera, even old tube cameras. I shot TV screen back in the tube camera days. One thing that would help is if you could find an LCD monitor to use instead of the regular CRT screen. The LCD would not have the bad roll. Might be a good excuse to go out and buy a new TV, heheheh.

June 23rd, 2004, 04:37 AM	#9
Graham Jones Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 489	thanks for the LCD tip. Yeah, it was interesting that happened with that old Panasonic VHS cam. It literally said it in the manual and totalled the cam when i did it - stupid.