Why do DV cameras have such a limited gamut? at DVinfo.net

Emre Safak · July 15th, 2007, 09:34 AM

What determines the gamut of a sensor? In other words, what obstactles are there to creating one that captures a wider range of colors?

I ask because I have observed that the color in DV cameras uniformly sucks compared with 35mm and DSLRs. I think it is not just a matter of chroma subsampling, but the limitations of the NTSC color space.

How do HD sensors compare with SD sensors? Is there any information that one can use to compare the gamuts of the various HD cameras with SD and film?

Don Blish · July 15th, 2007, 01:07 PM

As I understand it, gamut on SD and HD cameras are adjusted (downward) to match the standard display space. If the spec were changed, all the elements in the production and display system would have to be adjusted. The ideal time for this would have been 1995 when the ATSC standard was set.

July 15th, 2007, 09:34 AM	#1
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	Why do DV cameras have such a limited gamut? What determines the gamut of a sensor? In other words, what obstactles are there to creating one that captures a wider range of colors? I ask because I have observed that the color in DV cameras uniformly sucks compared with 35mm and DSLRs. I think it is not just a matter of chroma subsampling, but the limitations of the NTSC color space. How do HD sensors compare with SD sensors? Is there any information that one can use to compare the gamuts of the various HD cameras with SD and film?

July 15th, 2007, 01:07 PM	#2
Don Blish Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Portland OR Posts: 227	As I understand it, gamut on SD and HD cameras are adjusted (downward) to match the standard display space. If the spec were changed, all the elements in the production and display system would have to be adjusted. The ideal time for this would have been 1995 when the ATSC standard was set.