Align charts and the DVX100? at DVinfo.net

Marcia Janine Galles · July 1st, 2003, 11:48 PM

Hi all,
Looking over Scott Billups book and site (haven't finished the book yet) he's definitely in the pro calibration camp, with regard to charts before a shoot, and I've been wondering how critical this is with the DVX, being that it's not HD (which is routinely cited as needing exacting calibration). Thing is, the CamAlign front box series which is supposed to be the "economical alternative" is $340 for one chart. Yikes. I found it at Filmtools, and gulped big time. (http://store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/dsccamfronse.html)

So, my question(s) is (are) isn't this overkill for DV, as opposed to HD? OTOH, given that I can definitely see the value in focus charts, are there equally (or relatively equal) valuable alternatives for location alignment that won't break the bank? Still have lights and a mic set up to get. Man, this is adding up...

Many thanks in advance guys,
Marcia

Stephen van Vuuren · July 1st, 2003, 11:58 PM

Not critical. You can print up your own chart on a decent quality printer. Don't spend $340.

Plus, it's not like there are backfocus and other lens adjustments that apply to the DVX100. My XL1 14X manual lens had backfocus and I did print myself a chart to adjust, but you don't have to have a chart to do it.

Fine lines, diagonals, squares, circles in various colors and you are set.

Marcia Janine Galles · July 2nd, 2003, 12:09 AM

Stephen,
Can you email me the chart you made up or point me to one I can download/copy? There are a lot of things about this cam I'm totally at home with (love it more with each passing day), but focus mis-steps I may not see till I'm back in the edit bay have me a bit spooked. (Saw too much messed up footage when I freelanced, I guess.)

Thanks,
Marcia

Stephen van Vuuren · July 2nd, 2003, 08:41 AM

Evidently, I did not keep it. I just made something up in illustrator that mimicked the ones on PixelMonger.

July 1st, 2003, 11:48 PM	#1
Marcia Janine Galles Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 340	Align charts and the DVX100? Hi all, Looking over Scott Billups book and site (haven't finished the book yet) he's definitely in the pro calibration camp, with regard to charts before a shoot, and I've been wondering how critical this is with the DVX, being that it's not HD (which is routinely cited as needing exacting calibration). Thing is, the CamAlign front box series which is supposed to be the "economical alternative" is $340 for one chart. Yikes. I found it at Filmtools, and gulped big time. (http://store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/dsccamfronse.html) So, my question(s) is (are) isn't this overkill for DV, as opposed to HD? OTOH, given that I can definitely see the value in focus charts, are there equally (or relatively equal) valuable alternatives for location alignment that won't break the bank? Still have lights and a mic set up to get. Man, this is adding up... Many thanks in advance guys, Marcia

July 1st, 2003, 11:58 PM	#2
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	Not critical. You can print up your own chart on a decent quality printer. Don't spend $340. Plus, it's not like there are backfocus and other lens adjustments that apply to the DVX100. My XL1 14X manual lens had backfocus and I did print myself a chart to adjust, but you don't have to have a chart to do it. Fine lines, diagonals, squares, circles in various colors and you are set. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

July 2nd, 2003, 08:41 AM	#4
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	Evidently, I did not keep it. I just made something up in illustrator that mimicked the ones on PixelMonger. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

July 2nd, 2003, 12:09 AM	#3
Marcia Janine Galles Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 340	Stephen, Can you email me the chart you made up or point me to one I can download/copy? There are a lot of things about this cam I'm totally at home with (love it more with each passing day), but focus mis-steps I may not see till I'm back in the edit bay have me a bit spooked. (Saw too much messed up footage when I freelanced, I guess.) Thanks, Marcia