Are grays always destined to be noisy? at DVinfo.net

Stephen Pruitt · January 6th, 2007, 10:46 PM

Hi all. . .

Okay, I've read the posts. . . including answers to a few of my own.

It seems that while the HVX's various settings will reduce noise levels (B.Press gamma, Detail Coring turned up, etc.), adequate lighting is also key.

But this suggests the following question:

It would seem that, no matter how much light one pours on a subject, gray will absorb almost all of the light, reflecting little. Thus, it would seem that grays will always be noisy, regardless of light levels (and I now have a lot of Arri lights to throw at things!). Blacks can be pitch black and noiseless, but grays and other super dark colors are aways going to be an issue, right?

How then, does one deal with dark, noir subjects using the HVX? Or do they?

Thanks much.

Stephen

Robert Lane · January 7th, 2007, 11:30 AM

Unfortunately this is one of the weaknesses of the HVX; it is the noisiest of the handheld HD cameras. How you ultimately deal with or compensate for it is all dependent on your shooting/editing preferences, but it sounds like you've got all the angles covered.

FYI: No digi-cam does low-light very well, not even the F900 or Varicam. Heck, it's still the bane of DSLR's too, things get noisy when you're dealing with black, dark subject matter and have to compensate with either long exposures or high ISO/gain. That's why film is still king with low light.

January 6th, 2007, 10:46 PM	#1
Stephen Pruitt Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 228	Are grays always destined to be noisy? Hi all. . . Okay, I've read the posts. . . including answers to a few of my own. It seems that while the HVX's various settings will reduce noise levels (B.Press gamma, Detail Coring turned up, etc.), adequate lighting is also key. But this suggests the following question: It would seem that, no matter how much light one pours on a subject, gray will absorb almost all of the light, reflecting little. Thus, it would seem that grays will always be noisy, regardless of light levels (and I now have a lot of Arri lights to throw at things!). Blacks can be pitch black and noiseless, but grays and other super dark colors are aways going to be an issue, right? How then, does one deal with dark, noir subjects using the HVX? Or do they? Thanks much. Stephen

January 7th, 2007, 11:30 AM	#2
Robert Lane Go Go Godzilla Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA Posts: 2,823 Images: 15	Unfortunately this is one of the weaknesses of the HVX; it is the noisiest of the handheld HD cameras. How you ultimately deal with or compensate for it is all dependent on your shooting/editing preferences, but it sounds like you've got all the angles covered. FYI: No digi-cam does low-light very well, not even the F900 or Varicam. Heck, it's still the bane of DSLR's too, things get noisy when you're dealing with black, dark subject matter and have to compensate with either long exposures or high ISO/gain. That's why film is still king with low light.