A1 Shutter driving me nuts! at DVinfo.net

Marco Wagner · March 12th, 2007, 12:24 PM

I am doing something, I don't know what it is, but after a while the A1U greys out my ability to use manual shutter!!! I go through all the settings and nothing is on to indicate that Auto shutter is being used. The only way to get back manual control of the shutter is to factory reset the dang thing! Anyone having this issue or know what is causing it/how to fix it?

: I shoot full manual 1080.60i
: I use the manual exposure lever
: Manual focus
: No in camera effects
: Auto lock is OFF

Chris Barcellos · March 12th, 2007, 12:31 PM

If this is anything like the VX2000, and I seem to remember it is, on full manual, you first select shutter speed, and it locks in place, then you adjust iris exposure and eventually gain with the exposure wheel. If that is the case, you have to determine what shutter speed you want to shoot at first, then adjust exposure according.

Marco Wagner · March 12th, 2007, 04:21 PM

I wish it was like the VX, I could lock it down totally. With the A1U it is a totally different animal.

MOST of the time I can lock it in at 60i and manually adjust exposure until my heart's content. Then, seemingly at random, it greys the shutter options out! I don't change ANYTHING aside exposure up or down... or zoom in or out.

Daniel Browning · March 12th, 2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco Wagner

I am doing something, I don't know what it is, but after a while the A1U greys out my ability to use manual shutter

That frustrates me too. I don't have an A1U in front of me right now, but I think the last time I had this problem the cause was the manual exposure lever. It must be set on "AE shift" instead.

Jim Miller · March 12th, 2007, 06:20 PM

When you set shutter speed manualy then use the manual exposure you can no longer select a different shutter speed until you put the exposure back on automatic (as you say the shutter is greyed out) So, no need to reset everything just set exposure back to auto then select a new manual shutter speed and go back to manual exposure. Its inconvienent but thats how it works (at least it does on my A1u)

Marco Wagner · March 12th, 2007, 07:31 PM

Thanks SO much Jim, that was making me crazy. I'll give that a go next time it greys me out.

Frank Howard · March 15th, 2007, 04:45 PM

Jim's absolutely right, it's all in the order you do it. Just to make it perfectly clear:
1) Set the Exposure to Auto
2) Set your shutter speed.
3) Set your exposure to Manual.

Marco Wagner · March 15th, 2007, 05:39 PM

Thanks Guys, I was beginning to think I made a mistake in buying that camera after being used to the VX2100 for so long.

Martin Labelle · March 21st, 2007, 11:27 AM

its been the second time this forum save me this week and changed what I was thinking of my camera.I wish there was a direct link to dvinfo inside the sony hvr-a1.

Marco Wagner · March 21st, 2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Labelle

its been the second time this forum save me this week and changed what I was thinking of my camera.I wish there was a direct link to dvinfo inside the sony hvr-a1.

Same here. It (A1U) is a totally different animal and just needs to be handled like a new parrot. I still want the V1U, but it is still a bit out of my price range. I had to temporarily "settle" for the A1U. In good light it blows my VX2100 out of the water. In low light it is the opposite, and the reason I haven't sold the VX2100 yet.

Frank Howard · March 21st, 2007, 06:54 PM

In fact, I'm betting you might be able to use the VX2100 for a B camera for low light stuff and you might be able to match it up with a little bit of After Effects magic. But remember, never edit in 8 bit mode though if you are going to color correct or use effects...

Marco Wagner · March 21st, 2007, 10:37 PM

A bet you'd win Frank. I've mixed footage of the two a few times now and am starting to get the hang of it. So far, not so bad of a mix at 16:9, haven't tried 4:3 yet, VX footage stretches great in post.

I'm new to color correcting, just learning that. I'm also new to After Effects 7.0. Premiere -7 years. I just never had time to fully dive in to AE.

How do I avoid editing in 8bit? Sorry for the noob question.

Frank Howard · March 22nd, 2007, 09:15 PM

When you open AE, go to File/Project Settings. In the dialog box that comes up, go to the Color Settings area and click on 16 bits per channel from the drop down list. Many people leave it at the default which gets rendered at a lower quality, even though it might get rendered back down to 8 bits. It may sound weird, but it works much better.

There are also a number of good tips in The DV Rebel's Guide that can help and you can look through the postings in the Digital Compositing and Effects forum here at DV Info.

Marco Wagner · March 22nd, 2007, 09:45 PM

Thanks so much Howard! I was using default, no wonder! Thanks again for the resource info as well.

March 12th, 2007, 12:24 PM	#1
Marco Wagner Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Saint Cloud, Florida Posts: 1,043	A1 Shutter driving me nuts! I am doing something, I don't know what it is, but after a while the A1U greys out my ability to use manual shutter!!! I go through all the settings and nothing is on to indicate that Auto shutter is being used. The only way to get back manual control of the shutter is to factory reset the dang thing! Anyone having this issue or know what is causing it/how to fix it? : I shoot full manual 1080.60i : I use the manual exposure lever : Manual focus : No in camera effects : Auto lock is OFF __________________ www.facebook.com/projectspecto

March 12th, 2007, 12:31 PM	#2
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	If this is anything like the VX2000, and I seem to remember it is, on full manual, you first select shutter speed, and it locks in place, then you adjust iris exposure and eventually gain with the exposure wheel. If that is the case, you have to determine what shutter speed you want to shoot at first, then adjust exposure according. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

March 12th, 2007, 04:21 PM	#3
Marco Wagner Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Saint Cloud, Florida Posts: 1,043	I wish it was like the VX, I could lock it down totally. With the A1U it is a totally different animal. MOST of the time I can lock it in at 60i and manually adjust exposure until my heart's content. Then, seemingly at random, it greys the shutter options out! I don't change ANYTHING aside exposure up or down... or zoom in or out. __________________ www.facebook.com/projectspecto

March 12th, 2007, 07:31 PM	#6
Marco Wagner Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Saint Cloud, Florida Posts: 1,043	Wow Thanks SO much Jim, that was making me crazy. I'll give that a go next time it greys me out. __________________ www.facebook.com/projectspecto

March 15th, 2007, 05:39 PM	#8
Marco Wagner Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Saint Cloud, Florida Posts: 1,043	Thanks Guys, I was beginning to think I made a mistake in buying that camera after being used to the VX2100 for so long. __________________ www.facebook.com/projectspecto

March 12th, 2007, 06:20 PM	#5
Jim Miller Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa,Florida Posts: 236	When you set shutter speed manualy then use the manual exposure you can no longer select a different shutter speed until you put the exposure back on automatic (as you say the shutter is greyed out) So, no need to reset everything just set exposure back to auto then select a new manual shutter speed and go back to manual exposure. Its inconvienent but thats how it works (at least it does on my A1u)

March 15th, 2007, 04:45 PM	#7
Frank Howard Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 157	Jim's absolutely right, it's all in the order you do it. Just to make it perfectly clear: 1) Set the Exposure to Auto 2) Set your shutter speed. 3) Set your exposure to Manual.

March 21st, 2007, 11:27 AM	#9
Martin Labelle Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: montreal Posts: 170	thanks again for the shutter tips(a1u) its been the second time this forum save me this week and changed what I was thinking of my camera.I wish there was a direct link to dvinfo inside the sony hvr-a1.

March 21st, 2007, 06:54 PM	#11
Frank Howard Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 157	In fact, I'm betting you might be able to use the VX2100 for a B camera for low light stuff and you might be able to match it up with a little bit of After Effects magic. But remember, never edit in 8 bit mode though if you are going to color correct or use effects...

March 21st, 2007, 10:37 PM	#12
Marco Wagner Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Saint Cloud, Florida Posts: 1,043	A bet you'd win Frank. I've mixed footage of the two a few times now and am starting to get the hang of it. So far, not so bad of a mix at 16:9, haven't tried 4:3 yet, VX footage stretches great in post. I'm new to color correcting, just learning that. I'm also new to After Effects 7.0. Premiere -7 years. I just never had time to fully dive in to AE. How do I avoid editing in 8bit? Sorry for the noob question. __________________ www.facebook.com/projectspecto

March 22nd, 2007, 09:15 PM	#13
Frank Howard Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 157	When you open AE, go to File/Project Settings. In the dialog box that comes up, go to the Color Settings area and click on 16 bits per channel from the drop down list. Many people leave it at the default which gets rendered at a lower quality, even though it might get rendered back down to 8 bits. It may sound weird, but it works much better. There are also a number of good tips in The DV Rebel's Guide that can help and you can look through the postings in the Digital Compositing and Effects forum here at DV Info.

March 22nd, 2007, 09:45 PM	#14
Marco Wagner Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Saint Cloud, Florida Posts: 1,043	Thanks so much Howard! I was using default, no wonder! Thanks again for the resource info as well. __________________ www.facebook.com/projectspecto