Color fluctuation with PD150 at DVinfo.net

Sverrir Fridriksson · August 12th, 2009, 09:58 AM

While cutting together a short film, I noticed that some of the footage had fluctuating color. This was only noticeable where white backgrounds were dominant, but pretty much showed up anywhere where there was white in the scene, except for outdoors. I suppose this has got something to do with white balance, The white goes from pinkish, to just about right to greenish, the images give some idea.

I'll probably have to test my way out of the problem, but figured I'd post this here if anyone knew what was going on.

Adam Gold · August 12th, 2009, 12:48 PM

Are you using Auto WB?

Don Bloom · August 12th, 2009, 12:59 PM

if you're not running fully manual exposure this could happen especially if the lighting is flourescent.
There is 1 other possiblity although unlikely and that is 1 of the chips is going. There was a problem with some earlier 170s but in the almost 9 nine years with my 150 I've not had that problem but I'm throwing it out there however unlikey it might be.
It really appears more a lighting issue.

Boyd Ostroff · August 12th, 2009, 06:44 PM

When I was using my VX-2000 and PDX-10 I frequently had the problem of accidentally setting the white balance to automatic. If you don't see one of the white balance icons (like the light bulb or preset symbol) in the viewfinder, it's on auto. I finally realized I needed to check for this every time and then things were fine.

It's been awhile since I used these cameras, but IIRC each time you punch the WB button it cycles through the options. Problem was, the button is shaped just like some other buttons and is easy to press accidentally.

Chris McMahon · August 13th, 2009, 12:33 PM

I had a similar issue with my old VX1000 whenever I filmed in this one specific location, a warehouse lit with flourescents. Whitebalance and exposure were both set manually, and I eventually ended up messing with the shutterspeed, which I'd set at 250, and found that the issue happened whenever I wasn't at a shutterspeed that was a multiple of 60, which I'm assuming was somehow related to the flourescents running at 60Hz.

edit: 250, not 25. 25 would be stutterspeed.

Shaun Roemich · August 13th, 2009, 01:42 PM

Chris is right. Under fluorescent fixtures, your shutter speed needs to be a factor of the power cycle in your country in hertz. In NTSC countries (60Hz power) you need to use 1/60, 1/120, 1/180 etc. In Pal Land, 1/50, 1/100 etc. This is because the wavelength of light put out by NORMAL fluorescent fixtures cycles over the course of one power cycle (ie. each Hz). Pro fixtures get around this by using sRGB lights (the s stands for sustained).

Sverrir Fridriksson · August 18th, 2009, 05:55 AM

Thanks for the help, guys.

You are most likely right about the fluorescent lighting.I haven't had time to test the camera again but I'm pretty sure your advice will be of great assistance.

August 12th, 2009, 09:58 AM	#1
Sverrir Fridriksson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Iceland Posts: 58	Color fluctuation with PD150 While cutting together a short film, I noticed that some of the footage had fluctuating color. This was only noticeable where white backgrounds were dominant, but pretty much showed up anywhere where there was white in the scene, except for outdoors. I suppose this has got something to do with white balance, The white goes from pinkish, to just about right to greenish, the images give some idea. I'll probably have to test my way out of the problem, but figured I'd post this here if anyone knew what was going on. Attached Thumbnails

August 12th, 2009, 12:59 PM	#3
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	if you're not running fully manual exposure this could happen especially if the lighting is flourescent. There is 1 other possiblity although unlikely and that is 1 of the chips is going. There was a problem with some earlier 170s but in the almost 9 nine years with my 150 I've not had that problem but I'm throwing it out there however unlikey it might be. It really appears more a lighting issue. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

August 13th, 2009, 12:33 PM	#5
Chris McMahon Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Jose, CA,, USA Posts: 144	I had a similar issue with my old VX1000 whenever I filmed in this one specific location, a warehouse lit with flourescents. Whitebalance and exposure were both set manually, and I eventually ended up messing with the shutterspeed, which I'd set at 250, and found that the issue happened whenever I wasn't at a shutterspeed that was a multiple of 60, which I'm assuming was somehow related to the flourescents running at 60Hz. edit: 250, not 25. 25 would be stutterspeed. Last edited by Chris McMahon; August 13th, 2009 at 01:47 PM.

August 13th, 2009, 01:42 PM	#6
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Chris is right. Under fluorescent fixtures, your shutter speed needs to be a factor of the power cycle in your country in hertz. In NTSC countries (60Hz power) you need to use 1/60, 1/120, 1/180 etc. In Pal Land, 1/50, 1/100 etc. This is because the wavelength of light put out by NORMAL fluorescent fixtures cycles over the course of one power cycle (ie. each Hz). Pro fixtures get around this by using sRGB lights (the s stands for sustained). __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

August 12th, 2009, 12:48 PM	#2
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Are you using Auto WB?

August 12th, 2009, 06:44 PM	#4
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	When I was using my VX-2000 and PDX-10 I frequently had the problem of accidentally setting the white balance to automatic. If you don't see one of the white balance icons (like the light bulb or preset symbol) in the viewfinder, it's on auto. I finally realized I needed to check for this every time and then things were fine. It's been awhile since I used these cameras, but IIRC each time you punch the WB button it cycles through the options. Problem was, the button is shaped just like some other buttons and is easy to press accidentally.

August 18th, 2009, 05:55 AM	#7
Sverrir Fridriksson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Iceland Posts: 58	Thanks for the help, guys. You are most likely right about the fluorescent lighting.I haven't had time to test the camera again but I'm pretty sure your advice will be of great assistance.