Dumb question: what is messing with my footage brightness? at DVinfo.net

Marc Faletti · January 17th, 2008, 11:27 AM

Hi all,

I feel silly for asking this, but I'm stumped and would love to find out what's affecting my footage.

The problem: Even when I'm in manual mode, with iris set to manual, with gain set to low, my EX1 is still somehow automatically raising and lowering brightness based on the amount of light in the frame. The f-stop doesn't change, but it *acts* like the f-stop changed -- like the iris is set to auto when it isn't.

Example: When shooting towards the ground, footage is bright and clear. When I raise the camera up and a direct light source comes into frame, the footage darkens to compensate for the added light -- even though I don't want it to. I realize the light will be blown out if it *doesn't* compensate, but that's okay for this particular project.

I'd post footage if I could, but I can't release it yet (belongs to client). But again, if more light enters the frame, the camera is darkening the footage as though the iris is closing when the EX1 says it isn't.

Any help? I have a feeling there's something set to "auto" somewhere in the menu, but I am confuzzled.

Paul Newman · January 17th, 2008, 11:38 AM

Your not in "full Auto" are you? check little button above white balance switch - does it show green, meaning it's on? or do you have TLCS enabled ?

Paul

Seth Bloombaum · January 17th, 2008, 11:54 AM

Perhaps shutter speed is still on auto?

Marc Faletti · January 17th, 2008, 12:23 PM

Hi Paul! Nope, not full auto.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Bloombaum

Perhaps shutter speed is still on auto?

Hi Seth! Hmm, maybe. It does list "SHT: Auto" in the LCD, but the only options appear to be Auto or Off. I manually set the shutter speed in the Shutter menu; is there some 3rd option I'm missing between "Auto" and "Off" that'll let me take advantage of the shutter speed I set?

Marc Faletti · January 17th, 2008, 12:28 PM

Oh for pete's sake. I found the "shutter" on/off button at the bottom front of the camera, and *that* lets me switch fron Auto to my manually set shutter speed in the LCD menu now.

Thanks Seth!

(I told everyone it was a dumb question....)

Paul Joy · January 17th, 2008, 12:38 PM

The Shutter on/off switch should not enable auto shutter, it just switches the shutter on and off. I'm not really sure how you could be seeing SHT:AUTO on the LCD with the shutter switched off, as it normally says SHT:OFF, unless full auto is engaged.

regards

Paul.

Marc Faletti · January 17th, 2008, 01:53 PM

Hi Paul,

When the physical "Shutter" switch under the lens on the front of the camera is set to "Off" I couldn't select in the LCD the shutter speed I'd set in the Menu. When I set it to "On," then I could. Have you not had that experience?

Edit to add clarity: This is the physical shutter switch I'm talking about -- when that is set to off, you can only either set the SHT in the LCD to Auto or to Off.

Paul Joy · January 17th, 2008, 02:09 PM

Hi Marc, yes I understand the switch you are talking about, but for me when that shutter switch is in the 'Off' position the LCD says SHT:OFF. From your initial replay it sounded as though you could see SHT:AUTO on the LCD which I think only happens when in Full Auto mode.

Anyway, you sorted it so it's not important :)

regards

Paul.

January 17th, 2008, 11:27 AM	#1
Marc Faletti Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 50	Dumb question: what is messing with my footage brightness? Hi all, I feel silly for asking this, but I'm stumped and would love to find out what's affecting my footage. The problem: Even when I'm in manual mode, with iris set to manual, with gain set to low, my EX1 is still somehow automatically raising and lowering brightness based on the amount of light in the frame. The f-stop doesn't change, but it acts like the f-stop changed -- like the iris is set to auto when it isn't. Example: When shooting towards the ground, footage is bright and clear. When I raise the camera up and a direct light source comes into frame, the footage darkens to compensate for the added light -- even though I don't want it to. I realize the light will be blown out if it doesn't compensate, but that's okay for this particular project. I'd post footage if I could, but I can't release it yet (belongs to client). But again, if more light enters the frame, the camera is darkening the footage as though the iris is closing when the EX1 says it isn't. Any help? I have a feeling there's something set to "auto" somewhere in the menu, but I am confuzzled.

January 17th, 2008, 11:38 AM	#2
Paul Newman Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Agua Blanca Ibiza Posts: 305	Your not in "full Auto" are you? check little button above white balance switch - does it show green, meaning it's on? or do you have TLCS enabled ? Paul __________________ Another Sunny Day in Ibiza

January 17th, 2008, 12:38 PM	#6
Paul Joy Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 627	The Shutter on/off switch should not enable auto shutter, it just switches the shutter on and off. I'm not really sure how you could be seeing SHT:AUTO on the LCD with the shutter switched off, as it normally says SHT:OFF, unless full auto is engaged. regards Paul. __________________ Blog: www.pauljoy.com Company: www.videotrader.co.uk

January 17th, 2008, 02:09 PM	#8
Paul Joy Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 627	Hi Marc, yes I understand the switch you are talking about, but for me when that shutter switch is in the 'Off' position the LCD says SHT:OFF. From your initial replay it sounded as though you could see SHT:AUTO on the LCD which I think only happens when in Full Auto mode. Anyway, you sorted it so it's not important :) regards Paul. __________________ Blog: www.pauljoy.com Company: www.videotrader.co.uk

January 17th, 2008, 11:54 AM	#3
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Perhaps shutter speed is still on auto?

January 17th, 2008, 12:28 PM	#5
Marc Faletti Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 50	Oh for pete's sake. I found the "shutter" on/off button at the bottom front of the camera, and that lets me switch fron Auto to my manually set shutter speed in the LCD menu now. Thanks Seth! (I told everyone it was a dumb question....)

January 17th, 2008, 01:53 PM	#7
Marc Faletti Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 50	Hi Paul, When the physical "Shutter" switch under the lens on the front of the camera is set to "Off" I couldn't select in the LCD the shutter speed I'd set in the Menu. When I set it to "On," then I could. Have you not had that experience? Edit to add clarity: This is the physical shutter switch I'm talking about -- when that is set to off, you can only either set the SHT in the LCD to Auto or to Off.