Video Guide to EX gamma curves

Max Allen · September 2nd, 2009, 07:42 PM

Hi there,

I wouldn't really imply to leave knee on by default, even if the point is high. Some shots won't exceed the dynamic range that calls for knee. The price of knee is highlight contrast reduction. And I prefer to avoid any hint of the bigger price for faces, pasty skin.

Alister Chapman · September 3rd, 2009, 12:35 AM

The Knee is on by default from the factory, what's worse is the factory default is auto, so you have no control whatsoever. For most people the knee will bring more advantages than disadvantages.

The knee set at 85 should have no significant effect on skin and flesh tones unless you are overexposing or have a lot of specular highlights in which case it should help.

Simon Wyndham · September 3rd, 2009, 03:20 AM

I would never use DCC. Too much like auto focus etc. Contrary to how it is often portrayed the DCC option doesn't always give you better highlight information. If the DCC decides that the highlights are not important it will free up the tonal range for the other sections of the picture and you end up with more blown highlights.

But yes you should be able to get 600% by adjusting the knee slope in combination with the knee point. But personally I'd leave the DCC well alone.

Max Allen · September 3rd, 2009, 10:24 AM

Right you are, Auto Knee is Sony's default not only for EX but also for their full size cams. Is it so for your 700 also? One of the first things I do after factory reset when painting is turn Knee off. When I see a shot with illegal or lost detail in highlights then I'll play with it. Most of my stuff these days I don't know where it will end up so I have to observe the common denominator for levels.

Alister Chapman · September 3rd, 2009, 10:59 AM

On the PDW-700 the DCC is on the Bar/Camera/Cam+DCC switch so you can turn it off. I'm sure many camera ops just flick the switch all the way over to Cam+DCC. If you have the knee on as well the results can be nasty.

Les Nagy · September 3rd, 2009, 04:28 PM

Very good work and a very nice contribution to our community. Thank you for sharing your knowledge Alister.

September 3rd, 2009, 12:35 AM	#17
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	The Knee is on by default from the factory, what's worse is the factory default is auto, so you have no control whatsoever. For most people the knee will bring more advantages than disadvantages. The knee set at 85 should have no significant effect on skin and flesh tones unless you are overexposing or have a lot of specular highlights in which case it should help. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

September 3rd, 2009, 10:59 AM	#20
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	On the PDW-700 the DCC is on the Bar/Camera/Cam+DCC switch so you can turn it off. I'm sure many camera ops just flick the switch all the way over to Cam+DCC. If you have the knee on as well the results can be nasty. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

September 2nd, 2009, 07:42 PM	#16
Max Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NY Posts: 186	Hi there, I wouldn't really imply to leave knee on by default, even if the point is high. Some shots won't exceed the dynamic range that calls for knee. The price of knee is highlight contrast reduction. And I prefer to avoid any hint of the bigger price for faces, pasty skin.

September 3rd, 2009, 03:20 AM	#18
Simon Wyndham Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malvern UK Posts: 1,931	I would never use DCC. Too much like auto focus etc. Contrary to how it is often portrayed the DCC option doesn't always give you better highlight information. If the DCC decides that the highlights are not important it will free up the tonal range for the other sections of the picture and you end up with more blown highlights. But yes you should be able to get 600% by adjusting the knee slope in combination with the knee point. But personally I'd leave the DCC well alone.

September 3rd, 2009, 10:24 AM	#19
Max Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NY Posts: 186	Right you are, Auto Knee is Sony's default not only for EX but also for their full size cams. Is it so for your 700 also? One of the first things I do after factory reset when painting is turn Knee off. When I see a shot with illegal or lost detail in highlights then I'll play with it. Most of my stuff these days I don't know where it will end up so I have to observe the common denominator for levels.

September 3rd, 2009, 04:28 PM	#21
Les Nagy Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: A Canadian in Canada, and sometimes Chile Posts: 265	Very good work and a very nice contribution to our community. Thank you for sharing your knowledge Alister.