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Colored LED light flicker
When I film weddings and receptions, usually during the dance, the DJ has these really bright colored LED lights as part of the light show. It looks good to the naked eye, but it looks awful on DSLR video (Canon 60D specifically).
Not only are the lights bright and intense shades of reds greens and blues, but there is something in the frequency of these lights that cause a flicker at every shutter speed, but is least noticeable at the shutter speed of 30, but it is still certainly there.
I’m wondering what other people have done to help alleviate these problems…both the color intensity and the flicker issues. Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks!
Casey -
9 Replies
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This is probably an issue to do with electric current frequency powering the LEDs. Unlike good true video cameras HDSLRs do not have a variable clear scan shutter adjustment (most commonly used for syncing CRT computer screens or fluorescent lights in foreign countries). Clear scan allows you to set precise shutter speeds of say 1/59.6 and sync your frame rate to the current frequency or scan rate of a computer screen.
You are stuck with 1/25, 1/50, 1/60 etc. typical of still photographic cameras.
If this is the cause there’s virtually no fix in the camera.
Cinematographer, Steadicam Operator, Final Cut Pro Post Production.
https://philming.com.au
https://www.steadi-onfilms.com.au/ -
[Phil Balsdon] “This is probably an issue to do with electric current frequency powering the LEDs. (…) If this is the cause there’s virtually no fix in the camera.”
Yes, exactly. Even LEDs that won’t show any flicker when at full power will flicker while dimming.
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“Tragedy is a close-up; comedy, a long shot.” – Buster KeatonMe on Twitter (english/german)
https://twitter.com/FastFoodVideo -
This is a great video shot by my friend Rod Turnbull using the high speed function on a Sony NEX FS-700. Take a close look at the head lights of the red car. The LED trim lights around the bottom edges flicker very noticeably in slow mo shots. Not a problem in the static hero shots at the end though when using regular frame rate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNwi7xmrotU
Apparently this was also a problem for TV coverage in the Le Mans 24 hour race where some cars now use full LED headlights.
Cinematographer, Steadicam Operator, Final Cut Pro Post Production.
https://philming.com.au
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I see…is there anything that can be done in post to minimize it?
Thanks!
Casey -
There is a fluorescent setting in the camera white balance settings that may help. I had a recent issue with fluorescent lighting and it helps. Not sure what to do in post.
Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.netSony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut StudioHP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite -
Fluorescent setting is only for color balance and won’t fix the flicker.
Cinematographer, Steadicam Operator, Final Cut Pro Post Production.
https://philming.com.au
https://www.steadi-onfilms.com.au/ -
is the whole screen flickering or just small points of light?
what do you mean by color intensity? too much saturation? or glowing extremes from off to light burst?
this might work
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/280/9578 -
Did you ever figure this out? I shot something that I couldn’t see how bad the banding was. I need to fix it so any post suggestions will help.
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Nope, never did
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