dvx100-manual or auto iris for shooting interior of homes?

[Bownut]

joslyn,

I use a DVX100B for exactly this purpose. I shoot video tours of homes. I prefer to go manual because the iris adjustment isn’t very smooth, it is a little bit choppy on this camera. It also depends on your shot and the window placement–that is usually what creates the issue. Anyway, I point the camera to the room and set the iris on auto so that it sets it right for the room, then I swtich it to manual before pointing my shot at the window. It might a little blown out, but it is better than the iris adjusting choppy or not fast enough. It can also make it look like something is wrong with the lighting to the viewer, the camera operators are the ones who know it is the iris. Test out your shots and see what you like. Also, if I want to see the outside view, or it is really, really bright, I might use auto or adjust it down a little. I hope this helps. And when you find out about the 24p, I’d like to know. I’m shooting 30i right now and haven’t really experimented. I export to television and the web.

[Joslyn20]

thanks for your responses. =) i’m going to test things out this weekend…auto vs. manual…30p vs. 60i…bownut, thanks for your experience w/ home tours. do you have any web samples that i can see?

also, if anyone else has any other feedback/experiences, by all means chime in. =)

[Zvi Twersky]

Here are some excelent free tutorials for your issues, plus much more, but what’s good about them, is that they show you actual footage of video shots to demonstrate what he’s talking about:

https://www.izzyvideo.com/

You said that you shoot 30i… I wanted to ask why would one usually shoot i and not progressive? Is it because of the TV broadcast you need it for?

[Zvi Twersky]

I also read that older DVDs can’t read 24.

[Noah Kadner]

Not true- 24p is a spec from the very start of DVDs. All players can read 24p encoded DVDs and probably greater than 90% of all Hollywood DVD’s are encoded at 24p.

To the original poster- I would recommend never recording with auto iris on. It screams amateur to anyone who knows video. My typical run and gun method is use auto to get an exposure for the scene and then switch back to manual before starting a take. Also your question mentioned mixed lighting sources. In that case you’ll also want to white-balance properly in each new lighting change so everything looks normal. Carry a white card for this purpose.

Pro shooters don’t use auto iris, auto focus or auto white balance during a shot because they leave obvious effects on the footage. It’s pretty easy to go full manual, like anything practice makes perfect.

Noah

Unlock the secrets of the DVX100 and Final Cut Pro!
https://www.callboxlive.com

[Joslyn20]

much appreciation for your feedback! was able to test things out today and totally agree getting an exposure and going manual iris(focus/white balance as well). =)

noah, question now is whether to shoot 30p or 60i? don’t need 24p for what i’m doing. which would you shoot and why(for this type of shoot going to dvd/web)?

thanks again and much appreciation! =)

[Noah Kadner]

I’d still go 24p. You can put clips on the web at 24p- most of the QuickTime trailers at Apple.com are at 24p. That saves you 20% file size that you can devote to higher image quality rather than on redundant frames.

Noah

Unlock the secrets of the DVX100 and Final Cut Pro!
https://www.callboxlive.com

[Joslyn20]

when you say 24p, do you mean 24p or 24pa? my main concern are panning a room which from what i understand must be slooow in order to avoid flicker. no?

[Gerrit Vooren]

Shooting a theater performance, with both low and bright light with a DVX100 and a DVX100B.

Need to know the best way to do a white balance. Use a white balance card on stage in brightest or lowest light, or in between? Exposure?

Also, color with these 2 different camera’s is an issue, anything I should watch out for?

Thanks!

GV