Mark D'agostino
Forum Replies Created
-
The 900 has a “rb gain”, (no “g”, which I like to leave alone anyhow). I have played with that. Using a chart and a vectorscope are fine if you’re just setting r=g=b, but I usually end up tweaking away from the “normal” balance using tinted cards. I like your approach. Are you painting this by eye?
Mark D’Agostino
http://www.synergeticproductions.com -
Hi Ray,
Thanks for the reply. Our 900 unfortunately was out of warranty. We had the plastic gear replaced with a brass one. On another subject, I know you have shot HD from a helicopter. In fact I spoke with you about a year and a half ago when we first got our HDX900. We have shot many times over the years with SD lenses. What HD lens have you found gives the most stable image? I had less than ideal results the first time I tried an HD lens. They are much more sensitive and prone to vibrations than SD lens,(actually the lower resolution of SD helps to hide it). After speaking with folks at Tyler I solved that, (the bracket to support the lens would not fit the HD lens the client rented and we had to fly without it. We stabilized the footage in post with Smoothcam).
We typically use the Tyler mount, no gyro stabilization, and shoot at a focal length of 7 – 10mm.Thanks!
Mark D’Agostino
http://www.synergeticproductions.com -
Ernie,
No disrespect taken. My question didn’t exactly demonstrate my experience, (2″quad to 16, 35 and HD over 30 years).
I have a set of blue cards and I use them quite often. Your explanation in this post was the one that finally clicked. Incredibly basic but my brain freeze got in the way. Thanks a bunch!Mark D’Agostino
http://www.synergeticproductions.com -
Ernie,
Thanks for such a quick response. I do understand the mathematics of white balance as I’ve been doing this since the image orthicon tube days. I was just wondering how to interpret the 900’s readout. When I white balance and it reads 3200K under tungsten light that’s basically fine. If I wish to warm that I’d typically add a fraction of CTO to bring it down to say, 3000k. If I wish to do something similar electronically, (oops, forget my gels), then my gut would be after white balancing to 3200k to dial down to 3000k in the menu. However, that corrects in the “cool” direction. That’s the logic I’m fighting.Mark D’Agostino
http://www.synergeticproductions.com -
Your posts,Bruce have been very helpful in getting a better understanding of white balance within the menu system of the HDX900. Lets say for instance that I show a white balance of 3000k in the viewfinder. When I electronically change that to read 3200k and above the image is warmer. That’s opposite of what I thought it would be…the higher the kelvin temp the cooler the image. Could you explain the logic that I’m missing?
Thanks!Mark D
Mark D’Agostino
http://www.synergeticproductions.com -
I agree that this was shot in front of a white background. However, we have done similar things with highly reflective objects on green screen. As Rick noted, keeping a good distance from the green wall is important. In this case I’d go for at least 15 feet. For the reflections, since this would be an easy matte because you don’t see the floor and the shot is so tight, a 4×8 sheet of foam core on both sides just out of frame, (or in frame as long as her body doesn’t cross in front of the card), and possibly another angled up in front on the floor would hide the green and reflect the appropriate white. The white card also helps to bring detail to the black shirt. You just have to tweak the bounce level on the cards to strike a nice lighting balance on the subject. I also often use brown shipping paper from below in front to eliminate the green without over lighting from white.
Mark
Mark D’Agostino
http://www.synergeticproductions.com -
The problem with the ND wheel turns out to be a broken plastic gear. I’ve been told this has happened to a few HDX900s and that Panasonic is replacing that gear with a brass one. Ours was repaired at Abel CineTech. They were very helpful and quick… Nice folks to do business with. Another place I checked for repair didn’t know about this issue and contacted Panasonic. They were told a service bulletin would be coming out but that the brass part wasn’t available yet. I guess Abel CT got theirs because they sell the camera.
Mark D’Agostino
http://www.synergeticproductions.com -
Hi Ernie,
We’ve had the camera since July 2007. I was holding off sending it in in case I or someone else could come up with an “at home” solution.
Thanks!
MarkMark D’Agostino
http://www.synergeticproductions.com -
I contacted Jesse Rosen at Abel Cine Tech. He sent me a link to a great calculator for this purpose. Here it is: https://www.panavision.co.nz/main/kbase/reference/tblelenseqvform.asp
Thanks Jesse!
Mark
Mark D’Agostino
http://www.synergeticproductions.com -
Hi Robyn,
I’m using the HDX900, not the varicam so I don’t know about viewing slomo direct from the camera to monitor. I can view time lapse from the hdx900 with a monitor via bnc.Mark
Mark D’Agostino
http://www.synergeticproductions.com