[Randy Rotheisler]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the Nikonians link. It pretty much confirms my experience: that the D800 can handle a line level signal. ” not only can the D800E handle a line level input, the gain setting needs to be modestly high (4-5).” and “at the 1 setting, it requires 1.015V RMS to reach [the camera’s 0dB level].”

Maximum output of the H4n is 1VRMS, which puts it in the same ballpark as the maximum level of the Nikonians test. I ‘m running the headphone output setting of the Zoom at 80 and recording at level 3 on the camera. My levels match up pretty well- the camera meters hit -12dB at the same time as the Zoom’s.

This gives me some peace of mind, knowing that I’m not introducing distortion some where along the way by feeding the camera too hot a signal or via some wierd impedance mismatch.

Note though, the H4n/D800 combo will NOT benefit from a line attenuator cable. As per the Nikonians test, the camera will handle a 1VRMS line level signal just fine. This allows (requires!) recording at a very low level setting on the camera, thus lowering the noise floor and maximizing the S/N. A line attenuator would require a higher recording level- thus also raising the noise floor- and hiss- just what I’m trying to get away from!

As for wretched/not wretched, well, those are obviously value judgments, and to each his or her own. Different needs, as you said.

Best other benchmark tests I’ve been able to find are:

https://nikonrumors.com/2013/05/22/guest-post-nikon-d4-and-d800-audio-levels.aspx/

These findings can clearly be heard at the site below, especially when D800 recorded sound is compared to the sound of the ‘control’ mic.

https://www.audiovideopro.net/audio-recording-with-the-nikon-d800/
also at: https://vimeo.com/44122094

randy

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[Randy Rotheisler]

The trick to “subdued” isn’t the light, it’s the shadows. You’re gonna have to make these- a large soft source in a small room is gonna light everywhere.

You might try flagging or netting off the light hitting the walls so that the amount of light decreases the higher you go. The dividing line between lighter and darker areas can either be sharp (a ‘hard cut’) or quite gradual (a ‘soft cut’).

Alternatively, just because your bathroom doesn’t have actually have a window doesn’t mean you can’t light it as if it does. Cut a ‘window’ out of a big chunk of foam core and sprinkle some ‘moonlight’ through it onto your subject or a dark wall. Shining the moonlight through fake tree limbs and leaves and window panes will help ‘sell’ it.

You MUST be very, very, careful with electricity- especially if your subject is immersed in liquid. Do not, under any circumstances, place lights or power cables where they could fall into the tub!

randy