matching 170 to v1, bad light...

ushere wrote on 12/3/2007, 6:58 PM

shot some opera in a badly lit church using v1 (wide in hdv) 170 (cu sd 4:3). unfortuantely the 170 looks like it was shooting in daylight - great, clear pics, the v1, well they're very clean, dull images (which reflect the atmosphere perfectly). i'm happy enough going the v1 alone, but wouldn't mind cutting in some of the 170 shots, if i knew how to 'dumb' them down somewhat to match the v1.

curves? where should i start?

leslie

Comments

farss wrote on 12/4/2007, 12:03 AM

First problem, how are you going to cut between 16:9 and 4:3?

You could to a centre cutout on the 16:9 and do it all 4:3 if that is a possibility.

How you get the 170 dumbed down to match the V1 don't really know, I'd imagine it's quite a big jump so you couldn't ignore it. Try using Curves would be where I'd start.

Bob.

ushere wrote on 12/4/2007, 4:26 AM

i was thinking split screen, al la woodstock since there's not really that much action happening in the frame - shouldn't be too disturbing.

thought about doing all 4:3, but you've seen a still - the singers are, how shall i put it; wall to wall in 16:9.

will send you a couple of clips - to play with in between editing the abc stuff :-P

leslie

JackW wrote on 12/4/2007, 12:23 PM

I agree with Bob about using Curves, but I'd start with Levels. It sounds like your 170 was on Auto rather than Manual iris; both the 150 and 170 tend to be "hot" on Auto, which would account for the blown out look.

Using Levels to start will pull down the whites and allow you to intensify the blacks. Using the Gamma adjustment may help too.

To avoid the problem you're facing, our company, which shoots a great many theatrical productions each year, always goes to a dress rehearsal and takes test shots at various f-stop settings so we can look at test tapes back in the studio and set up the cameras appropriately. The time spent at the rehearsal is built into the final charge.

Jack

ushere wrote on 12/4/2007, 1:24 PM

thanks jack,

truth is there were no rehearsals, it's a freebie for the committee to raise funds, and the second camera was an unexpected bonus, though operated by its owner who doesn't believe he's capable of shooting with it on anything BUT auto ;-) given all that, i'll follow both bob and your advice and see how it goes...

all the best

leslie