Comments

Serena wrote on 6/24/2006, 7:50 PM
On my FX I generally use sharpness=10, Cinetone, 50i, shutter 1/50 sec, max gain 6dB and all others at default values. Try to expose to keep f/number < 5.6. Always use manual iris, generally manual focus, manual WB. Of course other settings where appropriate. In low light I'm happy to use 18dB gain, accepting the low level of visible noise which is no worse than film grain (high key scenes better than than low key). Obviously this is all for HD download.
johnmeyer wrote on 6/24/2006, 9:35 PM
I do lots of sports and stage, where everything is changing quickly. I set the PPV menus to give me negative stops from the auto values. Each PPV is one stop lower. I just watch the zebras and then dial in the PPV value needed. The iris control is the most awkward control on any camera I've ever used, still, movie or video. Definitely not useful if you have to change things in a hurry.
Serena wrote on 6/24/2006, 11:08 PM
The iris control wasn't well thought out, but I find it comes to hand readily. The difficulty is turning the right way when you get to it. I've set it so a brush upwards (turn clockwise seen from the back of the camera) increases f/stop and a brush downwards opens it up. That seems natural to me, but until I developed that approach I often turned the wrong way.
PeterWright wrote on 6/24/2006, 11:39 PM
Serena - I do the opposite, and the way I remember is open UP, close DOWN ;)
Serena wrote on 6/25/2006, 12:03 AM
Peter, your method is good because it's a "natural" model. I think in terms of f/numbers so my mind goes: "dark needs smaller f/number". Also my film camera lenses all (but one, that seldom used) opened with anticlockwise rotation (seen from behind) of the aperture ring. Actually I used your method for awhile but always found myself debating whether up was f/number or greater aperture -- old habits!
farss wrote on 6/25/2006, 1:07 AM
Aaargh,
brain turning to jelly stuff here. I hate that moment of indecision about which way to turn ANY knob on a camera and I always loose it when it's up on a BIG screen (live) for all to see.

Bob.
PeterWright wrote on 6/25/2006, 3:48 AM
Yes Bob, - it's a situation I'm sure we've all been in.
I've always been a simple mnemonics person - with focus - I think Close - UP.
johnmeyer wrote on 6/25/2006, 8:48 AM
I just don't remember being confused with older cameras. My original pre-war Contax 35mm; my Bell&Howell Super8; my Nikon Ftn; my RCA video camera. All of these were 100% manual, and I don't ever recall having to think about which way to focus or zoom or set f-stop or shutter speed. Somehow they were all natural and consistent.

BTW, I still have all of these cameras and they all still work. I had to "manufacture" a battery for the old Super8 when someone asked me to shoot part of their wedding in Super8 two years ago. The last time I had shot Super8 was 1977 (I know 'cause I transferred the film not long ago). It only took five seconds to change my shooting style back to the "five second" rule because that click and hum from the camera always sounded like money sliding down a chute into the hands of Kodak. $25 for three minutes (film and processing). Wow!

... But I digress ...


Serena wrote on 6/25/2006, 4:14 PM
On the FX & Z1 the iris control is a menu selectable item, which you need to know to make sense of the apparently contradictory rules used by Peter and me.

John, I think we were less confused because lenses were made to a common convention, and probably still are. But once we went to remote electrical controls then great flexibility was possible (to our general disadvantage). On the FX I would have preferred an aperture ring type of control on the lens to the present little knob on the body.

edit: and "up" (or clockwise) closed the aperture down and (separately, naturally) moved focus closer.