HF100 ASA / ISO / Sensativity

[Salil Sundresh]

Does anyone know what the approximate ASA rating of the HF100 is. What about the HV30? I've heard the HV30, but I'd be happy to hear other ratings especially if you've tested the HV30 and HF100 side by side.

[DrDave]

I've used the HV20 and the HF100 side by side for some time, but no idea how to calculate the ASA. They are both about the same in low light, the HF100 is a tad sharper, the HV20 is true HDV. Flash vs tape, etc etc. The HF100 is cuter.

[Salil Sundresh]

bump

[JCM_GDL]

I think it is possible to achieve that measurement. The way to measure the ASA / ISO sensibility in a fair way is to compare the measurements with the half press shutter button method of the FH S100 or the HV30 in a specific shot in AV or TV mode (preferable in a good illuminated place but not to much) and replicate those measures with the same scene (Aperture and Shutter speed) in a manual still camera, finding the ISO setting giving a plus minus zero EV compensation. And that is the ASA/ISO of this camcorder in a not gain-not ND filter condition.

In a fair or low light condition, the gain in the camcorder is equivalent to doubling the ISO/ASA value and in a very lighted environment (noon sunlight condition) the ND filters are equivalent to reducing the ISO or to using external filters.

With this measure one can compare sensibilities of two o more camcorders giving different luminosity in the same good but not to much lighted scene with the same AV and TV values.

[BZLProductions]

I have a Canon Vixia m400, which I rated for about 200ASA. The way to rate the camera is to first measure how many footcandles of light are on your subject (in my case I had a 750wat light, 2 feet away from my subject which yielded about 200 footcandles, if I remember correctly). Then set the camera to shutter priority mode and set the shutter to 1/60. After that, see what f-stop the camera meters the scene at (in the case of my camera it was f5.6). Now with that information, go to the Kodak Cinematographer's Field Guide, http://motion.kodak.com/motion/uploadedFiles/H-2_Cinematographers_Field_Guide_6-09.pdf . On page 27 it has a chart that has ASA/ISO on the left side, f-stop at the top and then the rest of the chart shows footcandles. Now locate the f-stop and then go down to the amount of footcandles that you measured. Then if you look to the left side that should give you the approximate ASA/ISO rating for your camera. Its also a good idea to have gain off when conducting your test.