Color Matching Between Canon Cams

[billjv]

I'm going to have three Canon cams soon - my HF20, a 7D (coming soon) and an XH-A1s. I'm wanting to figure out the best workflow and technique to match up the different cam's footage in post. (Because of the mix of features between the cams it's not very realistic to try to adjust camera color prior to post - I think it's going to have to be applied to the footage, not the cameras.

I'm thinking my best bet would be to shoot a DSC CamAlign HD chart on each camera and then making the Vectorscope/Waveform monitor adjustments so that each cam's footage is basically reading the same. Obviously each time lighting changes I would have to reshoot the chart on each cam, but at least I have some consistent reference.

Can any of you share experiences doing this? What difficulties did you encounter? I'm using FCP Studio 3 and can use "Color" to color correct or I can use the internal 3-way color corrector in FCP.

Thanks in advance...

Bill

[vince]

Don't underestimate the value of spending a few hours comparing the output of the different cameras. I used OnLocation, and showed on a calibrated monitor the color bars, and then worked with each camera and the scopes to get similar output. I compared the pictures in Photoshop for further detail. Since I was only comparing HV20's, the differences were minor, but improved the most by white balancing with a grey card.

[fishops]

(Because of the mix of features between the cams it's not very realistic to try to adjust camera color prior to post - I think it's going to have to be applied to the footage, not the cameras.

Why would you think that? They are all capable of custom white balance, just get an 18% grey card.

[billjv]

Haha... VERY interesting, that's exactly why I posted this question! I hadn't thought of using a card/chart to actually manipulate the white balance beyond a standard white balance. What I was talking about was the ability to tweak individual color levels through menu options in the camera - i.e. RGB levels individually. I know you can do that with the A1, but not with the HF20 and I don't think with the 7D.

That's one of those things that I knew, but never tried. What exactly will balancing with 18% Grey do for me? Wouldn't I need to use different grey cards to achieve different results for each cam?

I will check out OnLocation... never heard of that before, thnx!

[cgbier]

That's one of those things that I knew, but never tried. What exactly will balancing with 18% Grey do for me? Wouldn't I need to use different grey cards to achieve different results for each cam?

No, the 18% gray will calibrate all the three cameras to the same white balance.
!8% gray is 18% gray. There's no difference!
It constitutes THE mid tone, and can even be used to set your exposure correct. You should have one big spike in the center of your histogram.

[fishops]

Haha... VERY interesting, that's exactly why I posted this question! I hadn't thought of using a card/chart to actually manipulate the white balance beyond a standard white balance. What I was talking about was the ability to tweak individual color levels through menu options in the camera - i.e. RGB levels individually. I know you can do that with the A1, but not with the HF20 and I don't think with the 7D.

I don't mean to pass judgement, but it sounds like you have a lot of theory and very little practice. It's not as complicated as you're making it out to be.

Just take each camera and point them at the same card so it fills the frame. Hit the "custom white balance" switch, and presto! they match!

[billjv]

Maybe I am making it more complicated than it needs to be - however, shooting a color chart gives you much more detailed information from which to color match footage than just shooting a white balance card. If you could perfectly match color on various cams just by white balance alone, there would be no need for having to color match footage in post, which is done all the time.

What I'm wanting to do it take my color correction to the next level - not just assuming all will be fine after white balancing. The fact is, color correction and accurate color matching is practically a bottomless pit of knowledge and technical details, sprinkled with a bit of subjectivity at the very end of the process. I'm trying to learn more and experiment. For me, after all has been done using calibrated cams, charts, monitors and scopes, that is the time to start getting creative. It's like building the best foundation for a house that you can. Then you can take liberties with the house when you've got a solid foundation.