Tutorial Section:

[Chuck]

OK, I finally got my SD card and started playing. I have to admit after reading all the tutorials, watching the video, etc, I'm a bit confused. Here are my results from 2 different light sources. I'm really not sure what to look for here since I have no way of viewing the actual gain. I think I do, but not 100%.

palm pilot on a blank memo as light source:
-11 5.2 1/60
-10 4.8 1/60
-9 4.4 1/60
-8 4.0 1/60
-7 3.7 1/60
-6 3.4 1/60
-5 3.2 1/60
-4 2.8 1/60
-3 2.6 1/60
-2 2.4 1/60
-1 2.2 1/60
0 2.0 1/60
+1 1.8 1/60
+2 1.8 1/60
+3 1.8 1/60
+4 1.8 1/60
+5 1.8 1/60
+6 1.8 1/60
+7 1.8 1/60
+8 1.8 1/60
+9 1.8 1/60
+10 1.8 1/60
+11 1.8 1/60

Does this mean the maximim I can use is +1 before gain kicks in?

Next I used the cell phone and got this (not as bright):

-11 5.6 1/60
-10 5.6 1/60
-9 5.6 1/60
-8 5.6 1/60
-7 5.6 1/60
-6 5.6 1/60
-5 5.6 1/60
-4 5.6 1/60
-3 5.6 1/60
-2 5.2 1/60
-1 4.8 1/60
0 4.4 1/60
+1 4.0 1/60
+2 3.7 1/60
+3 3.4 1/60
+4 3.2 1/60
+5 2.8 1/60
+6 2.6 1/60
+7 2.4 1/60
+8 2.2 1/60
+9 2.0 1/60
+10 1.8 1/60
+11 1.8 1/60

Am I doing this right? Which light source is best, the one that gives me almost full range up to +10, or the brighter one? Do you always stop after the 1.8 starts to repeat itself?

Thanks for all the tips!

[Duke]

It depends on what you plan to do, but the palm pilot looks like it will allow you a wider range of options. Don't forget, the trick doesn't give you the correct exposure, it just shut off the gain. You still need to set the exposre within the range you have alotted yourself with the trick.

Have zebra turned to 70%. Do the trick, and then point the camera at the scene you want to shoot. Adjust the EXP + or -.

If there are a lot of zebra areas showing up, the exposure is high enough it'll blow out the highlights. Too little light and it will be too dark overall and blacks are overwhelming.

Also, there are some advantages to using the wider open aperture settins f1.8to 2.8. They give more DOF, better highlights, etc.

Between those two extremes is the art part of filming. What mood do you want? Film noir? or Mary Popins? That's the fun part.

Duke

[Chuck]

Ok, so at what point does the gain start to kick in on the palm range? after the 1st 1.8? Everything after that it goes up 1.5db? That's how I interpreted it from the video tutorial.

[Duke]

Ok, so at what point does the gain start to kick in on the palm range? after the 1st 1.8? Everything after that it goes up 1.5db? That's how I interpreted it from the video tutorial.

I think you're mixing terms and concepts. If you've locked the exposure, gain (electronic signal amplification causing degradation) doesn't kick in. Ever. That's the point of all this.

1.8 is the wide opening aperture setting. DOF and light exposure are controlled in part by the aperture. Turn on your lights and move your EXP + or - as necessary to get enough light but avoid zebra/overexposure.

There's a link to a tutorial on here somewhere on the interaction of DOF, shutter speed, aperture size and exposure.

Hope that helps,
Duke

[bluesgeek]

I think you're mixing terms and concepts. If you've locked the exposure, gain (electronic signal amplification causing degradation) doesn't kick in. Ever. That's the point of all this.

1.8 is the wide opening aperture setting. DOF and light exposure are controlled in part by the aperture. Turn on your lights and move your EXP + or - as necessary to get enough light but avoid zebra/overexposure.

THis has confused me because my understanding is that, once you've reached 1.8, if you push the exposure up any further you are adding gain. If speed and aperture are locked, then as you push up the exposure, it is the addition of gain that makes the image brighter. Is this correct?

[DaSal]

There's a link to a tutorial on here somewhere on the interaction of DOF, shutter speed, aperture size and exposure.

Does anybody know where I can find it? I can't seem to...

[CycleWriter]

Does anybody know where I can find it? I can't seem to...

Uhm, maybe by doing a search?

[DaSal]

Uhm, maybe by doing a search?

I did... The search function only gives me back this thread, with the mention of the tutorial, I can't find a link to the actual tutorial itself.

I always search, I'm a good boy , I just couldn't find it... Maybe didn't use the right terms... But if someone knows where to find it I'd appreciate it a lot...