Comments on: Calibrating a Light meter for Digital Video http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html Serving up fresh, crispy news & views for users and consumers of DV, HDV and HD video Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:30:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Adam http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-96646 Adam Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:23:10 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-96646 So is it possible to rate a camera with an incident meter or must it be a spot meter? Thanks. So is it possible to rate a camera with an incident meter or must it be a spot meter?

Thanks.

]]> By: Matthew Jeppsen http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-90067 Matthew Jeppsen Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:12:06 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-90067 Links should be working now. Thanks for the heads up! -MJ Links should be working now. Thanks for the heads up!

-MJ

]]> By: Kurt http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-78619 Kurt Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:46:34 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-78619 The Video links are offline. Please fix them. Thank you :) The Video links are offline. Please fix them. Thank you :)

]]> By: Lonnie http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-76136 Lonnie Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:07:00 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-76136 Yes, I finally solved the problem. No HDV live scopes in FCP. Must capture as DV as you suggested... thanks for getting back though! Lonnie Yes, I finally solved the problem. No HDV live scopes in FCP. Must capture as DV as you suggested…
thanks for getting back though!
Lonnie

]]> By: Matthew Jeppsen http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-76021 Matthew Jeppsen Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:40:15 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-76021 Lonnie, You might try ensuring that your video signal is downconverted to DV as it comes out of the HDV camera. Most scope programs (and I think FCP) won't work live with HDV signals. -MJ Lonnie,

You might try ensuring that your video signal is downconverted to DV as it comes out of the HDV camera. Most scope programs (and I think FCP) won’t work live with HDV signals.

-MJ

]]> By: Lonnie http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-67747 Lonnie Sun, 06 Apr 2008 21:04:28 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-67747 I have all the latest releases of FCP, QT, Leopard, you name it, but when I firewire my XHA1 to my MacPro Intel, I get no scopes in log and capture, not under clip setting, it is not to be found... then in the FCP user manual it states: Note: Video levels can only be adjusted for analog video interfaces. But I watched you guys go firewire from HVX to FCP - help! and thanks! Lonnie I have all the latest releases of FCP, QT, Leopard, you name it, but when I firewire my XHA1 to my MacPro Intel, I get no scopes in log and capture, not under clip setting, it is not to be found…

then in the FCP user manual it states: Note: Video levels can only be adjusted for analog video interfaces. But I watched you guys go firewire from HVX to FCP - help!

and thanks!

Lonnie

]]> By: Matthew Jeppsen http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-50744 Matthew Jeppsen Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:32:10 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-50744 Hey Pablo, great to see you here! -MJ Hey Pablo, great to see you here!

-MJ

]]> By: pablo korona http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-50060 pablo korona Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:42:04 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-50060 because of the site redesign, i now found this tutorial. i've been looking for a tutorial like this, and little did i know it was my friends over at freshdv who are providing it. thanks guys. because of the site redesign, i now found this tutorial.
i’ve been looking for a tutorial like this, and little did i know it was my friends over at freshdv who are providing it.

thanks guys.

]]> By: Kendal Miller http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-42672 Kendal Miller Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:31:27 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-42672 When working with adapters I baseline the cameras iris at 0 and then rate the ISO utilizing only the still lens then I use the still lens to control the aperture. Almost ignore the aperture controls on camera, and use the still lens to control that. Remember its best to use a light meter to light and rough in a scene with a lot of lights, and the finesse it bye eye once you get frame up. When working with adapters I baseline the cameras iris at 0 and then rate the ISO utilizing only the still lens then I use the still lens to control the aperture. Almost ignore the aperture controls on camera, and use the still lens to control that. Remember its best to use a light meter to light and rough in a scene with a lot of lights, and the finesse it bye eye once you get frame up.

]]> By: Mark Gill http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-42664 Mark Gill Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:04:59 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-42664 re: Karl This is a good point and well put. I did ask Kendal something similar but I don't think I got a definitive answer. re: Karl

This is a good point and well put. I did ask Kendal something similar but I don’t think I got a definitive answer.

]]> By: Karl Koelling http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-39975 Karl Koelling Mon, 25 Feb 2008 03:36:05 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-39975 I understand how to determine the ISO of your camera (great tutorial, thanks), but I'm still a little confused on how to actually use a light meter with a 35 adapter. With the adapter, you essentially have two sets of apertures (the camera's and the adapter's) allowing for many combinations of exposure. For example, if you take a reading with a meter of a subject's face and it says to put your aperture at 5.6 for proper exposure, what does this say about where your slr f-stop should be? You could have your camera's aperture at 5.6, but have the aperture on your slr lens at 2.0 giving you one exposure, and then move the slr aperture to f8.0, which would give you a completely different exposure. Can you please clarify? I understand how to determine the ISO of your camera (great tutorial, thanks), but I’m still a little confused on how to actually use a light meter with a 35 adapter. With the adapter, you essentially have two sets of apertures (the camera’s and the adapter’s) allowing for many combinations of exposure. For example, if you take a reading with a meter of a subject’s face and it says to put your aperture at 5.6 for proper exposure, what does this say about where your slr f-stop should be? You could have your camera’s aperture at 5.6, but have the aperture on your slr lens at 2.0 giving you one exposure, and then move the slr aperture to f8.0, which would give you a completely different exposure. Can you please clarify?

]]> By: Dennis Wood http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-33448 Dennis Wood Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:11:20 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-33448 Guys, I reviewed this a few times to get set up for our own testing here with the DSC/Ambi charts. We picked up the Sekonic 358, but now that I've seen this, I've got meter envy. Great segment! Guys, I reviewed this a few times to get set up for our own testing here with the DSC/Ambi charts. We picked up the Sekonic 358, but now that I’ve seen this, I’ve got meter envy. Great segment!

]]> By: Kendal Miller http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-31035 Kendal Miller Sat, 12 Jan 2008 22:52:49 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-31035 Good enough for me!!! You made it all worth while :) Good enough for me!!! You made it all worth while :)

]]> By: toto http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-31020 toto Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:30:56 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-31020 Many thanks guys :) Many thanks guys :)

]]> By: Marco Marco http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-31011 Marco Marco Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:41:54 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-31011 Thanks for that Kendal, If you're ever in London, I'll buy you a couple of pints! :) Cheers. Marco Thanks for that Kendal,

If you’re ever in London, I’ll buy you a couple of pints!

:)
Cheers.

Marco

]]> By: Matthew Jeppsen http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-30908 Matthew Jeppsen Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:19:33 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-30908 It's fixed now. There should be a download link at the top of the post. -Matt Jeppsen It’s fixed now. There should be a download link at the top of the post.

-Matt Jeppsen

]]> By: Kendal Miller http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-30890 Kendal Miller Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:01:06 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-30890 Checking to see whats wrong.... Checking to see whats wrong….

]]> By: toto http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-30884 toto Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:24:12 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-30884 Thanks, but i can't see any link to the Video! Thanks, but i can’t see any link to the Video!

]]> By: Mark Gill http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-25368 Mark Gill Sun, 09 Dec 2007 20:03:11 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-25368 Hi Kendal No that sounds about right. I just wanted to make sure. I've shot three films prior to getting a light meter and they've come out with good exposure. So i just want to make doubley sure I'm going to make the step up with all the knowledge I can. I'll be doing plenty of tests. The ISO issues I'm continuing to look at. Many thanks for the help. Mark Hi Kendal

No that sounds about right. I just wanted to make sure. I’ve shot three films prior to getting a light meter and they’ve come out with good exposure. So i just want to make doubley sure I’m going to make the step up with all the knowledge I can. I’ll be doing plenty of tests.

The ISO issues I’m continuing to look at.

Many thanks for the help.

Mark

]]> By: Kendal Miller http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-25359 Kendal Miller Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:11:17 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/07/calibrating-a-light-meter-for-digital-video.html#comment-25359 You have to recalibrate the camera with the adapter on obviously. And you have to have enough light to get the 18% card to read 50% IRE so the aperture you need to set on the lens is whatever it needs to be to resolve that exposure. I usually run the on camera aperture wide open and then dial down the aperture on the 35mm lens. But where it needs to be at is determined by the exposure of the Gray Card, you can always ad more light to the card as well, whatever you need to do to get it to read 50%. That help or only muddy the water? You have to recalibrate the camera with the adapter on obviously. And you have to have enough light to get the 18% card to read 50% IRE so the aperture you need to set on the lens is whatever it needs to be to resolve that exposure. I usually run the on camera aperture wide open and then dial down the aperture on the 35mm lens. But where it needs to be at is determined by the exposure of the Gray Card, you can always ad more light to the card as well, whatever you need to do to get it to read 50%. That help or only muddy the water?

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