RED, Build 16, and strobes

[David Mullen ASC]

So I get a note today that one scene in an upcoming project may have a lot of camera flashes and strobes going off, as if at the opening of a big movie premiere or fashion show...

... do I tell the director to drop the idea or can the RED now handle that sort of scene lighting without the split-frame artifact?

[Deanan]

Timing of strobes is still an issue.
Are you able to control the length of the strobe or timing of the strobes?

[David Collard]

Just did a shoot with the red carpet and flashes motif. Had to quit after two takes when I realized the problem with the split frames, presumably caused by the way the sensor scans. I was planning on doing some testing this weekend to find a cheat around it. Doesn't sound hopeful since I'm still on build 15.

[Tico Llaurador]

David, could a strobe be modified to produce a flash that lasts longer than the scan? A slow strobe, so to speak?

[Paul Hazlett]

just add the flashes later....easy enough and looks good done right

[CJ Roy]

For a Doritos spot, with crowds and the band being lit by strobes, they overcranked @ either 2k or 3k. Solved the issue, but it's windowed frame.

-CJ

[Sergei Franklin]

Give it a test with the e shutter set to 360 degrees.
I used a camera flash to simulate a gun fire in a car and it worked with 360 shutter angle.

[Brandon Fraley]

i still haven't been able to recreate that slip frame artifact every flash or light on/off has been fine. don't know if I just lucked out or what :/

[Steve Freebairn]

We used a Martin light hooked up to a light board because the flash happens over a slightly longer period, so it doesn't cause the split frame effect.

Edit: I posted, then remembered how dumb it was that I was replying to David Mullen, since he wrote several of the film books I learned from, Sorry, David, I'm sure you know tons about the subject.

[James T Mather]

I asked before on this forum about the possibility of Genlocked strobes (any update on this?)

[David Mullen ASC]

We used a Martin light hooked up to a light board because the flash happens over a slightly longer period, so it doesn't cause the split frame effect.

Which Martin light? Was it this one?

http://www.martinpro.com/product/product.asp?product=atomic

[Fredrik Callinggard]

just add the flashes later....easy enough and looks good done right

I think a lot of us would disagree. You would never be able to create the effect that David is after.

Fredrik Callinggard

[Manolo S. Navazo]

the sfx department got modified lightbulbs(don't know the name) wich makes flashes with a longer period, doesn't that would resolve the problem?

[Trevor Meier]

Non-electronic flash bulbs work fine, but are pricey and usually one-pop

[Michael Lindsay]

Non-electronic flash bulbs work fine, but are pricey and usually one-pop

They look great though...

You can also get slow burn versions which easily touch 2-3 frames and produce lovely exposure tails.

regards

Michael

[Steve Freebairn]

Which Martin light? Was it this one?

http://www.martinpro.com/product/product.asp?product=atomic

We used one like in the link below, I've called the Gaffer from the show and am having him look up the exact model. I'll post later when I know which one it is. The one you posted though looks super promising since the strobe is so adjustable.

http://www.martinpro.com/productgroup/productgroup.asp?psg=movingheads&selgroup=0

[laguun]

They look great though...

You can also get slow burn versions which easily touch 2-3 frames and produce lovely exposure tails.

regards

Michael

We usually use *slower* and longer flashes or HD CCD-FIT basing digital cameras who dont have any readout/rolling/mechanical shutter to make things easy.

[Steve Freebairn]

Which Martin light? Was it this one?

http://www.martinpro.com/product/product.asp?product=atomic

David, it was the MAC 600 (I think the ENT model, but the gaffer wasn't sure). It worked great and was "slow" enough to not cause even one split screen.

[Mitch Gross]

Will the RED sync with strobes? The Phantom will and the shutter protocols should be fairly similar. It is just whether there is an output from the camera to control this sync. Leading edge, duration, etc.

[David Wyatt]

Has anyone encountered the dreaded split screen effect with police car lights? Essentially they can appear kind of strobey. Imagine how many films you see police/ambulance/fire-truck lights in...that's Jerry Bruckheimer out...:biggrin:

[Erik Widding]

Will the RED sync with strobes? The Phantom will and the shutter protocols should be fairly similar. It is just whether there is an output from the camera to control this sync. Leading edge, duration, etc.

Phantom has a global shutter... considerations for synchronization with strobes are different with a rolling shutter. We have a bunch of customers using Phantoms.