Proper Exposure - Understanding the "Stop Lights"

[Thomas Patrick C.]

Just curious if the Stop Lights are more sensitive than what the sensor actually sees? I find myself constantly exposing well to the right with the Stop Lights ON, yet rarely is anything blown out. I usually allow the lights to come on and then back down exposure just enough to not "see" any blowouts on the monitor, especially in the sky, but yet the Stop Lights always remain ON when I decide I have good exposure, and the results in Redcine are always great. I find myself wanting the Stop Lights to come ON to tell the camera's sensor that it reads all RGB, from there I simply back down exposure, expose well to the right, with lights ON, when I record.

Thanks

sotty
Thomas Patrick C.

[Gunleik Groven]

Stop light reacts whenever anything blows. Iff your WB is off-native, you cannot trust them even for that.

[Thomas Patrick C.]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes I think "anything" is the operative word here. Why I believe the stop lights are very sensitive to the slightess blowout which could be a simple dime size hotspot on a leaf for example, reading this as blowout could cause one to adjust exposure a bit on the under or left side.

[Martin Weiss]

I'd suggest having a zebra on the 100 to 108% setting - that way you get an idea of the size of the blown out part.