Exposure/metering With Red

[Jean Déraps]

I'm just curious to know how the first 50 users have been setting their exposures for the Red. Have you been doing it by eye using using a calibrated monitor (I'm not even sure whether zebras in the camera are functional yet) or are you using an exposure meter? I am aware of the debate regarding the usefulness (or lack thereof) of using an exposure meter for digital cinema, are any of you finding it useful to have an exposure meter?

Thanks for your input

Jean

[Brandon Fraley]

just about everyone I've talked has used the zebras on the LCD to make sure they dont clip, and then light by eye

[Kevin Halverson]

An incident meter is still a very useful tool even on a digital set. When setting lighting instruments, it is really handy to be able to get a quick measurement and for setting ratios, its perfect. Sure final exposure should be set to protect the highlights, but don't discount the value of a meter on set (or meters if you have a bigger crew) they can really move things along. Its not in place of zebra's or false color, its just another tool that can be used.

[Brandon Fraley]

very true, meters are always useful, but for those worried that they necessary, they're not ;)

[Ryan Manes]

We have been using the false color effects with great success on #38. I find it much more intuitive than the zebras.

[Chris Nuzzaco]

I find meters to have a HUGE usefulness factor during preproduction. Many people seem to forget that you can do all kinds of things with them besides figure out exposure. I have yet to find a camera that is capable of telling me how many LUX or FC a location fixture puts out.... Also, who rents a camera for preproduction location scouting? Thats just absurd, a DP should be able to go on those visits and just use a meter. I've never been able to rent a camera for a preproduction site survey "just so I can see what I looks like".

Just my 2 cents.

[Blair S. Paulsen]

We have been using the false color effects with great success on #38. I find it much more intuitive than the zebras.

That is great news. I tried to do the false colors on #19 and couldn't get them to show so I figured it was one of the not yet enabled features. Now that I know it should work I will keep after it until I succeed.

So far I have used several references for exposure. My favorite, if the shooting situation is conducive to setting it up and keeping it in the dark, is to feed HD-SDI preview to my eCinema monitor. We have also used Evin's 9" Panny which has a small but helpful WFM. My RED LCD seems to have gamma issues that I understand they are working on. The best of all is to look at the histogram of what you just shot in RedAlert.

Can't wait for the live histogram in the EVF and LCD to be enabled, that will be huge.

[Brook Willard]

Blair, have you updated the firmware since we tried it last? That might enable the false colors.

[wshultz]

Could someone give us a screen grab of what/how the false colors are?

[Jim Reed]

I have used several references for exposure. My favorite, if the shooting situation is conducive to setting it up and keeping it in the dark, is to feed HD-SDI preview to my eCinema monitor.

Hey Blair. Which eCinema monitor are you using and are you happy with its color and black reproduction?

Thanks

Jim Reed
501 Post
Austin,TX

[Gabriel Beaudry]

Hey Blair. Which eCinema monitor are you using and are you happy with its color and black reproduction?

Thanks

Jim Reed
501 Post
Austin,TX


And what is the price tag of a eCinema monitor?

[Mark Thorpe]

I'd be curious to know what percentage options you have for Zebra settings? Just to get an idea of how much protection leeway the camera gives from blowing out highlights etc.

Cheers,
Mark

[Stuart English]

There are two Zebras, measured in IRE. Zebra 1 (highlight) indicator range defaults to 94 to 108. Zebra 2 (shadow) range is 0 to 8, or 44 to 47 when used as 18% grey indicator. In reality these can be put wherever you want. Just call up SMPTE bars or Luma Ramp to set them up.

False Color writes a preset range of colors over a monochrome version of the image. Image below shows how the colors fall relative to stops and IRE.

[Mark Thorpe]

Thanks Stuart

[Mark Thorpe]

Hi Guys,
OK, so the technical definitions and explanations have been given for the percentages etc and application of Zebra. My question now is when setting Zebra is there an Enable Zebra 1 or Zebra 2 option command via the Menu?

Cheers,
Mark.

[Stuart English]

Hi Guys,
OK, so the technical definitions and explanations have been given for the percentages etc and application of Zebra. My question now is when setting Zebra is there an Enable Zebra 1 or Zebra 2 option command via the Menu?

Cheers,
Mark.

Yes the Zebras can be individually enabled.

[Unwounded]

Could someone give us a screen grab of what/how the false colors are?

this isn't a screen grab but may be a good representation of how false color works with the Red. This is from a post by Nick Shaw(thanks) in regards to a different thread topic. look on page 26 of this manual. http://www.accuscene.com/umvf1280sMkII.pdf