DVC30 Settings


 

stephenlnoe


 		 Posted: Aug 05, 2005 - 10:48   
Hi,

For low light with a DVC 30 do this:

Put the camera in manual mode
Put the camera in a FRAME mode
Change the shutter speed to 30
Adjust Iris as necessary (usually F3.4 - OPEN) to suit the situation.
It is also very useful to map the Iris to the focus ring. This way you can control the Iris from the camera front when not in manual focus.

What you've essentially done is put the camera in 30P with a 30 shutter which allows the maximum amount of light to hit the CCD's. Since the camera uses a 12 bit A/D converter, as long as the exposure is correct the image will be better than you could ever post with in Edition (which is 8 bit). For this reason you need to get to know your DVC30 backwards and forwards. Color correction in camera is far superior to any NLE (Except Discreet Smoke or the like) on the market. Cinegama allows you to set moods and tones right in camera and avoids quality degrading color adjustments in post production.

Using the 30P(F)/30shutter method will allow you lattitude for phenominal night shots with film like movement of on screen characters and objects. This applies to SQUEEZE (16:9) mode as well. Try it.

Capture from Scenalyzer as a regular DV source and let it do the deciphering as to what the source is as you have been doing. Import into Edition to a 16:9 or 4:3 timeline as DV (29;97) since Edition treats 30 Frame modes as interlaced you shouldn't have to do anything special to accomodate it (I don't).

DVD encoding is no different because Edition treats 30 Frame modes as interlaced video. Just use the video as you would regular 60i and create you're DVD's as usual.

Once again, to answer your final question, you should do all of your color adjustments that are intentional in your camera. The 12 bit converter is superior to Editions 8 bit processing.

Try some of the settings and get to know this superb camera...
stephenlnoe
.5 
 		  Posted: Aug 04, 2005 - 18:16     
Hi,

I agree, the DVC30 is really hard to beat. It is a rugged camera that has really outstanding picture quality. One of the things that really set's the camera above all others in the 1/4 CCD rank is the quality of the blacks. They are noise free. Check for yourself, as long as you are not in gain the blacks are literally black even on the waveform. That is a true testament to Panasonics R & D department.

It is a pro camera not a pro-sumer camera so you have complete control over every aspect of your shot. Another thing I like about it is that it is rugged. It is made out of metal. You could use it for a weapon. It sounds funny but when you shoot in the mean streets of Chicago/Gary you can really appreciate it has a backbone and can take a tumble. There is too much to list as far as features so if you have specific questions I may be able to help.

For all you DVC30 guys here are some nice Scene File settings.

I call this one BLUE:
Detail Level: -3
Chroma Level: +1
Chroma Phase: 0
Color Temp: +3
Master Ped: +2
AE Shift: -2
Skin Tone DTL: ON
Rec Mode: FRAME

Blue can be used any time of day including during sunset and sunrise to simulate shooting in the middle of the day as if the sun was directly overhead. Adjust to Frame or Interlace as needed.

I call this one BUTTER:
Detail Level: -3
Chroma Level: +4
Chroma Phase: +1
Color Temp: -3
Master Ped: -4
AE Shift: -3
Skin Tone DTL: ON
Rec Mode: FRAME

I use Butter alot in the day because it makes the image look like sunrise or sunset with the warm glow of that time of day. Another neat trick is to use Butter at night for a super saturated image almost like you're in a photo developer's dark room. Adjust to FRAME or Interlace as needed.

I use Black Press as my interlaced video standard and I really like the way black press handles shadows and black areas. Fabulous detail.

I use Movie-Like for film simulation and the additional scene files to support looks and moods for the 'show' I'm working on.

I have a nice library of settings I like but those are my go-to settings.
Take a look at these two images:
Click here for sreen grab of BLUE
Click here for sreen grab of BUTTER
These two images were take literally 1 minute apart. You can see you have tremendous flexibility with how color is captured with this camera. Once you get used to using cinegama then really no other miniDV camera will do. I can get really creative in camera instead of NLE.

I agree with Jim in that the wide angle adapter is needed for any type of documentary work but that is true for any camera intended to do documentary.

Take care and hope it helps....
 
The best shot the DVC30 can produce (as far as clarity of still) is frame mode (30P/F) shutter 30, iris adjusted for best exposure (less than 80%).  This will give the best still capture the camera can produce.  How do you like those black blacks?  Fabulous.  Skin tone is very different.
 
stephenlnoe
5 
 		  Posted: Aug 05, 2005 - 15:51      
Hi,

Jim-So true, I white balance against alot of 'odd' things just to see what the effect will be. I have a pearl white car and when I go downtown to shoot I white balance against it under the street lights. The effect is really good color definition. The point is to PLAY and see what comes of it. Then when your in the crunch you'll know how to achieve a certain look that is uniquely your own.

David, No problem with helping. As far as chromakey it is not a 422 camera so there are limitations to an effective chromakey. I have a chroma "green room" where I hang products from a green fishing line and do camera moves around the product. The chromakey works pretty well but I use Boris Red which has a terrific chromakey and composite choker. So, I do use it for chromakey but it is not as great as DVCam 422 or DVCPro50 422 could produce.

Ari, I chose the DVC30 for alot of reasons over the DVX100. Primarily because I was on Edition 5 and there was not such thing as a 24P timeline but I wanted cinegama's color control in a small rugged camera. As for the HVX200, I'm on the list to get one and It will be my camera of choice for moving to HD simply because it sits in the 422 color space and records DVCPro50. That alone puts it at the broadcast level without any up rez and the chromakey will be at least twice as good as my DVC30.

Take care gents...
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