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Home: Video University Forums: HDV:
New Guy Needs Advice

 
 


JamesP
New User

Apr 5, 2007, 2:53 AM

Post #1 of 16 (4193 views)
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New Guy Needs Advice Can't Post
Hi people

I just signed up to these forums today and the wealth of information is greatSmile..so Hello everyone Im James in the UK

I wonder if anyone can help me out, Im wondering why I cant get a nice crisp picture on my movies that im taking.

Im using a sony FX1E
Adobe Premier pro 2
Intel core 2 CPU 6600@2.40ghz
2 GB of ram
and about 800 gig of HD
pci Firewire card
Nvidia Gforce 7600 GS gcard

Im not used to the camera and maybe im not setting it correctly, im shooting in HD and using the Ilink to downconvert it to DV and it captures ok, but the images are not good quality and grainy, when I burn to DVD it looses more quality. Can anyone help me out with a good workflow...any addvice is welcome guys

Cheers
James


JC/DV
Veteran


Apr 5, 2007, 7:02 AM

Post #2 of 16 (4168 views)
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Re: [JamesP] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
Welcome!

I hate to sound short, but I gotta run. Here are a couple of obvious things to check????

Focus
Automatic Gain Control not turned off or setting the high limit if you can do that with the FX1?

Jerome
JC/DV Productions - Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Technology. It does wonders if you know how to use it.


videobear
Veteran


Apr 5, 2007, 7:52 AM

Post #3 of 16 (4162 views)
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Re: [JamesP] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
As someone else said, do check the focus carefully when shooting. HD is very picky about focus, and unfortunately, the little viewfinders aren't always accurate enough to tell you that you've hit it right. That's why the camera has peaking and focus assist tools.

Next, don't downconvert to DV. You'll get the best results if you capture your footage as HDV. Edit as either native HDV or in an intermediate HD format like Cineframe. THEN convert to MPEG2 and burn to DVD.




Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions


szerangue
Veteran


Apr 5, 2007, 8:22 PM

Post #4 of 16 (4138 views)
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Re: [JamesP] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
I agree, don't convert.. do not shoot in auto mode, and check your picture profile settings...

I have recently calibrated my Z1 with my HDTV and the picture I am getting now is so much better..

Remember, HDV needs light like humans need water,, it cannot live without it... it needs light to bring out the colors and give you that sharp clean picture that you desire,, without adequate light, you will get grain... and you can believe me because I am the king of HDV dark grainy footage... ask anyone here.







Cancer - Step Outside the Box.. by Ty Bollinger

Maybe a life could be saved.


Brackish
Veteran


Apr 6, 2007, 12:43 AM

Post #5 of 16 (4133 views)
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szerangue
Veteran


Apr 6, 2007, 7:18 AM

Post #6 of 16 (4122 views)
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Re: [Brackish] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
I could pull any clip from just about any of my weddings in the last year and show you dark footage, but yes, I did post a clip from a theatre (actually, the way I would shoot that now would be in auto iris until they got on stage because there was such a contrast in light from the aisle to the stage. )

One of the reasons it takes me so long to edit a wedding is I probably spend 40 hours just correcting my footage... Hopefully this year, will see a change.







Cancer - Step Outside the Box.. by Ty Bollinger

Maybe a life could be saved.


Howard Neill
Veteran


Apr 6, 2007, 7:53 PM

Post #7 of 16 (4107 views)
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Re: [JamesP] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
Welcome to VU, James!

.
Howard

Blog
Cape Video
Cape Town, South Africa - "Where two oceans meet"


JamesP
New User

Apr 7, 2007, 4:13 PM

Post #8 of 16 (4087 views)
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Re: [Howard Neill] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks for the advice, I am shooting an event this coming friday and hopefully I will have got away from the grainy look, I think it may be having the gain on high without knowing?

Im just learning all the video camera stuff, I work in multimedia but usually the software side not the hardware such as cameras, but a lot more work of recent need film or coverage of events , for web and DVD
Once I get a bit more film work under my belt I may try my hand at some weddings too.


Dave Williams
Veteran


Apr 8, 2007, 3:31 PM

Post #9 of 16 (4071 views)
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Re: [szerangue] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
Why are you having so much trouble with low light and grain? What camera do you have? What are your low-light settings?


szerangue
Veteran


Apr 8, 2007, 5:17 PM

Post #10 of 16 (4064 views)
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Re: [Dave Williams] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
I am using the FX1 and the Z1 and up until recently, I think the main problem has been that I did not have my camera lcd screen calibrated to my HDTV and did not pay close enough attention to the zebras... probably a lot of factors really.
I think a lot of it also, was on the last two weddings that I edited, I elected to shoot the whole reception without using a light.. figuring I would just correct the footage using a screen filter... the problem was, the footage was grainy to begin with because of no light and then trying to brighten it in post just caused more grain and a really bad looking picture... Some scenes were better than others because the ambient light was better at some areas than others...

Lesson learned was, HD needs light like humans need water... it cannot live without light, feed it and it will be a happy camper!! Keep in mind, I am not talking about ceremonies or anything like that, but even 10 watts here would be an improvement,,, but I am mainly talking about not using a light during receptions.

But for the most part, I was not at all happy with the pictures I was taking last year.. I think I was not getting the high definition look, for the most part, that I should have been getting... I think a lot of it was my picture profiles, the fact that my cameras were not calibrated to my TV and to each other, and as much a part was my lack of knowledge and expertise... hopefully this year I will see some improvements.







Cancer - Step Outside the Box.. by Ty Bollinger

Maybe a life could be saved.


JamesP
New User

Apr 13, 2007, 7:47 AM

Post #11 of 16 (3981 views)
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Re: [szerangue] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
Another Question

How come when I put my files onto a DVD the images look darker than the original file? Im using adobe encore 2.0 for this

Sorry for question questions.....but its the only way I will learn Smile


szerangue
Veteran


Apr 13, 2007, 4:00 PM

Post #12 of 16 (3966 views)
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Re: [JamesP] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
They look darker when you play the DVD on your TV? That could mean a calibration issue on your production monitor.







Cancer - Step Outside the Box.. by Ty Bollinger

Maybe a life could be saved.


memorytracks
Veteran


Apr 17, 2007, 5:29 PM

Post #13 of 16 (3868 views)
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Re: [JamesP] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
How come when I put my files onto a DVD the images look darker than the original file? Im using adobe encore 2.0 for this

The most likely reasons are:
  1. Your TV is calibrated too dark -OR-
  2. Your PC/monitor is calibrated too light
You can have similar dark/light problems if you're camera LCD is too bright/dark compared with your PC/monitor. Learn to use 'zebras' on your camera so you can be confident that your exposure is bright/dark enough.
Good luck.
-Dave Graton
MemoryTracks Films


JamesP
New User

Apr 19, 2007, 3:44 AM

Post #14 of 16 (3821 views)
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Re: [memorytracks] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks for all the advice guys, but still no joy..I just dont understand it

Could the way I capture have anything to do with quality? i just have a standard £9.99 firewire card...nothing special, should I invest in a canopus card or something??


BigDaddy C
Enthusiast

Apr 19, 2007, 4:41 AM

Post #15 of 16 (3816 views)
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Re: [JamesP] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
Why don't you post a really small .m2t clip. Then we can bring it in to our NLE's and see what the scopes tell us.
------------
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Palin for VP.


krskrewz
Enthusiast


Apr 30, 2007, 12:16 PM

Post #16 of 16 (3685 views)
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Re: [JamesP] New Guy Needs Advice [In reply to] Can't Post
I've found that downconverting in cam on capture to the workstation really degrades the quality of the video. It'll look fine but nowhere as good as downconverting after the capture (with your editing program / etc). Some have found it to be ok to downconvert in cam on capture but from my own personal experience, I stay away from it because of picture quality and sometimes even audio sync for some reason.

Hmm yea if you can post a link to a clip then maybe we can help out. I've found taht the FX1s even on full auto produce a great crisp picture and even in dim lighting, with the gain maxed out, the picture still looks fine/decent. If it's too dark in the room and you're not using lighting, bump down the fps to 30 and it brightens the picture up nicely and i've found that it makes good for dancing footage because of the look it gives.