Z1 profile/look settings

[Tom Sugden]

Hi there,

 

I've been an avid reader of this forum for a while now but this is my first post so I'll introduce myself.

My name's Tom, I'm a Film student at the University of Westminster, specialising in cinematography. I've shot a few films now, on both film and video (and camera assisted on several other student films). After uni I hope to work my way up the ladder to be a DoP. I've referred to this forum a lot in the past for help and have found it extremely helpful.

 

Basically, In a few days I'll be shooting a documentary on a z1; the style is pretty poetic and cinematic and I wanted to know if there were any known or well-regarded look settings for the z1 - much like the vision02 and truecolor settings for the xha1.

Forgive me if this has been discussed before, I searched but couldn't find anything.

 

Cheers!

[Sampsa Huttunen]

Hi there,

 

I've been an avid reader of this forum for a while now but this is my first post so I'll introduce myself.

My name's Tom, I'm a Film student at the University of Westminster, specialising in cinematography. I've shot a few films now, on both film and video (and camera assisted on several other student films). After uni I hope to work my way up the ladder to be a DoP. I've referred to this forum a lot in the past for help and have found it extremely helpful.

 

Basically, In a few days I'll be shooting a documentary on a z1; the style is pretty poetic and cinematic and I wanted to know if there were any known or well-regarded look settings for the z1 - much like the vision02 and truecolor settings for the xha1.

Forgive me if this has been discussed before, I searched but couldn't find anything.

 

Cheers!

 

Hi, Tom!

 

I assume you're shooting HDV (not DVCAM).

 

As you may have already noticed, the adjustment options of Z1 are not as abundant as in some other cameras. Having said that, I still like the z1's overall look.

 

To me the factory settings have worked out pretty well. If the progressive "film look" is what you're after, we haven't found much of a difference between shooting on "cineframe25" or interlaced and having the fields joined in the post. Don't use z1's own "Film look" settings. They'll just crush your blacks (which is something you can do in the post, if you wish to). No need to use "Black stretch" either (unless you have a very difficult lighting situation and you want to show more detail in the shadows). The problem with the z1's crude black stretch option is that it's just ON or OFF and it doesn't only lift your blacks but seems to raise your grays as well.

 

Z1 (and HDV in general) is not very good in low light conditions, so don't forget the lighting ;-) And, of course, keep an eye on the highlights and use grad filters if possible. It's video.

 

You can also check out the BBC white paper on Z1 settings at http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/whp/whp034-add20.shtml

 

Hope this was of some help to you.

 

Cheers!

Sampsa

[James Martin]

That's good advice from Sampsa, I would also recommend turning down the default sharpening setting. I also recommend using the CineFrame25 mode unless you're very well versed in the de-interlacing procedure. I'm sure you know this already, but shoot at 1/50 sec shutter, 0db Gain (unless necessary) and use the NDs and iris for exposure. Where possible, avoid areas of over-exposure in your image. I just shot a documentary in Montenegro on a Z1, so I know how hard this can be but believe me exposure makes all the difference with those cameras. If you're interested in seeing the doc, I'd be happy to give you my settings too. Just mail me or PM me on here.