Calibrating a light meter with the DVX

[DavidSloan]

Do any of you guys work that way? If so is it a reliable method of lighting for video?

 

Thanks

[Phil Rhodes]

Hi,

 

> Do any of you guys work that way?

 

There is no good reason to, other than the fact that you will get paid more if you're seen waving a light meter around.

 

> If so is it a reliable method of lighting for video?

 

Absolutely not. Video requires far greater precision in exposure than is really possible using a meter.

 

I've posted on this a lot in the past, do a search.

 

Phil

[David Mullen ASC]

Using a meter to LIGHT for video is fine; it's using it to set the final exposure on the lens that is questionable, where zebras, waveforms, just how it looks on a properly set-up monitor, etc. may be a more accurate way of exposing.

 

So if you are only using the meter to light a set and balance the lighting, it only has to approximately match the sensitivity of the camera -- probably getting within half a stop would be accurate enough to be practical. When I'm scouting a location for an F900 HDCAM shoot, I usually set my meter to 400 ASA as a starting point.

[Mark Sasahara]

The DVX has an ASA of about 320. Using a light meter can be helpful, but as David pointed out there are other things that will help you, monitors zebras, etc

[Tenolian Bell]

> If so is it a reliable method of lighting for video?

 

Absolutely not. Video requires far greater precision in exposure than is really possible using a meter.

 

Phil

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I'm confused by this statement. How much more presice does it get than breaking a picture down into a math equation.

[David Mullen ASC]

Well, what he means that a meter is a very precise way of measuring light but that's not necessarily exactly how you are going to expose the image.