VonTraining.net Forum

tincus · Joined: 27 Feb 2010 Posts: 10

Shot my first event last night with the new HMC150.
I really like it, I think it helped reading this forum and testing what I read before shooting, thanks!
I have a general shooting question.
Shooting things like dancing, or objects moving around a lot... how do you manually focus, especially using the camera LCD Having EVF DTL and focus assist "on" help a lot, but I really feel like I will screw up more then help on rapidly moving objects. Here's a link to a scene like I'm referring to... I have auto focus turned on in this scene. The camera does a pretty good job on "auto", but it does wander a little. http://www.vimeo.com/10159568
This brings me to my next question, white balance. I'm not having the best luck with manual WB. When I manually WB the colors on the LCD look really dull, but AWB seems to look better. In the above scene, I tried to do a WB on the bright white linens, but it looked so dull that I switched to AWB.
Maybe AWB was better in this situation because they kept turning the lights up and down and it was getting a little annoying:)
The camera actually preformed better then I expected in auto focus and auto WB, especially in the slightly dim room. Actually the video color is more vibrant then the compressed video I posted.
Thanks for any suggestions, I'm learning a lot from this forum.
I think me and the panny are going to like each other!

One last thing. Mark, I ended up purchasing a Comer 1800 partially on your review... and others. I had it mounted to one of those little plastic shoe mounts like you use...it dosent seem to like the weight of the light.
In fact if actually fell off twice and bounced across the ground! I thought it would be wasted by the end of the night, just bent the barn door a little and I bent it back this morning... good as new!
Seriously, that light is solid as a rock, I just need a better mount adapter:)

-Shane

Mark Von Lanken · Posted: 03/15/2010 12:31 am Post subject:

Hi Shane,

I have been shooting in manual focus for many years, but if you are not as experienced in manual focus, then auto focus may give you better results, especially when the subject is moving towards you and then away from you.

If you want to get better at using manual focus I have a couple of ideas for you. For objects moving slow, Focus Assist will work great, but when they are moving fast it makes it more of a challenge.

I setup my readout to show the maual focus distance in feet. What I do is focus on the farthest point and remember what the focus readout said. Then focus on the closest point and make note of that. Let's say the farthest point was 30 feet and the closest was 6 feet. As they enter the shot at the farthest point I know I need to set my focus at 30 feet. Then as they make their way towards me, I need to roll the focus up towards the 6ft point. If they go back to a mid way point, then I roll my focus to about 18 feet. The more you use this technique, the better you will become.

Another idea is to set the camera to manual and use the "push for auto" button if you lose focus.

For white balance, is it possible that the white linens where not white, but off white? We always white balance on our white balance cards, so we know it is true white. If the colors do not look correct after doing a manual white balance, then you did the right thing with auto white balance. Another thing to try in the preset indoor or preset outdoor white balance.

My Comer has not fallen off my Bogen Magic Shoe, but if you want a different solution here is a link to a metal shoe that you may like better. I don't know how much it cost, but you can send him an email and ask.
http://www.dvtec.tv/id40.html
http://www.dvtec.tv/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=560&linkpath=http://dannynatovich.bizland.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/shoe_mount_560.JPG&target=tlx_new
_________________
All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonTraining.com

tincus · Joined: 27 Feb 2010 Posts: 10

Thanks Mark, those are awesome suggestions and I will definitely practice them...I am new to manual adjustments, but as I get better at them the video speaks for it self.
Maybe I'll get a couple white balance cards and figure out what the heck I'm doing wrong... what is the best result for WB when your shooting a dance floor where the DJ's lights are flashing all different colors? Do you do AWB then?
The Bogen flash mount is nice, and light!
I think I can modify it to fit my needs better, but I will check out the other one you sent also.
Thanks Mark, you really dont know how much this forum helps me out!

-Shane

Mark Von Lanken · Posted: 03/15/2010 3:25 pm Post subject:

Hi Shane,

For our wedding receptions we do a manual wb to our wb cards with our on camera lights turned on. If you do not use on camera lights, then it may be tough to get a wb with the DJs lights flashing. If that is the case, you may want to try the indoor preset which is 3.2k or if that does not look accurate, try auto.
_________________
All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonTraining.com

FFILIPPO · Joined: 10 Aug 2009 Posts: 11

Hi Mark: How much SDHC Memory is needed to shoot a wedding with two Panasonic HMC-150?. (Total GB for each camera).

Mark Von Lanken · Posted: 04/27/2010 10:44 pm Post subject:

Hi FFILIPPO,

It really depends on how much footage you shoot.

Were you previously shooting with tape? If so think of it this way. Three one hour tapes is the same as two 16 gb cards.
_________________
All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonTraining.com

Don Sweger · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 41 Location: Ickesburg, PA

I know this may be a little late.... But, be aware that that on the HMC150, the Manual White Balance, and the Auto Tracking White functions get their input from two different sources.

Manual white balance (and black balance) adjustments are made from the image being processed through the lense onto the imagers. That is why you fill the screen with "White" and then press the button to set white balance.

The Auto Tracking White function uses the light which is striking the sensor on the front of the camera. Usually if there is a problem with ATW, it is because the light on the scene you are shooting is different from the light striking the sensor on the camera.

This is why it is usually better to use a manual setting rather than let the camera auto track, as the light striking the sensor can be vastly different thant the light on the scene.
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High Driver Video Productions
www.highdrivervideo.com

FFILIPPO · Joined: 10 Aug 2009 Posts: 11

Hi Mark: What white balance cards do you use?

Mark Von Lanken · Posted: 06/28/2010 5:56 pm Post subject:

I use the White Balance Cards from Porta Brace. I like them because they are rugged and have a little cord attached to them. I run the cord through my belt so I always have the WB Card with me. It's very quick and easy to pull the WB Card out, throw it down and get a manual WB.

Here's the link.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/300868-REG/Porta_Brace_WBC.html
_________________
All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonTraining.com