•
GAMMA CURVES – camera has 8 different gamma curves; the gamma curve
determines the contrast curve of the camera, i.e. how quickly it responds to light;
see “Exposure” reading for detailed discussion of logarithmic curves for film
contrast.
a)
News Gamma
i)
This is separate from the other gamma curves in its own menu
ii)
Main intended use is for people shooting news, who may be dealing with
sudden / unexpected changes in exposure
iii)
It prevents highlights from blowing out (for example, say you are shooting
the news and you suddenly follow turn the camera to follow a subject and
find yourself pointed at a bright window – news gamma will flatten
highlight curve to prevent sudden blowout).
b)
HD NORM – base level for comparison; default / standard HD response
c)
SD NORM – is matched to Panasonic DVX camera; good for multi camera
shoots using both kinds of camera
d)
LOW – a bit more contrasty / less noisy than HD norm; compresses / darkens
highlights a bit, pushes midtones a bit; allows you to open iris a bit to preserves
shadow detail
e)
HIGH – raises blacks a bit, maintains highlights; looks flatter and less contrasty
than “LOW;” gives room to stop down a bit; try for low light
f)
B(lack) PRESS – presses down blacks (similar to lowering master pedestal);
makes slightly punchier, more contrasty image; increases dynamic range in
midtones
g)
CINELIKE D(yanamic Range) – gives most latitude, maximizes dynamic range
(gives up to 1 stop additional dynamic range) in image, gives flatter and less
contrasty curve, suppresses lights and midtones; noisier; optimal for
transferring back to film and for maximizing options for manipulating image in
post.
h)
CINELIKE V(ideo) – exaggerates light / dark distance, makes contrasty, sharp
image optimized for displaying on video; presses down highlights, has more
range at top of curve, boosts midtones.
•
KNEE - Knee is like a limiter for gamma; it prevents overexposure by rolling off
the intensity of the brightest part of the picture:
a)
LOW – gives best protection against blowing out highlights, max dynamic
range, but can make whites look too grey. Starts attenuating around 80 IRE
b)
MID – rolls off around 90 IRE
c)
HIGH – starts to affect signal around 100 IRE; looks more natural than
“LOW” but offers less protection
d)
AUTO – camera may change knee mid-shot – this isn’t really generally
desirable – it may cause highlights to flicker
* NOTE that KNEE is not available for CINELIKE gamma settings, so precise and
careful highlight exposure is crucial in cinelike modes!
