"Mark Thackeray" <mthackeray@rambert.org.uk> wrote in message

news:918eecfe.0311221142.29c6eb78@posting.google.com...

> This is a bit of a specific problem that I'm trying to overcome, any

> help would be appreciated.

>

> I am currently using a Sony PD150 for shooting contemporary dance,

> with some excellent results. My only problem is that the lighting

> states during the piece vary a lot and this requires using the iris.

> As many of you will know, the PD150 has it's iris in 1/2 stop steps,

> which looks a bit nasty when it comes to editing the final results

> (since the brightness level steps rather than blends). I can't use

> the auto iris as it always overexposes the faces. Since the footage

> is usually shot on the premiere performance (agreement with various

> parties) the lighting cannot be changed.

>

> Short of getting another camera, is there anything that can be done,

> either with the camera or on the editing side? I'm using Premiere 6.5

> with a Canopus DVStorm2 card.

>

> Any recommendations as to other cameras?

If the exposures are consistently off a given amount on the faces

(unlikely), try going auto-aperture but with compensation dialed in.

Somewhat underexposed footage that may result can be corrected

well enough while editing, so long as the faces are never overexposed.

Otherwise, an XL1 with a manual-aperture lens for the very low end,

or a low-end JVC, Panasonic, or Sony shoulder-mount camera

(good quality) may be the answer. No compact camera I know of

avoids the stepping exposure problem with "manual" aperture, but

biasing the auto exposure can work well, particularly when combined

with a little work while editing...

--

David Ruether

d_ruether@hotmail.com

http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com