On Mon, 16 Jul 2001 21:44:19 GMT, Gary Eickmeier wrote:
>Neuman - Ruether wrote:

>> Alright - this is *NOT* "rocket science" (for you,
>> and others, above...). With the VX-2000/PD-150,
>> manual adjustments are *not* infinitely-variable -
>> they go in jumps (about 1/2 stop per "notch" of
>> change, rather noticeable in the image if done while
>> taping...); auto-adjustments are ***MUCH*** smoother,
>> as in, far more divisions per stop, and they appear
>> virtually perfectly smooth during shifts. Add to this
>> the ease of biasing the AE exposure, and if exposure
>> shifts are needed during taping, I see no advantage
>> to manual, and considerable advantage to auto exposure
>> with these cameras (and most other consumer cameras
>> [though, BTW, the Panasonic EZ30 auto exposure adjusts
>> were as "klunky" as manual]). With backlighting, adjust
>> the AE-bias in the "custom controls", and changes
>> in lighting (like on a sunny-cloudy day, with windows)
>> are neatly taken care of. If you need to hold the
>> exposure, hit the lock button (VX-2000 only). The
>> VX-2000 AE is so good that it isn't even badly fooled
>> if one pans by a window or open door - the resultant
>> moderate exposure shift resulting (compared with the
>> VX-1000 and others) is easily corrected in post
>> with a variable brightness-contrast filter applied
>> to a short section (or just have your finger on the
>> exposure lock button, hit it before the window/door,
>> hit it again after [easier said than done...;-]).
>> ***AGAIN***, the VX-2000 is essentially an auto
>> control camera (with very good AE, AF, and AWB),
>> with manual overrides - it ***IS NOT*** a basically
>> manual camera with some (so-so) auto features, like
>> most "pro" cameras... Trying to force it to be
>> what it is not, while ignoring its strengths is
>> silly, I think! If you prefer a more traditional
>> manual-control Mini-DV camcorder, look at the JVC
>> models; the VX-2000 (and to a bit lesser degree,
>> the PD150) are essentially consumer-style cameras
>> with uniquely excellent auto controls (finally,
>> really useable and dependable AF and AE!) and
>> picture quality - choose and use them for what
>> they are, not as smaller replacements for
>> traditional "pro" cameras...

>So your working method might be to be basically in auto exposure, and
>you can hit a button to lock exposure or hit it again to unlock
>exposure back to auto,

Yes...

>or you can bias the auto exposure up and down
>smoothly to compensate for backlighting.

No. The bias also jumps in too-large increments
for smooth shifts, just as the manual settings do.
I set the AE-bias according to the predominant
conditions (usually at "-1", since I like a rich
picture, but it could be at "+2" or whatever with
a white wall predominating and a window in the view...

>Well, the first thing I would try would be to bias the exposure up and
>down smoothly while in exposure lock mode. Am I clever or what?

Sorry - it doesn't work that way...

>Oh I just wish I could play with one, but no such luck.
>
>Gary Eickmeier

Pure unalloyed joy...! ;-)
(Well, not really - these are hardly perfect, but
they are very good as consumer-grade camcorders go...;-)