Dumb Question

[Benji]

I just built a high key (all white) video camera room, and I want to test the various lights to see the effect and power of each light. I have absolutely no idea how to use a video camera and apparantly no one else in the organization that I built it for does either, other than "turn it on and aim it at the subject." Can I test the lighting with my DSLR?

Benji

[mjp321]

Sure, you can test the lighting with your DSLR. You don't mention what video camera they're going to use, but hopefully it's one that has a manual mode, so they can adjust the f/stop. If not, the testing probably won't do much good.

[Benji]

Originally Posted by mjp321

Sure, you can test the lighting with your DSLR. You don't mention what video camera they're going to use, but hopefully it's one that has a manual mode, so they can adjust the f/stop. If not, the testing probably won't do much good.

It is a 3CCD Sony (or something like that) I think. It cost $10,000.00 so I'm sure it can be put on manual. As I mentioned all they have ever done with it is auto everything and aim it and press record.

My test with the DSLR looks excellent. Tomorrow we do the video test.

Benji

[gumper]

and apparantly no one else in the organization that I built it for does either

Well, its hard to soar with Eagles when you work with Turkeys!
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Sorry Benji, but your comment brought some (I can relate to that) humor to my day today.

[upova]

What do you mean by "test the lighting"? What type of lights are you using? HMI, Tungsten? This will indicate the colour 'temperature' of the light. The light head itself should have a wattage rating on it somewhere, 500W, 1000W? You can use a lux meter to tell you the intensity or a colour temperature meter to tell you that.

1. One way to test the "effect" of light is to sit someone or something in front of it and record so you can see the result. At least you don't need to wait for film to be processed nowadays.

2. Somewhere on the camera there should be something that actually identifies the camera, (3CCD is a bit vague). The CCD means 'Charge Coupled Device - I won't try to explain, 'Google' it).
3. $10,000 is a pretty serious price to pay, so it is not a beginner level cam, obviously. Therefore it will have many controls, such as: gain, white balance and a host of other stuff.
Best way to learn about a tool is to use it (and read the instruction booklet).

Take 2 painkillers and call your doctor if pain persists.

Btw, how did the test turn out?