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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Light Meter Question

 
 


Stoney
User


Feb 14, 2005, 7:08 AM

Post #1 of 6 (1083 views)
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Light Meter Question Can't Post
I put this in this forum because of the nature of the question. I've used an analog light meter for years in the studio. I use it to measure footcandles and the ones I've used usually have corresponding fstops/iris settings at the bottome of the meter. I just got a new digital meter for work and it has 2 settings:
just footcandles or fstop in conjunction with iso. I can flip back and forth between the two. My theory is that still camera iso setting would be the same as color temperature? I have it set to 3200 iso, thinking that my indoor lighting is approx. in the 3200 k range. Would that be right or close? Is another iso closer to video in an indoor setting? Although I ultimately use my waveform, it would be nice if I could do a quick switch over from footcandles to iso to see iris readings. In the studio it's nice to get to that 5.6 iris setting. I work at a university, so my crew are students and I like to show them as many aspects of the business as possible.

Thanks,
Stoney
LE 6.1, DVC-80, GL-1 & TRV900


ChopSueyChris
User


Feb 14, 2005, 8:31 AM

Post #2 of 6 (1080 views)
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Re: [Stoney] Light Meter Question [In reply to] Can't Post
ISo is the speed of the film..The higher the ISO... the more grain the image will have... Also the higher the speed of film the less light is needed to expose the picutre properly.
====================
I got some stuff.


TimK
User

Feb 14, 2005, 1:12 PM

Post #3 of 6 (1072 views)
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Re: [ChopSueyChris] Light Meter Question [In reply to] Can't Post
Yes, ISO doesnt relate to video specifically it is a measure of film sensitivity. The ISO setting as it relates to video varies. It depends on the light sensitivity of your specific camera. You can figure what ISO setting to use for your video camera by doing the following:

1. Properly expose a shot (preferably with a wavefrom monitor)
2. Check on the video lens where the iris is (i.e. f/5.6)
3. Do light meter tests with it set to 1/60 shutter speed, and then cycle through the avilable ISO settings until it matches the iris setting on your camera with the correctly exposed shot

(This post was edited by TimK on Feb 14, 2005, 1:14 PM)


videobear
Veteran


Feb 14, 2005, 1:37 PM

Post #4 of 6 (1068 views)
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Re: [Stoney] Light Meter Question [In reply to] Can't Post
Standard light meters are set up to tell you stuff you need to know for still photography. There ARE some light meters designed for video, which will give you color temperatures, but they are VERY expensive. Most videographers simply use their camera as their light meter -- white balance for color temp, zebra indicators for exposure (f/stop).




Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions


Stoney
User


Feb 14, 2005, 2:06 PM

Post #5 of 6 (1065 views)
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Re: [TimK] Light Meter Question [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks Tim,
After I asked the question, I thought of the same way to make it work. Videobear, I use the light meter for lighting sets in the studio. It's a lot easier to get consistent, even lighting when you are lighting multiple guests, backgrounds and things like green screens. I also teach my crew how to use a waveform both in the studio and a portable one for in the field. Finally they get training on the best way to use zebra bars, filters, etc. At work I do many different levels of production, which is hard to teach and train college students to understand the differences. When I get new gear I like to look at both the proper way to work with it and the "no-brainer" way of working with it, since I've had crew members at all levels.

Thanks for the help. I'll do a test and let you know what I found.

Cheers,
Stoney
LE 6.1, DVC-80, GL-1 & TRV900


hlanden
The Dean / Moderator


Feb 15, 2005, 7:41 AM

Post #6 of 6 (1032 views)
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Re: [Stoney] Light Meter Question [In reply to] Can't Post
Stony,

Would you like to write an article for The Free Library here at VU? Something like Advanced Exposure Techniques for Video? I've started to write this so many itmes, but never finish it. If you're teaching it, you're just the right person to write it. You can email me at video@videouniversity.com or give me a call at 401 253 2800

Hal Landen
VideoUniversity.com
Professional Video Producer course