Low end DV camcorder with real manual exposure?

1 Jun 2005 3:34 PM

BR

I discoverd that my JVC GR-D30 has a manual exposure control for strong
backlighting etc., but the auto exposure is still making adjustments due to
small variations in the subject. The camera is used on a copy stand to
document an experiment. The lighting, distance, focus, and zoom are never
varied. The instruction booklet says "Manual exposure adjustment..."
Perhaps they should have said exposure compensation, since I interpret
"manual" like the M on my Canon A2.

Are there any low end DV camcorders with an actual manual exposure control
so that once set the exposure remains fixed?

Ben

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1 Jun 2005 5:41 PM

C.J.Patten

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"BR" <slac***@nonsensecomcast.net> wrote in message
news:Xns96685735EE5B1slackinnonsensecomca@216.196.97.136...
>I discoverd that my JVC GR-D30 has a manual exposure control for strong
> backlighting etc., but the auto exposure is still making adjustments due
> to
> small variations in the subject. The camera is used on a copy stand to
> document an experiment. The lighting, distance, focus, and zoom are never
> varied. The instruction booklet says "Manual exposure adjustment..."
> Perhaps they should have said exposure compensation, since I interpret
> "manual" like the M on my Canon A2.
>
> Are there any low end DV camcorders with an actual manual exposure control
> so that once set the exposure remains fixed?
>
> Ben

You're going to find a lot of people here whose sympathies go out to you. :)

If you buy a used Sony consumer level camera from a few years ago, you get
"OK" video quality (not pro by any means but *as good* as what's at BestBuy
now) and you can "LANC hack" it with a service remote. (Bob? You had them
for about $150, right?) The remote is a "For Adjustment" RM95 - it has a
cable that plugs into the LANC port on many Sony cameras. You can hack the
camera to give you manual functions (or at least Av and Tv modes) and you
can also control the camera with the remote so it's a good investment and
not just a disposable toy.

If you invest $800 in a used Sony TRV900, you get manual everything and a
broadcast quality camera. The VX2000 will have better lowlight capability
(fantastic low-light actually) and have manual everything. (about $1300-1700
used).

What's your budget? I can't think of any current low-end camera that has
full manual but other's may know of models that do. (it's unusual in any
case)

I look forward to seeing the other replies you get!
Chris

1 Jun 2005 10:49 PM

Gene E. Bloch

On 6/1/2005, BR managed to type:

> I discoverd that my JVC GR-D30 has a manual exposure control for strong
> backlighting etc., but the auto exposure is still making adjustments due to
> small variations in the subject. The camera is used on a copy stand to
> document an experiment. The lighting, distance, focus, and zoom are never
> varied. The instruction booklet says "Manual exposure adjustment..."
> Perhaps they should have said exposure compensation, since I interpret
> "manual" like the M on my Canon A2.
>
> Are there any low end DV camcorders with an actual manual exposure control
> so that once set the exposure remains fixed?
>
> Ben

I notice that the Canon Elura 20 (an older model) has a somewhat odd
manual exposure control. See page 69 of the PDF manual if you can find
one (sorry, I've lost the URL - but it might be dead anyway).

What you do is 1. engage the exposure lock, and 2. if necessary, adjust
the exposure up or down from the locked value.

This certainly sounds like it prevents the camera from adjusting the
exposure with ambient changes.

I suggest you look into the current Canon consumer line (and other
brands) to see if they might have a similar capability - or even a true
manual adjustment (shutter speed/F-stop/gain settings).

HTH,
Gino

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Gene E. Bloch (Gino)
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