BLack Balance

[Michael Rossi]

BLack balance is only done with the red after every build upgrade right?

It does not need to be done in the traditional sense of before each shoot as you would with other video cameras.

Thanks

 

[Clint Lealos]

My understanding is that you should still black balance at the start of each shoot day. Some even say after each power cycle. Not sure what the general consensus is, but am curious to hear what others say.

 

[David Birdy]

A black balance is always a good idea.

Remember to make sure the sensor is covered or lens cap is on with media attached before preforming a Black balance with the Red one.

Dave

 

[Martin Weiss]

Also a good idea to perform a black balance when there are significant temperature changes, or when you are switching exposure times, say from 1/50 to 1/2.

 

[David Battistella]

BLACK SHADING CALIBRATION

-Needs to be done with new builds
-best if done when the camera is at operating temperature and in the conditions same as the shoot.
-in the mode (4K, shutter angle, exposure etc) that the camera will be set too.

David

 

[Brent J. Craig]

Hold on, you guys are black balancing every time you change speeds, change modes, or reboot?!? Your shoots must be very slow paced!

I black balance during the camera prep, simply because I have no way of knowing when it was last done. My understanding is that it does not need to be done very often.

I would recommend performing a black balance:
-after a firmware change.
-after a significant temperature change ONLY IF the image seems to need it.
-when shooting very high ISO ONLY IF the image seems to need it.

Would be nice to hear from Red on this.

 

[Justin Hartough]

Black balance doesn't need to happen that often. You guys have a pretty good list but I would like to add that you should remember to black balance after shipping a camera. If the camera is exposed to high levels of radiation from the security scan you will need to black balance.

It's also important to remember that the black balance is laid on top of the previous black balance. Because of this you eventually will need to restore the black balance. But only rarely.

 

[Brent J. Craig]

...If the camera is exposed to high levels of radiation from the security scan you will need to black balance.

Good point, and one not often thought of. I have heard rumours of (other) cameras even having problems after the increased cosmic radiation from air travel.

It's also important to remember that the black balance is laid on top of the previous black balance. Because of this you eventually will need to restore the black balance. But only rarely.

That doesn't sound right. While I assume there is a factory-applied 'master' black balance, I don't think repeated calibrations add up. If I understand it correctly, black balance is simply characterizing how the sensor responds at that point in time. What would be the purpose of adding it to previous calibrations?

 

[Michael Rossi]

Thanks.

Stupid question but black balancing is the listing of "black shading" in the menu?

 

[Michael Rossi]

and by significant temp change you are referring to color temp? like going from 56k to 32k

 

[Kevin Marshall]

Physical temp - like going from exterior to interior in the winter.

 

[David Battistella]

and by significant temp change you are referring to color temp? like going from 56k to 32k

No. Physical temperature change.

BLACK SHADING CALIBRATION is best done when the camera temperature is warm to hot. This is why even at prep you should do the calibration when the camera has been running for at least 20 minutes.

If you are doing shots with a very slow shutter it is best to have the camera set to that shutter angle to do that calibration. I have had to do that on night timelapse shots when I was getting "sparklies" in the images on 1/2 second night timelapse shots.

Normal operation is fine, but when you are heading out of range (high end of pushing the sensor in situations like low light open shutters, it's good to do a BLACK SHADING CALIBRATION.

David

 

[Michael Rossi]

Thank you. From what I gather you do not need to black balance before every shooting day.

 

[David Battistella]

Thank you. From what I gather you do not need to black balance before every shooting day.

No,

But keep an eye on it and consider doing the Calibration on big changes as discussed in this thread.

David