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Lighting question, exposure levels

thefilmgeek

thefilmgeek

I'm using an XH-A1s, and it has zebra settings inside. Now, what I'm mainly looking for is so I don't overexpose something to the point where it's so white I can't even see what's happening, like a completely blown highlight.

What zebra IRE should I have it set to for that, any suggestions?

Currently I use the viewfinder in B&W in order to frame and decide on if shots are lit properly through just the zebra and my own hunch, but is there a better way?
 
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zebras at 100% will show you what is blowing out... normal light colored skin should hit 85% and dark skin 65%. So check at 100% or 95% to determine your highlights and light the rest of the scene with either bounced light or added light to match that until your actor's skin hits the appropriate level.
 
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Zensteve said:
I was gonna suggest using a lightmeter, if your camera has a manual aperture.
Click to expand...

Yes it has an aperature ring, so I control the f/stop manually.

Knightly, do you mean put the zebra down fo 85% for light skinned, light them and when they start blowing out on the skin at 85, back it down just a tad, then I'm good to go?
 
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