Filming At Night with Mini DV Camera

[enigma2472001]

I am filming at night with a mini-dv camera, but i can't seem to film without getting a graining, blocked or dark image, i've tried using small lights, but it don't look right, the moonlight is bright and looks good, but the camera doesn't catch it.

What would you do?
Use better lights?
Better camera?
Burn the script?
Break the camera?
Give up and direct episodes of Coronation Street?

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My Profession is Life, but I mingle in Death. - God

[redlum]

I'd use the search facility on these forums and look for 'shooting at night'. Its a very common question.

Good luck

George

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[ThomasB]

Just one advise. Simply don't shoot at night. It's a major pain in the ass.

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ThomasB
http://www.biennavista.com

[Mods]

Thats true. You could always try filters that make day look like night. Some films have used this.

The only other thing I suggest is, use car headlights, dim them sligtly or put bin liners over them or face the car the other way, just so some light is coming through to where your shooting.

Alternativly, you could rig a small bedside lamp (have to be one without a shade tho) above the scene ur acting (a few meters or so) - this is if you have electricity near by - and use it as a mini spotlight. Use different WATT lightbulbs for different light levels, or different coloured bulbs etc.

Mods

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Mark "Mods" Lovegrove
Anarchy Pictures

[charliemyerz]

first thing you should never do is use night shot or the light on the camara, becouse it looks like the blair witch project( thats good if thats what you are going for)
If you can film in a place with already lit like city streets or a park, street lights and neon signs produce a very gritty cool enviroment.
the head lights on a car work well but so to high powered flash lights, just dont point your light source directly at the subject, it looks a lot better if you point the light in the other direction and refelct it back with mirrors.



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[shirt]

Anything dark with Mini Dv will look like shit.

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[deanl]

Hey there.

It all boils down to this-----> DV + NIGHT = SHITE.

Try and write around it at all cost. Because the fact is if you can afford to light an area enough to make dv look good then you can afford a camera that can handle them conditions.

Despin out.

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You call them morons. I call them friends.

[JessFranco]

you need to limit the gain on your camera, so that it doesnt try to pull details, and so that the darks will remain dark with no grain. subjects have to be well lit. in post, color correction can be used to give everything a nightish look..blues, etc..

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