Grain is bad

[Dale]

A digital camera can be a help regarding less grain. Some of the Sony models have an option to decrease the 'gain' that is applied ie. attempting to boost the picture when it is dark and this reduces the grain (strictly this is 'noise' not 'grain'). The obvious answer is to use lights, which unfortunately is not that easy if you are trying to shoot a scene that is deliberately meant to be dark.

[eddie]

I dont want to sound like Ive totally missed the point of this, but does this talk of GAIN and grain mean that if you use the gain facility of the camera you will get a grainy image?
I recently shot a lot of stuff with a Video camera at night (using street lights) with the gain switched on high. I liked the effect when I tried it out deliberatly. Are you saying that this will mean I have a grainy (noisy) final image??? Im expecting some, but I thought that the effect was pretty good....?

[CDA]

One way of making grain look good is to increase contrast (best in black&white). Lets face it, most of us don't have pro-spec video and editing equipment so I just say GO WITH IT.

[sadiemayhem]

you don,t need to start off buying a bunch of expensive lights when you are just starting I've seem many peices done useing industral painting lights you can buy at the hardware store 500 to 1000 watts nice soft warm light made to use indoor or out and they cost about $40 canadian for 2 lights and a stand. Don't forget also to have a bounce board with your kit. You can get chloroplast at hardware for about $10 a 4ft by 8ft sheet or you can spend about $80 for a Flex Fill.
Good Luck
Kenna

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