DI and HD Telecine Questions

[akmeister]

Hello David,

I am wondering with the DI process do DPs still opt to slightly rate the ASA differently and overexopse to get a richer picture. Basically is there still a need to do this when going to a DI, or can the blacks be crushed just as good with this process. Also what about for a HD telecine, when your positive the footage will never go back to film. A commercial for example? I'm about to do several specs that will never go back to film, so I'm wondering if I should go for perfect exposure, or should I still be overexposing a bit using 400 and 500 ASA. I'll be getting and HD transfer that will go through a DaVinci. Thanks for all your time and advice.

Aaron Meister

 

[David Mullen ASC]

You don't really need to overexpose negative for scanning / telecine purposes only if all you want is a black black, since that can be set by the colorist. But mild overexposure still helps reduce graininess and improve shadow detail, so that when you bring down your blacks, you still hold some shadow detail.