Your Camera Adjustments & Video Measurements Corner

Leader Instruments Corporation

Levels & Limits

In decimal terms, for 10 bit systems, we have 1,015 luminance levels – from minimum black to maximum white, we have 1,015 gray scales – no more (10 bit systems).  Your dynamic range resolution is roughly 1,000.  If you “play it safe” and stay within 1%-100%, your dynamic range resolution drops to below 900.  The chart below shows the absolute minimum/maximum levels for 10 bit systems. 

The chart shown below depicts values in hexadecimal, decimal (normal numbers) and millivolts (as measured on a waveform monitor).  Maximizing the dynamic range of your camera includes ensuring that your blackest-black is near or at the bottom of the scale while peak whites reach but do not exceed the maximum of the scale.  Exceeding the maximum or miminum limitations is not possible; your camera will clip any values above or below the ranges described in the chart.  Allowing your camera to “clip” specular reflections (i.e. street lights in a night shot or the sun reflecting off car wind-shields in a NASCAR race) is an acceptable way of increasing exposure when needed while producing an interesting artistic effect.

Above picture showing street light registering at 100% (clipped).  Shown in LV5800 Multi-screen depicting CINEZONE display (false colors), CINELITE DISPLAY (on-picture measurement), waveform display and 5-Bar display (easy gamut compliance check).