The gain feature used off your camera can be beneficial for
the overall brightness of your video image in a situation where there is
no control of lighting at a location. This particular setting can help
boost the signals from your camera to artificially create a brighter
image in a location that may not have an ideal light source. A poor
light setting will result in a video image that cannot be shown and will
be seen as an extremely dark image with little or no detail. With the
use of gain, a video image in a low-lighting location can now be seen
with great detail. Below contains the steps involved to manually apply
the gain setting to your camera.
STEP 1: Reading Instructions
All cameras are both prosumer and consumer function differently,
which will create various results for the use of gain. If you cannot
find the gain setting on your video camera or in your instructions, then
the choice of applying it is not optional.
Step 2: Activating the Gain Setting
If your video camera contains a menu setting for gain, you will need
to manually activate it. This setting is usually categorized with the
white balance and brightness features under the menu options. As the
result of all cameras functioning differently, it is best to seek the
guide of your manual if you do not see this feature under the menu
selections.
Step 3: Setting the Gain Level
Once the gain feature is found, you can now specifically adjust the
levels of brightness to your image. All video cameras measure the amount
of gain in numerical steps or decibels. As another feature, some
cameras provide specific levels such as mid gain or high gain. When
applying levels, you must be cautious and not overuse this feature. An
extremely high level of gain will result in a brighter picture with a
low quality appearance that contains artifacts while giving an overall
grainy look to the video image. When you find the right balance, the
gain setting may prove to be useful in a location that does not provide
enough light.
Step 4: Applying Gain
Once the level of gain is set, you can view your results through the
viewfinder or LCD screen. This technique is recommended to see if the
right amount of gain is applied. Always make sure there is enough gain
used in which you can see the image clearly. If you start to see too
much gain, then it’s time to go back and adjust your settings to
regulate the artifacts in order to produce a good quality video image.
Always be cautious of the different lighting set-ups you may encounter
while filming with your camera. If you enter into an atmosphere opposite
of your initial low-light setting, your image will be overblown and too
bright for your camera to pick up an image. It is best to be aware of
your surroundings with different lighting set-ups while using gain. With
these steps, you are now able to film in a location where little to no
light is provided.
