Sony Digital 8 White balance.

[arcorob]

Hello,

Tried this on a Sony forum and could not get it beat so maybe the experts here can help.

I have 7 Digital 8 camcorders (call me crazy) that I use for weddings. NONE of them have a manual white balance...ugg. No option for it. NowI have seen on the net, that folks have made a lanc device to reprogram the camera for things such as DV in (PAL in europe) and the codes are there for white balance.

Anyone know about how this can be done or another method ? Surely the talent here can reprogram a camecorder...LOL

I saw the instructions and tools out there and they are too raw. How about a nice LANC device with controls ??? SIgh...Any help appreciated

[DaBarrister]

Which model do you have? On the later models (on the TRV320, for example) white balance is a "hidden feature" that can be activated.

This is a nice Excel spreadsheet with a list of features of Digital 8 cams:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/bbs/t48170.html

[arcorob]

I have TRV340's and TRV340's......I looked at that spreadsheet but it mentions AUTO HOLD INDOOR OUTDOOR which I dont seem to have...How do I get to hiiden features? THANK U

[captnemo]

arcorob-

Did you ever figure out how to enable the 'hidden features'? I have a trv350 which, according to the spreadsheet, is supposed to have adjustment for white balance but I can't find it on any of the menu's.

Thanks

[jpr]

arcorob-

Did you ever figure out how to enable the 'hidden features'? I have a trv350 which, according to the spreadsheet, is supposed to have adjustment for white balance but I can't find it on any of the menu's.

Thanks

Yes, I successfully added white balance, zebra and color strips items into TRV340E menu. Hope You don't mind that I'm not arcorob

A few years ago I played with LANC connection and even compiled a piece of sw to make it easier. Used this sw about 3 year ago and then recently. Found 2 documents that explicitly talks about TRV340 codes on the Net. The first one (xls) did not work for me, all my changes is based on the second one (doc). I temporarily placed those 2 docs and 2 latest versions of my software (lancterm) here: http://www.volny.cz/jp.volny/trv340/
Please do your own research about LANC tools use (eg. google RM95EMUL, RM95DUMP) and definitely do dump of your camera memory before you try to change anything. Be sure you know the checksum issue and what to do about it. Also, lancterm is MS-DOS program and can not run on Win 2k nor on Win XP. Moreover, to operate correctly it needs constant CPU power, hence all power saving methods managing CPU should be disabled in BIOS.

Good luck,
JPR

!!!! DISCLAIMER: ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS POST AND ON THE WEB SITE MENTIONED ABOVE IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE ONLY. LANCTERM CAN RUIN YOUR CAMERA. IF YOU USE THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE OR THE PROGRAM, YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CONSEQUENCES !!!!

[compuser]

I noticed that my Digital 8 is listed, the DCRTRV 460, as being able to white balance. The above mentioned XLS (http://www.camcorderinfo.com/bbs/t48170.html) mentioned that the DCRTRV 460 was able to change the white balance mode (it said to see the manual for DCRTRV 80...I looked at it with no luck), has any one tried doing this with sucess?

[captnemo]

jpr-

Do you know for sure if this will work for the TRV350?

[jpr]

jpr-
Do you know for sure if this will work for the TRV350?

No I do not. Sorry. I played with my TRV340 only.
Good luck.

[gwoiler]

If you just want all cameras to have the same white balance... you can do this: Point them all to the same white card while they are in auto white balance, and after a minute or so, put them all on hold mode. That will lock them all there after they adjusted themselves to the card. This is slower than a manual balance, but it does work.

[Undead Sega]

has anyone done it for a TRV7/840E camcorder?

[edDV]

If you just want all cameras to have the same white balance... you can do this: Point them all to the same white card while they are in auto white balance, and after a minute or so, put them all on hold mode. That will lock them all there after they adjusted themselves to the card. This is slower than a manual balance, but it does work.

This topic is great.

White balance and audio pumping are the main reasons to avoid consumer cams for anything serious. If we can get control of white balance 90% of the issues are solved.

Sometimes I tape an event and encourage volunteers to add B-Roll footage with their consumer cams. For outdoor events white balance is the greatest challenge especially late in the afternoon when everything goes blue.

I attach a large powder blue art card near the stage and encourage shooters to set white balance or turn the cam off and on while zoomed on the card and then to use hold settings like you say. It makes a huge difference when it works.

PS: Once you get control of white balance, understand the advanatges of going blueish for cards to get warmer tones. http://www.studio1productions.com/warmcards.htm