pCAM 4.2.3 User Guide

8/13/2019 pCAM 4.2.3 User Guide

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/pcam-423-user-guide 1/38

Depth of Field

Choose your camera format by touching the Camera Format

button. You can jump to a particular type of Camera Format bytouching one of the buttons: Film, Video, Still or Custom.

The format you choose will automatically be entered in Splits - Aperture Finder, Field of View and Macro.

Touch the camera icon to jump directly to Field of View.

Circle of Confusion is automatically entered with each format.The CoC readout under the camera icon will change color from redto blue and italicize when a custom CoC is enabled.

You can also create a custom CoC by touching Enabled andentering a new value.

Enter the Subject Distance , Focal Length and Aperture , andyour DoF is automatically calculated along with percentages offocus depth in front of and behind the subject.

Feet and Inches are entered by selecting the single quote symbolafter feet and then your inch – i.e. 4' 6. No need to enter doublequote symbol for inches. ( Feet & Inches must be set in Settings .).

1



Meters are entered by entering your number with a decimal point –i.e. 4.5. ( Metric must be set in Settings ).

Swipe the screen up or down with your finger (any area of thescreen) for incremental changes to Distance.

You can change which unit and increment is used to nudgeDistance in Settings . Units are either Inches or Feet; Centimeters,Decimeters or Meters. Increments are 1, 2, 3, etc.

Swipe the screen left or right with your finger (any area of thescreen) for incremental changes to Aperture.

You can change which stop increment is used to nudge Aperture inSettings. Increments are: All stops; 1/4 stops; 1/3 stops; 1/2 stops;or Full stops.

The calculated Total Depth and Hyperfocal distance are also

displayed.

Touch Apply button to enter the Hyperfocal distance automaticallyin Distance box to calculate your maximum DoF to infinity.

You can also create a custom format by touching the Manage button at the top right. Touch the Add button at the top right. EnterFormat Name; either Film, Video or Still; Horizontal and Verticaldimensions; the Circle of Confusion; and then Save. A Delete button will appear afterwards for later deletion of this customformat .

2



Focal Length entries in Depth of Field, Splits – Aperture Finderand Field of View are linked. You have the option to unlink them inSettings if preferred.

Distance entries in Depth of Field and Field of View are also linked.You have the option to unlink them in Settings if preferred.

NOTE: As with all DoF calculators and charts these results are anapproximation based on mathematical formulas. DoF is influencedby many factors, including: lens sharpness, object's distance fromcamera, film or video resolution, lighting, filtration, color, circle ofconfusion, lens' nodal point, final projection, degree of sharpness ofthe scene, and distance from the viewing screen. Film tests or eye-focus should be used to verify results.

3



Splits – Aperture Finder

Choose your camera format by touching the Camera Format button. You can jump to a particular type of Camera Format by

touching one of the buttons: Film, Video, Still or Custom.

The format you choose will automatically be entered in Depth ofField, Field of View and Macro.

Circle of Confusion is automatically entered with each format.

The CoC readout under the camera icon will change color from redto blue and italicize when a custom CoC is enabled.

You can also create a custom CoC by touching Enabled andentering a new value.Enter the Focal Length , Far and Near Subject Distances and thecalculated result will be the Needed Aperture to keep bothsubjects in focus and where to Set Lens Focus on your lens barrel.It also shows you your Total Depth.


4



Meters are entered by entering your number with a decimal point –i.e. 4.5. ( Metric must be set in Settings ).

You can also create a custom format by touching the Manage button at the top right. Touch the Add button at the top right. Enter

Format Name; either Film, Video or Still; Horizontal and Verticaldimensions; the Circle of Confusion; and then Save. A Delete button will appear afterwards for later deletion of this customformat.

Focal Length entries in Depth of Field, Splits – Aperture Finderand Field of View are linked. You have the option to unlink them in

Settings if preferred.Distance entries in Depth of Field and Field of View are also linked.You have the option to unlink them in Settings if preferred.

NOTES: It will display "below f/1" when it calculates below 1 f-stop,which means effectively that any aperture will work. It will display"Impossible aperture value" when the needed aperture is over 323/4.

Film tests or eye-focus should be used to verify results.

5



Field of View (Object size)

Choose your camera format by touching the Camera Format Button. You can jump to a particular type of Camera Format by


Format sets your Camera's Image size (Aperture or sensor).

The format you choose will automatically be entered in Depth ofField, Splits - Aperture Finder and Macro.

Touch the camera icon to jump directly to Depth of Field.

You can also create a custom format by touching the Manage button at the top right. Touch the Add button at the top right. EnterFormat Name; either Film, Video or Still; Horizontal and Verticaldimensions; the Circle of Confusion; and then Save. A Delete button will appear afterwards for later deletion of this customformat .

Touch lock icon (Unlock) to unlock Distance and Focal Length ;then enter your values in Focal Length and Distance.

6




Meters are entered by entering your number with a decimal point –

i.e. 4.5. ( Metric must be set in Settings ).

Then lock one of the three buttons.Most often it’s the FoV button which is used for finding matchinglenses at different distances and keeping the same FoV.

Locking the FoV button (most common and useful):

Changes to Distance will calculate the new Focal Length neededto keep the same FoV (Object size).

Changes to Focal Length will calculate the new Distance neededto keep the same FoV (Object size).

Locking the Distance button:Changes to Focal Length will calculate the new FoV needed tokeep the same Distance .

Changes to FoV will calculate the new Focal Length needed tokeep the same Distance .

NOTE: Choose this if you want to pick comparable lenses in thevarious formats. Lock Distance and change formats, it gives you

the lens equivalent (for Horizontal dimension) in each format whilekeeping the same FoV (Object Size). For horizontal and verticaldimensions use the Focal Length Match calculator.

Locking the Focal Length button:Changes to Distance will calculate the new FoV needed to keepthe same Focal Length .

7



Changes to FoV will calculate the new Distance needed to keepthe same Focal Length .

Focal Length entries in Depth of Field, Splits – Aperture Finder

and Field of View are linked. You have the option to unlink them inSettings if preferred.

Distance entries in Depth of Field and Field of View are also linked.You have the option to unlink them in Settings if preferred.

Angle is automatically calculated and displayed in upper left

corner.Touch Preview button for an illustration of your Picture (Objectsize); which you can change (re-frame) to pick a different FocalLength, Distance or FoV.

8



Preview of Field of View (Object Size)

Enter by rotating your device counter-clockwise to Landscapemode or by touching the Preview button.

Your Format, FoV, Distance and Focal Length chosen in FoV willcarry over to Preview and changes to each will affect the other.

To resize the image (Object Size) by changing the Distance ,activate the Distance button at the top left and pinch the image todolly in or out (change Distance).

To resize the image (Object Size) by changing Focal Length ,activate the Focal Length button at the top right and pinch theimage to zoom in or out (change Focal Length).

Your new Distance or Focal Length is displayed on the topbuttons and they change real time as you pinch the image.

Your new FoV dimensions are displayed underneath and theychange real time as you pinch the image.

The Center button repositions and centers the illustration.Toggle the 100% - 95% - 90% button to see your image either fullframe or the frame reduced by 5% or 10%.

Toggle the 1-shot - 2-shot - Car button to see either one person(1-shot), two people (2-shot) or an automobile (car) for sizing yourshot.

Touch the Hide Controls button to clear all buttons.

You can still pinch the images to change Object size with thecontrols hidden.

9



Tap the "i" button to see controls again.

You can exit Preview by rotating back clockwise or by touching theExit Preview button.

10



Focal Length Match

Calculates matching lenses from one Camera Format to another.Particularly useful for times when you take photos or videos at a

tech scout and want to translate their lens sizes to your shootingcamera.

Choose your Original Format by touching the Format 1 button andchoosing a Camera Format. Then choose the format you want tofind a matching lens for by touching the Format 2 button andchoosing its Camera Format. You can jump to a particular type ofCamera Format by touching one of the buttons: Film, Video, Still orCustom.

Enter your Original Focal Length in Format 1's Focal Length boxand the result with be the matching lens on Format 2 .

The result gives two focal lengths, one for a match to Format 1'sVertical dimension and another to match Format 1's Horizontaldimension. The most common is the Vertical match.

In addition, you can also enter a new Vertical or Horizontal FocalLength in Format 2 and either will change the original Focal Lengthin Format 1 .

11



Triangulate

Calculate focus Distance when you know the camera height, and

either the length or angle.

Useful for determining focus Distance when subject is over water orover a cliff.

When the camera’s on a crane: enter the crane arm height, anddistance of your subject from crane pedestal, to determine focusDistance.

Can also be used to calculate the Image Circle (diagonal,hypotenuse) of a camera format when you enter its vertical andhorizontal dimensions.

Touch the appropriate button and enter its value. Enter any 2

entries and the other 3 will be automatically calculated.

Your 2 entered values will be in blue, and the results in black.

12



Exposure

Calculates for changes in Camera Speed (fps), Shutter Angle ,Film Speed (EI or ASA), Light (footcandles or lux) or Filters .

Set your preferred default Film Rating via Settings and choosingeither EI or ASA in the Units Settings (EI is the most common).

Set your preferred default Camera Speed , Shutter Angle and FilmSpeed in the Exposure Setting s. When you change any of thesesettings your Light default (footcandles or Lux) will automaticallychange as it is based on your chosen Camera Speed, Shutter

Angle or Film Speed.

Touch Reset button to clear previous entry and restore to theDefaults that were selected in Settings (see above).

Reset disables Filters (open Filter screen and enable again ifdesired. This is a "feature" so you don't have to re-select filterseach time.

Touch the lock icon to unlock all elements, pick your StartingAperture by touching Starting Aperture button, then lock it again.

13



When you change your Starting Aperture the Light setting(footcandles or Lux) will automatically change as it is based on yourchosen f-stop and Film Speed (EI or ASA).

Enable the element you want to calculate by touching its button ( f-

stop , fps , Shutter , Film EI (or ASA) or Light ). Changes to any ofthe other boxes will recalculate that chosen element. The mostcommon use is for f-stop compensation when changing cameraspeed, shutter angle, film speed, light or filters.

Example: With f-stop set at 5.6 and its top button activated,changing from 180 shutter to 90 shutter will result in a Calculated

Aperture of f/4.0 with a -1 stop Change .You can change more than one element at a time. This total stopchange will also display in Calculated Aperture and Change andis rounded to the closest 1/4 stop. To the right of Change , inparenthesis, is the exact stop change in decimals.

Filters: Touch the filters button and activate your various filters (acheck will appear next to each).

When done the number of filters chosen is displayed beside Filters.

Deselect button on the top bar of the filters screen un-check's all ofyour previously selected filters.

You can also enable/disable filters via the on/off button if you wantto remove all filters from the calculations, but keep them checkedfor later use. "Off" appears next to Filters .

Create Custom filters:Enter filters screen and touch Manage Custom Filters. Touch theAdd button. Enter filter name , pick its stop -change and save. A

14



delete button will appear afterwards for later deletion of this customfilter.

Note: Default Polarizers have a 2-stop or 1-stop light loss. If youprefer a 1 1/2 or 1 2/3 stop loss, then create another polarizer in

Manage Custom Filters screen.

Note: The ND filters we customarily refer to as whole numbers arereally decimals. For example, an ND 3 is really an ND 0.3.

Exposure time is displayed at the bottom of the screen in fractionplus decimal. It shows the length of time of each exposed frame of

film.Note: To prevent errors always hit the Reset button before startinga new calculation.

15



Running Time to Length

Touch Reset button to clear previous entries.

Reset does not reset camera speed or film format, these must bedone manually.

Select the Film Format by touching the Format button.

Frames per foot or meter appears at the bottom.

Enter your Camera Speed into the FPS box.Enable the element you want to calculate by touching its button(Time-Length or Length-Time ) underneath Calculate .

Changes to the other box will recalculate that chosen element.

Length also gives Total Frames.

After calculating you can also change the FPS or Format and it willrecalculate your result.

Each entry box must be entered separately.

16



Shooting Time/Screen Time


Reset does not reset camera or projector speeds, these must bedone manually.

Enter your Camera Speed.

(Usually Projector speed remains at 24 fps and Camera Speed isset for lower or higher than 24 fps).

Choose Screen Time underneath Calculate to calculate theScreen Time based on your entered Shooting Time , usually at ahigher or lower camera frame rate than the projector.

Choose Shooting Time underneath Calculate to calculate howlong your Shooting Time should be for your entered Screen Time .

Choose Camera Speed underneath Calculate to calculate howfast or slow your Camera Speed should be at an entered ShootingTime and Screen Time .


17



HMI Flicker-free

Important Note: These flicker-free FPS rates and Shutter Anglesare theoretical and to be absolutely sure of flicker-free results you

should shoot tests to verify accuracy. This is also true for the"Flicker-free" frame-rate cards that have been widely published andcirculated.

In Addition: Make sure to change between 50hz or 60hzdepending on your Power Frequency.

Touch the Flicker-free Speed Table button at the bottom for a listof theoretical flicker-free speeds at any shutter angle. This shouldbe enough for most users.

In addition to these flicker-free speeds you can also find variousShutter Angles that are theoretically flicker-free at odd CameraSpeeds not found on the Flicker-free Speed Table .

Choose Shutter Angle button underneath Calculate to calculatewhich Camera Speeds are flicker-free.

Enter a new FPS in the box and the flicker-free Shutter Angle result will be automatically calculated.

18



The peaks represent the number of light peaks for every AC powercycle. First 4 are presented, scroll down to see more.

Whenever you enter a Camera FPS that is on the Flicker-freeSpeed Table it will display “Flicker-free at any Shutter" in the

Shutter Angle's window.

"No Possible Shutter" is displayed when the result is an impossibleshutter angle over 360 degrees.

Choose Camera Speed button underneath Calculate to calculatewhich Camera Speeds are flicker-free at various Shutter Angles.

Enter a new Shutter Angle in the entry box and the theoreticalflicker-free Camera Speeds will be automatically calculated.

19



Color Correction

Shows you which filters are required to "correct" light sources foreither Tungsten or Daylight.

Select your type, either 3200K - Tungsten or 5500K – Daylightbuttons.

Select your Light Source by either entering an exact KelvinTemperature in the box or choosing a Generic one from the pickerbutton.

The result will be the Stop Loss, Correction Filters Required andthe Total required Mired.

As a visual aid a tinted filter icon or icons will pop up showing youwhich filters are needed.

Entering an exact Kelvin Temperature in the box overrides what ispicked on the generic picker as the picker sometimes has ranges oftemperatures .

Notes: The filter icons are an approximation of the actual filter'scolor.

20



Since filters, light sources and color-temperature meters vary; filmtests should be used to verify results.

21



Diopter

Used mainly to calculate the near and far focus distances ofselected Diopter Powers.

In diopter calculations traditionally the Object Distance ismeasured from the diopter and not from the film plane.

Enter your Lens Limit (minimum focus of lens you are using).

This Lens Limit is what will determine the nearest possible focus ofany of your Diopter Powers.

Measure from your Film Plane to the Diopter and enter it in Filmplane to Diopter.

Film Plane to Diopter only takes entries in inches (not feet andinches) or Meters (if Metric selected in Settings ). Inches areentered using the double quotation marks.

Choose Lens Focus underneath Calculate to calculate where toset the barrel of the lens with a picked Diopter Power , Film planeto Diopter , and Object Distance.

The result also gives you the Focus Range (Near and Fardistances).

22



Choose Diopter Power underneath Calculate to calculate whichdiopter power to use for a picked Lens Focus , Film plane toDiopter , and Object Distance.

Diopter Power is entered in decimals – i.e. .5, 1, 2, 3....

Lens Focus infinity is entered by touching the infinity symbol at thetop of the keypad or by choosing any distance further than 1000meters or 3281 feet.

The result also gives you the Focus Range (Near and Far

distances).Choose Object Distance underneath Calculate to calculate whatthe object distance should be with a picked Lens Focus , DiopterPower , and Film plane to Diopter .

The result also gives you the Focus Range (Near and Fardistances).

23



Macro

Choose your camera format by touching the Camera Format button. You can jump to a particular type of Camera Format by


The format you choose will automatically be entered in Depth ofField, Splits - Aperture Finder and Field of View.

You can also create a custom format by touching the Edit button atthe top right. Touch the Add button at the top right. Enter FormatName; either Film, Video or Still; Horizontal and Verticaldimensions; the Circle of Confusion; and then Save. A Delete button will appear afterwards for later deletion of this customformat .

Your Image Size and Circle of Confusion is determined by yourCamera Format.

The CoC readout under the camera icon will change color from redto blue and italicize when a custom CoC is enabled.

You can also create a custom CoC by touching Enabled andentering a new value.

Enter your Fill.24



It sets what percentage of the frame you want the object to "fill"horizontally.

You will not see the image size entry change when you select a fill-percentage. It changes it internally and gives you different

calculated results.

Enter your lens Focal Length.

Enter your Object Size.

With feet & inches selected in "Settings," the Object Size entry is

only in inches so it is not necessary to enter a single or doublequotation after your entry.

Pick your Starting Aperture.

Object Distance, Extension Length, Magnification, DoF andCorrected Stop and are the calculated results.

25



Time Lapse


Reset does not reset projector speed - must be done manually.

The most common use of Time Lapse will be determining theShooting Interval for a particular Event Duration and ScreenTime.

Enter Projection Speed (or Transfer Speed), usually 24 fps.

Choose Shooting Interval underneath Calculate to calculateShooting Interval for picked Event Duration and Screen Time .

The Shooting Interval is the amount of time the camera waitsBETWEEN exposing each frame.

Choose Event Duration underneath Calculate to calculate EventDuration for picked Shooting Interval and Screen Time .

Choose Screen Time underneath Calculate to calculate ScreenTime for picked Shooting Interval and Event Duration.

Exposure Time:

26



This is the amount of time the shutter stays open. It can be infractions such as 1/30 or 1/60 of a second and also longerexposures such as 1, 2, 3... seconds).

Enter fractions by first typing a "1," then the "/" symbol, then the

number – i.e. 1/50.


NOTE: Whatever is entered in Exposure time is invisibly added tothe interval entry. So, if you entered interval as a frame every 2seconds and entered Exposure Time as 3 seconds (shutter stays

open for 3 seconds), the entire interval would be actually be 5seconds (2+3). It doesn't show as 5 seconds, but the programcalculates it.

27



Underwater Distance(for Flat Ports)

To exit tap on the screen twice.

For underwater filming it is usually best to use a dome port,especially for wider lenses.

However, if you need to film both in and out of the water during thesame shot or need to use longer lenses then you should choose aflat port.

Using a flat port underwater requires that you compensate for focusdistances due to light refraction of 25 percent.

Enter your measured distance in the Measured Distance box andthe compensated Underwater Distance (Flat Port) will beautomatically calculated.

For longer lenses it is best to check your calibration with eye focus.

Do not use this calculation if you are using a dome port. You mustcalibrate the lens underwater (eye focus) for use with a dome port,as it should be focused on the optical virtual image and not the

28



subject. Above water, however, the dome port functions much likeclear glass.

NOTE: Film tests should be used to verify results.

29



Scene Illumination

If the Candelas (Peak Beam Intensity) of a lamp is known at acertain distance, then the illumination at other distances can be

calculated.

Set your Light in Settings to either Footcandles or Lux.

Enable the element you want to calculate by touching its button,Peak Beam , Distance or Illumination .Changes to any of the other two boxes will recalculate that chosenelement.

Example: Measure your lamp at a certain distance, say 5 ft, andnote the Footcandles (or Lux) on your light meter).

Activate the Peak Beam button underneath Calculate .

Enter 5 ft. in the Distance box and your Footcandles or Lux readingin the Illumination box.

To determine your light levels for this particular lamp at variousdistances, activate the Illumination button underneath Calculate and change the Distance . The new Footcandles or Lux calculationwill appear in its box.

30



You can also activate the Distance button underneath Calculate and change the Illumination entry. It will tell you how far to movethe lamp for this light level.

31



Light Coverage

Used to determine the light spread of a particular lamp in angles,distance and beam width.

Enable the element you want to calculate by touching its button(Beam Width , Distance or Beam Angle ) underneath Calculate .

Changes to any of the other boxes will recalculate that chosenelement.

32



Mired Shift

Calculates the Mired Shift of two Kelvin temperature values. Enteryour Original source Kelvin temperature in its box and your

Desired Kelvin temperature in its box. The resulting Mired ShiftResult is automatically calculated.

In addition, it shows you which gels are suggested to "correct" thelight sources from your Original source Kelvin value to your DesiredKelvin value.

Select your gel manufacturer by touching either Rosco , Lee , GAM ,or Formatt at the top.

The result will be the manufacturer's gel number, its name andmired value, Color Temperature Orange or Blue.You are given choices of various gels or combination of gels tomatch your Mired Shift. To the right of each suggested gel is itsMired Value or Total Mired Value if it's 2 gels combined.

Underneath the suggested gel box is a switch for Include Straw orNo Straw depending on your preference.

Notes: The gel icons are just an approximation of the actual gel'scolor.

33



Since gels, light sources and color-temperature meters vary, filmtests should be used to verify results.

34



Conversions

Choose the type of conversion by touching one of the buttons at thetop. Choices are Length (for length and distance), Kelvin/Mireds

or Footcandles/Lux .

Enter the first value in the entry box and hit done. The result isautomatically calculated and each subsequent change on thepicker wheel recalculates.

35



Insert Slate

To exit tap on the screen twice (anywhere other than on an entrybox area. Tapping on the word “Director” is a good spot).

Choose your font color in Settings . Choices are black, red, blue orgold.

Tap to the right of “Prod." to enter the Production company andtitle.

Tap underneath "Roll," "Scene" and "Take" to enter those numbers.

Tap to the right of "Director" to enter the name.

Tap to the right of "Camera" to enter the name.

Tap to the right of "Date" to enter the date.

Tip: You can enter into more than one box while the keyboard isopen.

Scroll through the lower button choices by tapping. Choices are:"Filter:," "FPS:, "Unit:," "Notes:," or blank.

Tap to the right of the lower button to enter its description.37



Tap on the 3 buttons on the right side to scroll through. Choicesare:"Dawn," "Day" "Dusk'" "Nite," or blank."Ext," "Int" or blank.

"Sync," "MOS" or blank.

pCAM 4.2.3 User Guide

Documents

Transcript of pCAM 4.2.3 User Guide