HD-SDI dynamic range question for Barry

[Saddler]

Hi Barry, I read in another thread that you measured the dynamic range of the AF-100's sensor at 10.x stops of exposure. Is that essentially what we're looking at with working with an HD-SDI out recorded image, or is the 24mbps AVCHD going to be able to store that much dynamic range? Also, will recording out to ProRes via a Ki Pro/Mini going to record 4:2:2 color straight from the sensor before processing, or is the chip itself limited to 4:2:0, meaning that we're still limited to 4:2:0 that's merely being converted to the 4:2:2 color space of ProRes/HQ?

[Barry_Green]

10.5 stops was measured not on the recording, but from the SDI output. Why do you think the AVCHD codec wouldn't be able to store it? Of course it will.

The chip is most definitely not limited to 4:2:0, it will output a full 4:2:2 signal.

[Saddler]

Hmm, I bought the HVX200 when it was first released, along with 2 4GB P2 cards and a P2 Store. That whole deal cost, what, $9k-ish. It was great, had 4:2:2 and 7-8 stops of exposure, but with 2 4GB cards I was limited to a partial raster 720P, even shooting at 24p. The camera left some to be desired when it came to low lighting and noise.

Fast forward to the AF100. So for the same $9k, we're looking at the camera body, a Ki Pro Mini and some large and cheap CF cards, and maybe 3 nice lenses to start. And with that we're talking full raster 1080p at 10.5 stops and 4:2:2, shallow depth of field is achievable, and fun lenses beyond just the fast primes can be used of almost any variety with cheap mounts. We're also talking about long recording times on cheap media, jello that is hopefully reduced enough to not be a concern, XLR mic inputs, headphone jack for monitoring, same great Panny cinegamma, over/undercranking, etc. Is that all sounding about right? Okay, so it has less dynamic range and resolution than the Scarlet, but it (w/ the Ki Pro Mini) also has a workflow that's recording directly to the native FCP codec that many of us are using as the backbone of our editing workflow. Doesn't sound too bad.

How is the low light performance (did anyone test this on the IBC unit)?

[Barry_Green]

How is the low light performance (did anyone test this on the IBC unit)?
The IBC unit was super-pre-prototype, the very first barely-functional unit, so it's not a good one to evaluate for that. However, it looked pretty decent at ISO 1600. There was noise, but a lot less than you'd see off an original HVX200.

[NextWaveG]

10.5 stops is great news. After shooting on HDSLR, I find the hardest thing to do now is light video. My whites blow out or my blacks clip faster than I did on my 5D. It will be nice to have that range on the AF100.