canon log curve vs Cinema mode

[macgregor]

So I´m playing with a C300 and I see a difference in how highlights are clipped between using the protected Cinema mode and just using a custom profile and selecting the canon log gamma and matrix. The way highlights are rendered is completely different. They seem to be clipping at 100IRE even when the clipping setting at 100IRE is off in the menu.

Anyone else has tried this?

[alpi69]

I don´t think the Highlights Clip at 100%. On the contrary highlights that seem to be gone at 120 on the waveform, can be retained in post. The codec records a lot of information up there even if it looks clipped on the waveform.

You can also play around with the knee setting to change highlights.

[redhouse]

So I´m playing with a C300 and I see a difference in how highlights are clipped between using the protected Cinema mode and just using a custom profile and selecting the canon log gamma and matrix. The way highlights are rendered is completely different. They seem to be clipping at 100IRE even when the clipping setting at 100IRE is off in the menu.

Anyone else has tried this?

I had not tried it, but I did after reading your post, and you are correct. As a workaround. I saved C8, the protected Cinema mode profile, to an SD card, then removed the protection on the copy. This retained the the highlight rendering of C8 and opened up all the other profile settings.

[macgregor]

I had not tried it, but I did after reading your post, and you are correct. As a workaround. I saved C8, the protected Cinema mode profile, to an SD card, then removed the protection on the copy. This retained the the highlight rendering of C8 and opened up all the other profile settings.

Good to know I´m not the only one experiencing this. I just had like half an hour the other day to configure the camera. I ended up shooting in Cinema mode in the end since I couldn´t fix this issue.

[Noel Evans]

Mac I'll do a check for you tomorrow am in Aus. That's about 10 hours.

[Noel Evans]

I had not tried it, but I did after reading your post, and you are correct. As a workaround. I saved C8, the protected Cinema mode profile, to an SD card, then removed the protection on the copy. This retained the the highlight rendering of C8 and opened up all the other profile settings.

This is accurate. Had to double check as to why I wasnt seeing it as Id made a couple of Cinema mode variations and no clipping at 100ire. What Id done however is the same process - copied the original to SD and made some changes. Then dropped them back.

Generally speaking however the standard Cinema Mode should serve you pretty well. The key factor is it has sharpness turned all the way down.

[redhouse]

This is accurate. Had to double check as to why I wasnt seeing it as Id made a couple of Cinema mode variations and no clipping at 100ire. What Id done however is the same process - copied the original to SD and made some changes. Then dropped them back.

Generally speaking however the standard Cinema Mode should serve you pretty well. The key factor is it has sharpness turned all the way down.

I agree that the sharpness setting at -10 is a key factor, but, as macgregor points out, the way cinema log gamma handles highlights is different from any other gamma setting. Another factor that I'm curious about is the elevated set-up. I believe it is set at +16 in the Cinema Mode. I haven't experimented, but it seems like one could create an alternate Cinema Mode profile, that wouldn't require grading, simply by lowering the set-up to 0.