DustinSchmidt
Well-known member
I actually quite liked this FX5 footage from Sony Europe's channel. Just another example in my mind of what CAN be done with the FX5 under the right DP and conditions.
OTHER: Looks like a new FX camera is on the way
- Thread starter scorsesefan
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cyvideo
Veteran
Agreed! I watched and also liked that. Very decent looking images.
But there again I really like what can be got out of an FX6. For all the pro I/O and E-ND and SDI the FX6 won't be going anywhere soon. Any camera that can deliver images like this is capable of covering anything I need to cover. I'm the biggest roadblock, not the camera's capabilities. Chris Young
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scorsesefan
Veteran
Agreed, Chris. I preordered the fx5 but I'm hesitant to part with my fx6 mainly due to the great form factor, EVND and I/O. Especially the EVND which is pure magic. .. BTW have you guys noticed a significant bump in image quality from the fx6>fx5?Agreed! I watched and also liked that. Very decent looking images.
Chris Young
scorsesefan
Veteran
Watched your latest YT video, Dustin. So what are your thoughts on the overall image improvements on the fx5 vs previous gen fx cameras?
cyvideo
Veteran
I've just downloaded the free FX5 files from Visual Park. There are 5GB of XOCN files, 5K 24p Open Gate and 5K 60p and a bunch of XAVC files. The XAVC are all 5K 24, 60 and 120p, half of them Open Gate. On first inspection they look pretty good. They all play quite nicely in Resolve 21.03. I'll try some transforms on them and see how we go.
Having a quick look at one of them. It's an XAVC Open Gate of a rider on horseback. With transforms, from Log to Resolve Wide Gamut Intermediate and back from Resolve wide gamut back to either 709 or HDR, with grade nodes in between the Resolve wide gamut nodes and yes. Looking good! After this "suck it see" exercise I will be in a better place to see if there is a major bump. First impressions are no at the moment. Although that is hardly an objective viewpoint at the moment. IF I see a major jump in IQ then that will change my valuations and maybe put the FX5 on the wish list.
EDIT: A bit of a tease! Handles the sun nicely.
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scorsesefan
Veteran
I downloaded the same files. They looked good to me, with the exception of the CU of the girl her skin looks plasticky. However, I think her skin was oily and shining. I couldn't get the raw files to load in Premiere.I've just downloaded the free FX5 files from Visual Park. There are 5GB of XOCN files, 5K 24p Open Gate and 5K 60p and a bunch of XAVC files. The XAVC are all 5K 24, 60 and 120p, half of them Open Gate. On first inspection they look pretty good. They all play quite nicely in Resolve 21.03. I'll try some transforms on them and see how we go.
Having a quick look at one of them. It's an XAVC Open Gate of a rider on horseback. With transforms, from Log to Resolve Wide Gamut Intermediate and back from Resolve wide gamut back to either 709 or HDR, with grade nodes in between the Resolve wide gamut nodes and yes. Looking good! After this "suck it see" exercise I will be in a better place to see if there is a major bump. First impressions are no at the moment. Although that is hardly an objective viewpoint at the moment. IF I see a major jump in IQ then that will change my valuations and maybe put the FX5 on the wish list.
EDIT: A bit of a tease! Handles the sun nicely.
DustinSchmidt
Well-known member
I need to also get my hands on some of the test footage and play around a bit. Although Resolve may need to catch up a bit before that's possible? I'm not sure.
I'm most interested in the RAW and also any DGO footage that might be available. Image-wise, those were the files that seem to be the big change, so I'd like to see that stuff vs. the standard codecs they've always had.
scorsesefan
Veteran
Yes, the DGO is intriguing.
DustinSchmidt
Well-known member
Good notes Chris. I downloaded those files just now as well. I'm also interested to see how they hold up.I've just downloaded the free FX5 files from Visual Park. There are 5GB of XOCN files, 5K 24p Open Gate and 5K 60p and a bunch of XAVC files. The XAVC are all 5K 24, 60 and 120p, half of them Open Gate. On first inspection they look pretty good. They all play quite nicely in Resolve 21.03. I'll try some transforms on them and see how we go.
Having a quick look at one of them. It's an XAVC Open Gate of a rider on horseback. With transforms, from Log to Resolve Wide Gamut Intermediate and back from Resolve wide gamut back to either 709 or HDR, with grade nodes in between the Resolve wide gamut nodes and yes. Looking good! After this "suck it see" exercise I will be in a better place to see if there is a major bump. First impressions are no at the moment. Although that is hardly an objective viewpoint at the moment. IF I see a major jump in IQ then that will change my valuations and maybe put the FX5 on the wish list.
EDIT: A bit of a tease! Handles the sun nicely.
At the moment Sony has version 6 of their RAW viewer available for download and that's what I'm using to open up the XOCN files, then transcoding to ProRes 4444XQ and importing those into a slightly earlier version of Resolve right now.
Does Resolve 21.03 read the FX5 OCN files natively right now?
cyvideo
Veteran
Actually, no. I can't open the OCN files. Only the audio is coming in. I've previously worked with X-OCN from both the Burano and the Venice in previous versions of Resolve, so I don't know what the go is here with them not coming in. Currently, quite a lot of people are reporting their experiences are the same as mine. Only audio coming in. Blackmagic are currently looking into it. I guess this will get addressed fairly quickly.
Chris Young
cyvideo
Veteran
First play with one of the FX5 X-OCN files. First transcoded in Sony RAW viewer to XAVC, as Resolve wouldn't open the X-OCN. Then a Resolve CST + minor grade back to a CST to 709 Gamma 2.2. Very easy to manipulate. This is a hardware encoded H.265 using the NVIDIA encoder in Resolve. Download link below.
Chris Young
Chris Young
DustinSchmidt
Well-known member
Looks like Resolve just released a new update that will read the FX5 X-OCN files natively, fyi.
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scorsesefan
Veteran
Nice, but what about Premiere?!
cyvideo
Veteran
Yes it does. Already installed and using DaVinci's Sony RAW controls. Very nice to work with, very nice!
Chris Young
scorsesefan
Veteran
Well, I sold my fx6 and I'm waiting for my fx5 preorder. I ordered the top handle package. I'm really looking forward to the improved image quality and the smaller form factor. Even with a cinesaddle it has been difficult for me to hold the fx6 on long shoots. The only bummer is no internal ND. I have a 2-5 stop Peter Mckinnon VND v1 and Nisi Pro Nano nd64 ir filter. I would like to pick up a Nisi VND or magnetic system when the funds allow...
cyvideo
Veteran
Will be interested to hear your impressions when you get your mitts on one. Very interested!
Chris Young
scorsesefan
Veteran
Will do. I think Sony has a winner with this one, but all of the hype and influencer BS is very annoying and distracting. It's hard to separate fact and fiction. I thought it reached a peak with the ZR but this is on a new level!Will be interested to hear your impressions when you get your mitts on one. Very interested!
Chris Young
cyvideo
Veteran
I think you are right. It will probably become what the EX1 the FS7 and the A7Siii became, not the best in class necessarily but incremental landmark steps in camera evolution. Remembered for being sort of the first in class type of cameras. A colleague of mine was eagerly waiting for the specs as he does a lot of wildlife filming and was utterly disappointed to see it has no 'cache' record function. Thinking it would be like the FX6 as it shares a similar menu and control layout and no photo capability. Sadly for him, no it does not have cache record. Old story, no such thing as the perfect camera for all seasons. But heck, the FX5 does cover a lot of shooters check lists.
For me the FX5 is sitting in the "I would love to get one." category, but it's not sitting in the "I need one for work" category... sadly!
Chris Young
rob norton
Veteran
The camera looks awesome. Approx. $8k AUD - hard to buy for fun, no brainer for pro projects!
cyvideo
Veteran
Whatever it offers in enhanced IQ over and above most of today's current cameras is pretty debatable for my stock-in-trade work when so much of it ends up on company website,s TV and YT and the like. For Indie filmmakers I can see the FX5 'appeal' but for an old jaded industry hack like myself living in the corporate / TV workspace where I need SDI, NDs VF's and XlRs all at the same time at least on two cameras for interviews it misses the mark.
In fact the Sony A7Rvi with a great stills capability a great VF and very good video creds and that can be had for A$7k here in Sydney is a much more appealing prospect if I was going down that mirrorless route again. For starters, it can have the new 32-bit MI shoe on board, and you still have a great VF on board. Sure, no X-OCN RAW but when was the last thing I shot in RAW? Even S-LOG is a rarity in my workspace. And it's usually me who makes that decision, to go with LOG if I see a benefit in using it in certain situations, not the client's.
My main cameras, an FX6 an A7iv and a Z280 all have their strengths and weaknesses. In some situations the Z280 kills the A7 and FX6. Conversely, when a client wants a few stills the A7iv covers that very well and for the producer who's still into I think the overdone super shallow DOF interviews well the FX6 with fast FF glass covers that pretty well. And the number of times I’ve used all three together on interviews using the A7 as the locked off wide I can't recall. With all having the same codecs and all have my matching setups makes post quick and easy.
Maybe I'm just getting a bit staid in my ways. Thinking why change anything when really all is working very smoothly.
Mind you, I'd love and FX5... hmm!
Chris Young