A7s sample footage

[nyvz]

Margin for experience, I'm sure. 32-45ish sounds fine to me, and about right. Did Samuel post a measure for how many stops over Middle Grey A7S SLOG2 XAVC S might have?

My understanding is slog2 generally gives about 7stops over, 7stops under middle grey. That seems to be how it is on my fs700 at least. But I would overexpose up 0-2 stops to minimize noise, which gives more like 5-7 stops. By comparison, most similar cameras seem to be designed for about 4-5.5 stops (c300 clog, red mx redgamma4, sony fs700 cinegammas, bmcc). I'll test later today after my camera arrives though.

Looks pretty soft, noisy, aliasing and moire in some shots. Not that impressive....

Yeah that's what I'd expect given the use of gamma curves that severly limit DR. Actually it looks surprisingly good for non-slog2 footage I think compared to a lot of the footage I've seen out there using random unmanaged gamma curves. Keep in mind 60p seems to be not using the full sensor, so it is likely to have more noise and aliasing than 24 or 30p. Basically I can tell you people will test the camera with various gammas, but in a few weeks it will be far more clear to everyone how important it is to shoot slog2 or, if you really have to, rec709 800%. The top couple stops of DR are by far the most important as they are the cleanest stops the camera has, so to throw them out by using any other gamma is pretty crippling unless you want that blown highlights, noisy shadows look.

 

[Samuel H]

Did Samuel post a measure for how many stops over Middle Grey A7S SLOG2 XAVC S might have?

I did, but I just took the number from the F55 slog2 docummentation (6.5 stops)

So far I think I have only been impressed by a7s footage shot on slog2. With all the regular profiles the image looks good compared to other DSLRs (no artifacts, sharper, better codec) but not really compelling. Slog2 is that sets the a7s apart.

 

[L1N3ARX]

So if no one else does it before me, I'm gonna be taking the a7S out this weekend, and will be doing some side by sides with the BMCC. I'll be testing dynamic range, frame rates, every single picture profile and creative style and a multitude of Canon glass including the 70-200 and the Sigma 18-35.

Until now, I've only posted footage with a cheap Nikkor 50mm vintage lens, so it should be interesting to see what this thing can do with good modern glass.

Lemme know if you guys have anything you want to see. I'll be shooting in a nice scenic / outdoor location, so indoor type tests (people by windows etc) I won't be able to do. I feel at the very least a super basic real world DR test is in order, exposing for the Low end and then the high end within the various picture profiles.

 

[vincent thomas]

Didn't like this one myself. But previous slog 2 looks good.
Bolex pic looks so cool too, so much characters with a good feeling in motion

https://vimeo.com/91395059

Looks pretty soft, noisy, aliasing and moire in some shots. Not that impressive....

 

[Samuel H]

...side by sides with the BMCC. I'll be testing dynamic range, frame rates, every single picture profile and creative style and a multitude of Canon glass including the 70-200 and the Sigma 18-35.

Sounds great

 

[AlexLeith]

So if no one else does it before me, I'm gonna be taking the a7S out this weekend, and will be doing some side by sides with the BMCC. I'll be testing dynamic range, frame rates, every single picture profile and creative style and a multitude of Canon glass including the 70-200 and the Sigma 18-35.

Awesome! Looking forward to your findings.

 

[philiplipetz]

So if no one else does it before me, I'm gonna be taking the a7S out this weekend, and will be doing some side by sides with the BMCC. I'll be testing dynamic range, frame rates, every single picture profile and creative style and a multitude of Canon glass including the 70-200 and the Sigma 18-35.

Until now, I've only posted footage with a cheap Nikkor 50mm vintage lens, so it should be interesting to see what this thing can do with good modern glass.

Lemme know if you guys have anything you want to see. I'll be shooting in a nice scenic / outdoor location, so indoor type tests (people by windows etc) I won't be able to do. I feel at the very least a super basic real world DR test is in order, exposing for the Low end and then the high end within the various picture profiles.

please use FF 24-30p as much as possible

 

[cpc]

The top couple stops of DR are by far the most important as they are the cleanest stops the camera has, so to throw them out by using any other gamma is pretty crippling unless you want that blown highlights, noisy shadows look.

How do you know it is the top stops that are thrown out in other gammas and not the bottom stops?

So if no one else does it before me, I'm gonna be taking the a7S out this weekend, and will be doing some side by sides with the BMCC. I'll be testing dynamic range, frame rates, every single picture profile and creative style and a multitude of Canon glass including the 70-200 and the Sigma 18-35.

Until now, I've only posted footage with a cheap Nikkor 50mm vintage lens, so it should be interesting to see what this thing can do with good modern glass.

Lemme know if you guys have anything you want to see. I'll be shooting in a nice scenic / outdoor location, so indoor type tests (people by windows etc) I won't be able to do. I feel at the very least a super basic real world DR test is in order, exposing for the Low end and then the high end within the various picture profiles.

Would love to see ITU709(800%) in action.


Also, and that's a request to everyone with the camera, a comparison of various exposure settings (mostly overexposure) for s-log2 would be handy (with skin in it!).
Contrary to all the hype above I am yet to be convinced it can deliver quality results. (Your mileage - and criteria for quality - may vary).

 

[Uwe Lansing]

 

[philiplipetz]

How do you know it is the top stops that are thrown out in other gammas and not the bottom stops?




Would love to see ITU709(800%) in action.


Also, and that's a request to everyone with the camera, a comparison of various exposure settings (mostly overexposure) for s-log2 would be handy (with skin in it!).
Contrary to all the hype above I am yet to be convinced it can deliver quality results. (Your mileage - and criteria for quality - may vary).

Sony docs state that 800% gamma (presumably equivalent) has 5.5 stops over middle gray. Slog2 was quoted earlier as having 6.5. DR under gray?

 

[dmitrizigany]

One feature I really like is the Auto ISO - smooth auto exposure adjustments with NO clunky steps, very useful for R&G, especially in concert with the ITU709(800%) gamma.

Thanks for the report. I shoot a lot of concerts, so that sounds very promising.
Is it possible, like on the FS700, to set a maximum ISO for Auto ISO?

 

[cpc]

Sony docs state that 800% gamma (presumably equivalent) has 5.5 stops over middle gray. Slog2 was quoted earlier as having 6.5. DR under gray?

You can rate sensitivity and redistribute DR above and below mid-gray in various ways.
The camera can expose s-log2 at iso 3200, then expose exactly the same way internally but rate the exposure at iso 400, discard the bottom 3 stops and bake any gamma over the top 10 or so stops. You have two different ratings, two different DR distributions, but exactly the same raw exposure. I am not saying that's what happens, but it is a completely valid way of doing things.


edit:
5.5 over for the 800% gamma sounds pretty good. That's already two stops more highlight latitude than the average DSLR. You get both highlights roll-off and relatively fat mids, without the thin results from stretching s-log2 in post.
800% should be around 12.5 stops total based on it being called 800% in the first place.

 

[cyork]

Lesson is? Shoot full frame mode as often as possible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYrFGfgjToE

Now this was a useful, straightforward test. The results of the side by side maybe shouldn't be surprising but damn if I wasn't shocked at how much worse crop mode appears to be.

Some nice stuff in this one as well! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eaz37Cxbcyk

 

[wallrc]

James Miller has his hands on one now - should be interesting.

 

[cyork]

James Miller has his hands on one now - should be interesting.

Amen. He just posted this a bit ago. https://vimeo.com/99676933

The "natural reference" had my jaw hitting my keyboard a bit, I'll admit

Loving the potential here. Also found some other clips that were decently shot. (graded)

 

[zeke]

I guess if you plan on being a private detective, this is your camera. .

Does anyone have an issue with the size of the Atomos Shogun in relation to the camera? Plus the batteries and extras needed for both to work?

 

[Christopher Barry]

zeke, for 4K recording, the form factor of the Atomos Shogun looks good to me. I was considering the CD O7Q, however, I will compare when the Shogun is released and circulating in use. I hope Atomos listen to my feature request and add a live view 2x anamorphic de-squeeze for monitoring/focus of 2x anamorphic lenses. I would prefer the option of not having to also try and loop an Alphatron EVF out of the Shogun so as to have a de-squeezed view for focusing, etc. The Shogun appears quite compact with the two small batteries attached for operation. I like that the monitor and recorder can be used on future cams, longevity.

 

[Kholi]

Amen. He just posted this a bit ago. https://vimeo.com/99676933

The "natural reference" had my jaw hitting my keyboard a bit, I'll admit

Loving the potential here. View attachment 88302 Also found some other clips that were decently shot. (graded)View attachment 88303

I was going to say something along the lines of not knowing how to use a camera in lowlight like that, then I logged in and saw your quick adjustments...

...Not only does the PD-150 have a true successor now, and I mean TRUE successor (small package, killer lowlight, easy to manage media)... but this thing looks like it really might be the next it DSLR once it's figured out.

It breaks my damned legs off at the knees knowing it costs 2500 base, though. I would absolutely want a Shogun on it.

Can't wait to see more from you guys!

Also, Strancali, I am absolutely going to take you up on borrowing it while you're in Vegas.

 

[squig]

Amen. He just posted this a bit ago. https://vimeo.com/99676933

The "natural reference" had my jaw hitting my keyboard a bit, I'll admit

View attachment 88303

This shot sums up what I like most about the A7s. You can saturate and crush the blacks and it doesn't turn into a muddy mess, the dynamic range gives it a film like quality that I've only seen on the 5D raw in dual ISO mode, but unlike dual ISO mode there's no aliasing on the A7s in 24p mode, shame there is @ 60p.

 

[squig]

The 60p aliasing is killing me. It's all over the stairs on this shot. A drop in anti-aliasing filter should fix it but it's going to be a long wait for one.
IR pollution appears to be a bigger issue on the A7 than other DSLRs, there's heaps of magenta in the outdoor s-log files, a good IR filter is essential.