A7s SLog2 and Neat Video
- Thread starter SuperSet
- Start date
DPStewart
Veteran
Neat Video is a great plugin, but it's a fairly complex one. Settings will change for nearly every single shot.
One has to really take the time to learn its functions and how to get the noise reduction you're after.
Without learning to control this beast properly you are most likely to get too strong of a noise reduction effect which will kill a lot of detail in your shot, and make everything look like its made out of molded plastic.
Both the maker, and other people have put some good tutorials up on YouTube that will be helpful.
Its not a "drag and drop" effect with a slider to increase or decrease noise reduction. It's far more complex than that in the way it analyzes each clip you apply it to - that's why it's so darned good when used well.
One has to really take the time to learn its functions and how to get the noise reduction you're after.
Without learning to control this beast properly you are most likely to get too strong of a noise reduction effect which will kill a lot of detail in your shot, and make everything look like its made out of molded plastic.
Both the maker, and other people have put some good tutorials up on YouTube that will be helpful.
Its not a "drag and drop" effect with a slider to increase or decrease noise reduction. It's far more complex than that in the way it analyzes each clip you apply it to - that's why it's so darned good when used well.
paulcurtis
Veteran
I would kinda disagree with the last post. You can create a number of noise profiles at the kinds of ISO that you use and reference them fairly easily. The noise you are reducing is created by the sensor and it's that sensor you want to profile for different settings. The noise isn't based on what you are shooting. You can print off some charts to help you profile. There's also Dark Energy Antimatter which IMHO is a better tool for noise reduction, less options too. I use both Neat and Antimatter in production.
You know if you compare like for like exposure Slog2 3200 and Cine at 500 by the time you equalise the exposure properly the noise is pretty much identical. It's just more 'in your face' initially with an Slog capture. Of course if you don't treat Slog2 properly and grade from that then perhaps the noise is more obvious.
For day stuff at Slog base exposure i probably wouldn't denoise at all. Ironically if you do choose to denoise your shadows (and because they're raised you can denoise it better than the same shadows via cine) then you can probably get a bit of a cleaner image compare to the cine gammas.
cheers
Paul
You know if you compare like for like exposure Slog2 3200 and Cine at 500 by the time you equalise the exposure properly the noise is pretty much identical. It's just more 'in your face' initially with an Slog capture. Of course if you don't treat Slog2 properly and grade from that then perhaps the noise is more obvious.
For day stuff at Slog base exposure i probably wouldn't denoise at all. Ironically if you do choose to denoise your shadows (and because they're raised you can denoise it better than the same shadows via cine) then you can probably get a bit of a cleaner image compare to the cine gammas.
cheers
Paul
Thanks for the input, fellas! I didn't know that it's the same noise, regardless of SLog2 vs Cine 500. I'd always heard that SLog2 was noisy so assumed that you had to add denoising as your first workflow step. Interesting.
Also, just so I can understand properly, the noise profiles are specific to the camera but not to the ISO/Gain? So technically, if you always use base 3200 ISO despite the lighting conditions, can you use the same noise profile?
Also, just so I can understand properly, the noise profiles are specific to the camera but not to the ISO/Gain? So technically, if you always use base 3200 ISO despite the lighting conditions, can you use the same noise profile?
paulcurtis
Veteran
It's not identical noise but the level of noise is comparable, it's just that you can see it more in the Slog2.
No, the noise is linked to both the camera and the iso you are running in. The noise isn't linked to the type of scene you are shooting.
cheers
Paul
TheTrickster
Well-known member
I also agree on 'Profiles' with Paul.
I used the NeatImage (note Image not Video) calibration chart. Printed one off and when through each ISO and profiled them by hand and saved both the profile and settings file for each ISO.
Sadly (for me) I really need a better spec PC/Mac, as it really benefits from CUDA drivers and a decent GFX card.
I used the NeatImage (note Image not Video) calibration chart. Printed one off and when through each ISO and profiled them by hand and saved both the profile and settings file for each ISO.
Sadly (for me) I really need a better spec PC/Mac, as it really benefits from CUDA drivers and a decent GFX card.
Great, thanks for this! Didn't know about this so will check out the instructions on their page about doing this. It seems like exposure doesn't really matter as long as it's out of focus and the ISO target is set. Please correct me if this is wrong.