C200 SDI peaking

S

Steel

Active member
I’m running the SDI out on my C200 to an Ninja V with the SDI adaptor. This way the cable locks and is more secure, and I don’t have to deal with an HDMI cable sticking awkwardly out the left side of the device. But I can’t seem to get peaking to work with either SDI or HDMI (output from the camera).
If I turn on ‘SDI Output Always ON,’ the camera won’t send out peaking, and turning it on on the Ninja means that the whole Canon GUI is highlighted red. If I output a clean signal I can comfortably use peaking on the Ninja, but then I lose the Canon GUI.
Is there something I’m missing? I’ve scoured the menus and searched online.,,
 
Without knowing more about your particular use case: Why do you need to use the camera's peaking and not the one from the Ninja V? (I'm also going to assume "peaking" means "focus peaking".)
 
Yeah, that's right morgan.
I was essentially trying to use the Ninja instead of the Canon monitor. I was hoping to keep the Canon GUI so I could see my exposure settings and the focus guide, but then I wasn't getting any focus peaking being pushed through. Turn it on on the Ninja and I get an ugly red mess, and with the Canon GUI off I lose my exposure settings and focus guide.
As NorBro says, maybe that's a thing cameras aren't usually set up to do as I figure most people want a clean output...?
I'll poke around a little more, as there are options for zebras and a few other exposure tools, I think.
 
I can't speak about Canon cameras, but none of the Sony cameras can output peaking or zebras. The reason why is because the camera isn't generating those displays. It is actually the viewfinder and/or LCD panel that is creating zebras and peaking internally downstream after processing. So it is too late in the signal path to send them out via HDMI or SDI. It is also the reason that zebras are affected by MLUTs.
 
Ah! That's what I was missing, Doug. Thanks! I guess there isn't a way to exactly replicate what the C200 monitor shows via an external source.
 
FYI, I have a Zacuto viewfinder on my FX6 that shows me all the normal FX6 on-screen displays -- except for zebras and peaking. I use the Zacuto itself to generate those, and it works great. The Zacuto actually gives me more options to customize peaking and zebras than the camera does anyway.
 
I've never touched a C200, but I have a client with several C300 mkII's and they can output peaking via at least one of the SDI's.
 
As far as I can tell, Run&Gun, there’s no way to do that on the C200.
Doug, when you have the normal FX6 displays on, and then engage peaking on the Zacuto, what happens? For me, whether on the Ninja V or my Z-Cam EVF, I get all the on-screen displays in red since they’re in ‘sharp focus’ too, and it makes the image very unpleasant to work with.
 
Not answering for DJ, but all professionals work in different ways.

Some will only send the picture through the cable (no icons or text) and use the built-in features on the other end in the EVF or monitor.

Or some will toggle to check up on various settings. Push a button and only see the picture. Push it again and see the picture with various information. Push it again to go back to just the image.

Or some will only send what they need through SDIs and not toggle. So let's say you want to send only peaking, the record tally, and your battery and media icons in the top corner somewhere, you might have the option to do that (and keep it simple).

But obviously cameras work differently and many will only send a clean image so there is nothing else on the screen, and use peaking and exposure tools through their other devices that may or may not be toggled on and off through various custom buttons.

The way you have it set up now is indeed a nightmare and no one can work like that seeing all of the text all over the screen and peaking also highlighting it (unless you're just toggling it on/off for a few seconds to check something).
 
First, you have to realize that colored peaking is the lowest form of peaking a manufacturer can put on a camera and it always looks like hell. Anytime someone tells me in a workshop or something where I am teaching that they don't like to use peaking it generally because they have only used colored peaking. The problem with colored peaking is not just the color, it is also that is it alway far too course. Peaking needs a very light touch to be effective at helping nail focus. I am not even sure colored peaking should be called peaking.

Okay, with that rant out of the way, I am happy to tell you that the Gratical has the higher form of edge-hance peaking. It looks great. Very non-invasive and subtle, yet easy to see and very accurate. I would say it might even be better than the peaking on my Z750 and F55 viewfinders that cost far more than the Gratical. I have my level set to 6, in case anyone is interested. In no way does it interfere with all the regular on-screen displays coming into the viewfinder from the camera. It might be putting a little edge on them, I haven't really paid attention to that, but since it is the same white color as the on-screen displays you'd never notice it or care. It is definitely a non-issue, and I think you know I'm be the first one to complain if it was a problem. It's impossible to demonstrate, so the only way you could see for yourself would be to look through a Gratical or Kameleon. Worth every penny.
 
Sorry for the late response here...
It seems that I can't replicate exactly the included Canon monitor via an external option. Oh well. I tried playing around with outputting different things over the OSD vs. just turning on the 'SDI follows VIDEO' option, but no go. It's alright. It's not a deal breaker.

Doug, now I've got to ask! When you say that colour peaking is the lowest form of peaking, are you saying you prefer the greyscale/edge enhance/etc. forms? I've only ever used peaking on my own, holding the camera. Never with a separate focus puller.

In other news, since Canon Korea doesn't offer a C200 EVF removal service, I took it off myself (following some fairly detailed instructions, of course!) Surprisingly very easy and pretty good to do. Can also be reversed should the need arise.
 
Steel said:
Doug, now I've got to ask! When you say that colour peaking is the lowest form of peaking, are you saying you prefer the greyscale/edge enhance/etc. forms? I've only ever used peaking on my own, holding the camera. Never with a separate focus puller.
Click to expand...

Yes, I absolutely use edge-enhance peaking on every camera or viewfinder that offers it. Like zebras, I have peaking turned on 100% of the time and never switch it off even for a few seconds. There's no reason to turn it off because it is barely visible to the untrained eye. The only time I use colored peaking is when that is the only choice that is offered. Colored is still better than no peaking at all, but it is far inferior to edge-enhance. BTW, I always use manual focus with my hand on the lens and never use a follow-focus rig.
 
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