FS7: Continue with Cine EI or a Custom SLog3?

B

bengiles

Well-known member
Just revisiting this question in my head, after several months of shooting exclusively Cine EI/SLog 3 Cine. Also, FW2.0 and it's impact on what I'm contemplating.

I'm thinking of trying a custom SLog 3 recipe instead of Cine EI, to bring about the following benefits:

- I can use an MLUT, while shooting 1080P with the auto-corrected 18-105/f4 (or can I?) SLog3 in the EVF can be difficult to focus at times.

- I can add a little sharpening at source ("aperture" control menu), saving an extra step in post.

- I can add gain/noise reduction at source for low light situations.

However, I've forgotten all of the gotchas - some of which (I think) got sorted with v2.0 (magenta shift? etc)

A busy schedule is preventing me from wading back through the threads, so any pointers/opinions/downsides would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
 
Well, keep in mind that you can't use LUTs unless you are using Cine EI. But that shouldn't be too much of an issue because you'd be crazy to do it even if you could.
 
Thanks Doug.

No, I only want to use a monitoring LUT. I'm trying to figure out if there's a bit more flexibility in using a custom recipe like this over Cine EI - ie, all the goodness of Cine EI/SLog3 Cine, but with the flexibility to up the gain/change the white balance for tricky mixed lighting conditions and a bit of sharpening.

Anything I'm missing? I'm sure there must be a downside...

Cheers,

Ben.
 
What I was trying to say is that you really wouldn't want to use a monitoring LUT with a Scene File even if you could, which you can't, so the question is moot anyway.
 
I really like using a monitor lut in Cine EI which is what has kept me from Custom mode Slog3. I find it hard to judge focus in Slog2/3 in EVF without a lut. So right now I use custom with HG7/8 for lowlight/ENG/TV style stuff and Cine EI for commercial branded content.
 
My 2 cents...it comes down to workflow and who's doing / how much you trust post work. If you need a WYSWYG, to hand over the footage looking it's best in camera - then I agree with Frame Farm - that custom w/ HG is pretty darn good. And Doug's scene files for this purpose just served me well on a shoot Monday, thank you Doug. I find the custom/slog3 still needs a bit of grading to looks it's best - but certainly does bring the advantages you mention, but isn't quite "finished" as is (and does not have lut monitoring ). If you will do the post work, or know the capabilities of the person doing it, then EI adds a bit of range and lots of flexibility and creativity without burning in a "look".
 
Thanks.

Just to clarify, I'm in no doubt I want to continue with SLog3. I do all of my own post. It's just whether I stick with Cine EI, with it's WB presets and soft "raw" picture or go for a custom SLog3.

I just can't remember the bugs/gotchas.

I was hoping others may have had exactly the same question and worked out a good custom SLog 3 alternative to Cine EI. Sounds like I should carve out some time and work it out, when I'm not under pressure. I'll report back when I do.

Cheers,

Ben.
 
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markfpv said:
And Doug's scene files for this purpose just served me well on a shoot Monday, thank you Doug. I find the custom/slog3 still needs a bit of grading to looks it's best - but certainly does bring the advantages you mention, but isn't quite "finished" as is (and does not have lut monitoring ).
Click to expand...

Hi Mark, I'm glad to hear that my scene file worked well for you. I assume you are speaking about the one I call Universal-1. That is the profile I use myself about 90% of the time I'm shooting with the FS7. But just to be clear, it is not supposed to provide a WYSIWYG or "finished" look. Universal-1 does require a some minor grading in post and I have tried to make that clear in my video, book, and in the instructions PDF that come with the downloadable files. But compared to CINE EI, it should get you 90% of the way there. The grading is simple enough it can be done with the Fast Color Corrector in Premiere. The other two scene files I provide are WYSIWYG, but not Universal-1.
 
Yes - correct, Doug. Apologies for not being clear. I actually shot using the Broll-1 scene file on Monday - because I needed to be 100% "in camera", and 0 grading. But I will likely use the Universal-1 on many of my shoots in the future.
 
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