GH4 Dynamic range test with a chart.

[KINOKS]

So I wanted to find out for my self what's going on in the DR department. This was a DIY test chart done with ND filters glued together and theN put in front of a softbox, so take it for what it is. The last 2 stops to the right are a bit shady because there was a little bit of flare I think. But all else is O.K. I'll do more of this in the days to come, so if somebody has any requests please let me know. I'll be doing an ISO test next. I want to see what upping the ISO from 200 does to DR.

From this quick and dirty test it's obvious that the camera has 12 stops of DR and definitely 11 usable stops. The max stops is 13, and that is achieved by going Contrast -5 and using curves -5 and +5. Curves do however stretch out the noise. If you look at the graphs that have curves applied, it's obvious how the stops are stretched out making the noise visible. As I applied the curves I noticed that the last stop was pulled down, so opened the iris for almost a stop. So I conclude that you can get almost an extra stop using curves. Anyway, judge for your self:

C = contrast
H = highlights
S = shadows

 

[KINOKS]

Couldn't make the image bigger! Here's a link: http://s29.postimg.org/w3m6yub2f/DR_TEST.jpg

Edit: shot at UHD 25p 15 - 235 and didn't bother doing WB

 

[TheObiJuan]

Did you try adjustment of the master pedestal with highlights and shadows step to zero?

 

[NeedCreative]

I find a lot of the master pedestal tweaks just help make more noise. The chart proves what I thought - about 11 stops of usable DR. I have a C300 & 100 and find that has more DR... I guessed in my mind about 1-1.5 steps and seems like I was spot on. The GH4 is mighty impressive for the price.

 

[KINOKS]

Pedestal raises the black level. This is more or less only a post-production workflow thing. For the sake of widening the DR I don't see a reason why you would want to up the pedestal. But I'll do the test nonetheless, just so everybody can stop talking about pedestal once and for all!

 

[TheDingo]

FYI: The 43rumors.com website mentioned today that Panasonic will be adding a LOG shooting format to the GH4 with the first firmware update. No date for the firmware release was mentioned.

 

[FrameFarmMedia]

FYI: The 43rumors.com website mentioned today that Panasonic will be adding a LOG shooting format to the GH4 with the first firmware update. No date for the firmware release was mentioned.

Log on GH4 with 10bit external record will be interesting to see.

 

[AlexLeith]

Oooh... if gamma log comes true then maybe I will learn to love my GH4 after all!

 

[KINOKS]

I doubt that log would help with improving DR. Infact I doubt that it could do anything about it. What it cozld do is gives us better skin tones and better highlights then CineD. This would be great. I do have to check Natural. I have a hunch it will give the same DR but with better color rendition. It probably only doesnt push the highlights down as much as the CineD gama does.

 

[Erik Naso]

I dont like the look of the Highlight and Shadow settings. Something very strange happens to the image. Test it out with skin tones. Shoot a face fairly tight and do a S curve. The skin detail goes away and becomes very plastic like. Yuck! I'm coming to the conclusion that CineD is flat enough and adjusting contrast and saturation to taste is a good way to go. Master Pedestal a couple clicks + isnt a bad thing just don't go crazy with +15.