F55: F55 unboxing and initial impressions, side by side with the F3

I read on CML that in testing several cameras, from Black Magic, F55, Alexa, Epic to F65, the F55 came out on top for DR and low noise. The tester and known DP, Geoff Boyle, was surprised at the results. A local rental house in my market has sold three of their Alexas and bought two F5's and two F55's, and tells me that the F55 is superior to the Alexa in resolution, noise and DR. He's also very happy with the XAVC 4K and doesn't see a need for shooting RAW too often, at least for his clientele. He's liking the F5 quite a bit as well, for 1080 acquisition.
 
That downwards cable from the VF looks odd, just like the cable sticking out on the right side going to the VF. I never understood how cabling can be routed so bad on many expensive tools.
 
Dino said:
I read on CML that in testing several cameras, from Black Magic, F55, Alexa, Epic to F65, the F55 came out on top for DR and low noise. The tester and known DP, Geoff Boyle, was surprised at the results. A local rental house in my market has sold three of their Alexas and bought two F5's and two F55's, and tells me that the F55 is superior to the Alexa in resolution, noise and DR. He's also very happy with the XAVC 4K and doesn't see a need for shooting RAW too often, at least for his clientele. He's liking the F5 quite a bit as well, for 1080 acquisition.
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Its great to hear that feedback from Geoff. I was testing some night shooting and the blacks are rich and clean. I'm even getting use to the slog2 look, it not as extreme with the mids pushed up so high like it was on the F3.

I just shot some moving cars with 500mm lens panning all over the place. The movement looks great, will try to post something later.

I'll be at Vistek Sony F5/55 Launch @ Pinewood Studios in Toronto tonight if anyone else is going.
 
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I'm very curious as to how the commercial and narrative market here in LA will embrace this camera. So far the backyard tests look very promising, lots of rich color that doesn't remind me of F3/FS100/FS700 at all, great motion, ample detail yet gentle. Ruben's day and night with the Cookes looks really freakin' solid.

Also really need to get my hands on one... but, hopefully it's already setup for optimal IQ. Call it lazy, but it's more like fear, kind of don't want to deal with painting an image in menus.

Keeping an eye out for more footage from you guys, thanks for sharing so far.
 
Here is a frame grab from clip Clip0001.mxf. Footage coming soon, just test stuff.

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Kholi said:
Also really need to get my hands on one... but, hopefully it's already setup for optimal IQ. Call it lazy, but it's more like fear, kind of don't want to deal with painting an image in menus.
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It's not "optimal IQ" by a long shot out of the box.

You don't have to paint it. You just have to turn stuff off and make sure one thing is on.

S-Log2 & S-Gamut on, Detail & aperture off. Turning on S-Gamut is buried in a "System" menu though, not "Camera" or "Paint", so it's easily missed.
 
Nate Weaver said:
It's not "optimal IQ" by a long shot out of the box.

You don't have to paint it. You just have to turn stuff off and make sure one thing is on.

S-Log2 & S-Gamut on, Detail & aperture off. Turning on S-Gamut is buried in a "System" menu though, not "Camera" or "Paint", so it's easily missed.
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Actually, my post was literally crafted to bait you into responding so I could get you to help me with the camera when I actually get my hands on it. lol

Since you're the nearest soon-to-be-expert that I know of.

How about that F55 walkthrough at Hot Rod Cameras, Nate!?
 
Kholi said:
Actually, my post was literally crafted to bait you into responding so I could get you to help me with the camera when I actually get my hands on it. lol

Since you're the nearest soon-to-be-expert that I know of.
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That you know of :-) There's a zillion genius people in this town.
 
Dino said:
I read on CML that in testing several cameras, from Black Magic, F55, Alexa, Epic to F65, the F55 came out on top for DR and low noise. The tester and known DP, Geoff Boyle, was surprised at the results. A local rental house in my market has sold three of their Alexas and bought two F5's and two F55's, and tells me that the F55 is superior to the Alexa in resolution, noise and DR. He's also very happy with the XAVC 4K and doesn't see a need for shooting RAW too often, at least for his clientele. He's liking the F5 quite a bit as well, for 1080 acquisition.
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Could you post a link to the CML Tests/discussion? I looked over there but I couldn't find any reference to the F55
 
it's only in the members section, just realized I unsubscribed because it was spamming my e-mail... anyway to fix that other than using another e-mail than my personal and work e-mails?
 
Some great features discovered over the last few days:

- You can adjust the ISO to any setting using the external silver knob while shooting, this is awesome for on the fly shooting.

- Peaking works while the VF is in magnify mode - a saviour!
 
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