GH3 FilmConvert and the GH3

[jimagine]

So I'm liking this a lot as a quasi LUT, first step CC when shooting with a flat camera profile.

Of course the only thing is that none of the existing sensor profiles for the GH2 are usable...nor the 5D custom settings.
It's pretty obvious that their profiling of the GH2 led to a starting point that looks like a full minus green filter on every setting.
Ironically the GH3 shifts to red if anything, so using a GH2 profile is a pink delight.
The only thing that works as a starting point for the GH3 is the Generic sRGB profile (the Generic Standard 5D is very similar.)

That said, the Generic sRGB is a good working profile with the GH3 and depending on your choice it's a good start for a quick grade.
I find KD 5207 Vis3 and FY 8543 VD to be very complimentary to GH3 skin tones and general color, with the main difference being a more open gamma with 8543.
The FJ 100 stocks also look nice with the GH3.
So I've asked FilmConvert about a GH3 profile and specifically asked for one around a "true" flat profile with Contrast, Sharpening and ND at the minimums.

IMO, after testing Standard and Natural at both "0" and dialed down, the widest latitude and most natural colors are from Natural with something like a -4 to -5 setting for everything but Saturation.
If you are going to use FilmConvert then, so far at least, keeping the Saturation at 0 seems to work well.

 

[MR Fanny]

thanks for sharing your findings. i just purchased film convert....just waiting for my gh3 now

 

[squig]

I've been messing around with some GH3 footage from vimeo and I've found that the 5D technicolor preset set at around 80% works quite well with standard -5 -5 -5 -5 footage. Here's some examples-

1 ungraded
2 velvia
3 KD 5207
4 magic bullet custom grade

 

[squig]

And some skin tones-

1 ungraded
2 velvia
3 KD 5207
4 KD 5213
5 magic bullet custom grade

 

[squig]

All the footage I've played around with grades very well. I steered clear of the GH2 because I thought the colours sucked compared to the 5D.

"Do you like dags?"
Not sure of the camera settings of this one

1 ungraded
2 KD 5207
3 magic bullet custom grade

 

[SuperSet]

Thanks for posting the neat comparisons, man. I downloaded the huge trial and tried some of your same settings and found the 5D Technicolor preset a little too dark. It really crushed the blacks quite a bit. The sRGB preset did seem to work better, although I also found the GH2 Smooth preset not too bad either.
I'm not sure this is worth the asking price yet as I've gotten good results just using Premiere's built in tools and some other film look presets. So, looking forward to seeing more stuff about it later on.

 

[squig]

Thanks for posting the neat comparisons, man. I downloaded the huge trial and tried some of your same settings and found the 5D Technicolor preset a little too dark. It really crushed the blacks quite a bit. The sRGB preset did seem to work better, although I also found the GH2 Smooth preset not too bad either.
I'm not sure this is worth the asking price yet as I've gotten good results just using Premiere's built in tools and some other film look presets. So, looking forward to seeing more stuff about it later on.

Did you dial the effect back to under 80%? It does crush the blacks quite a bit which is a very common look in features these days. It's certainly not a look that's right for everything and I'm sure in time they'll put out some GH3 presets. The KD presets are a bit too crushed for my liking with that footage but I think the velvia setting looks great. If your monitor is not well calibrated it could look overly crushed like it does on my macbook pro. I've had some great results with footage from the 5D MKIII too.

 

[SuperSet]

Yeah, man, 80% on the 5D Technicolor. I also tested the GH2 Smooth preset at 100%. Here's some samples from a recent shoot with the GH3 + Voigtlander 25mm using Natural profile. Lemme know which one(s) you prefer as I could always use a 2nd set of eyes.

Original
5DTech-5207
5DTech-Velv
GH2Smooth-5207
GH2Smooth-Velv

 

[jimagine]

All the footage I've played around with grades very well. I steered clear of the GH2 because I thought the colours sucked compared to the 5D.

"Do you like dags?"


View attachment 64512View attachment 64513View attachment 64514

I'd better like them - they're my dogs, and it was shot at 50MB Natural -4 -4 -2 -5

FWIW the original is much truer color accuracy.

 

[Jim Simon]

I'm sure in time they'll put out some GH3 presets.

In a recent email exchange, someone from the company confirmed they are working on many new profiles, including the GH3. We should see more in the first half of 2013, with more film stocks also on the schedule.

 

[squig]

I'd better like them - they're my dogs, and it was shot at 50MB Natural -4 -4 -2 -5

FWIW the original is much truer color accuracy.

Hehe, it is but who wants true colour accuracy?

Did you do any grading on it?

 

[Kholi]

I don't have a GH3 but recently had an interest in trying this out with Blackmagic footage. I"m glad you don't have to overdo the grain, I think that's the one thing that looks unpleasant about most tests.

I've also wanted to get a Fuji look very badly and I feel like it doesn't quite get there, but it's still interesting. I like what it does for shadows, which is typically a bit harder to do with Resolve, or rather takes a bit more time. When the Blackmagic support comes it'll be pretty interesting.

Thanks for sharing the tests here.

 

[squig]

Yeah, man, 80% on the 5D Technicolor. I also tested the GH2 Smooth preset at 100%. Here's some samples from a recent shoot with the GH3 + Voigtlander 25mm using Natural profile. Lemme know which one(s) you prefer as I could always use a 2nd set of eyes.

If you put a gun to my head I'd have to say velvia but it's a bit pinkish, I'd go for something warmer like this (needs more work).

magic bullet quick and dirty


I wouldn't use any of the current presets on any serious work until they create some presets for the GH3, but the dialled down technicolor velvia certainly looks better than a lot of home brew grades I've seen.

 

[squig]

I don't have a GH3 but recently had an interest in trying this out with Blackmagic footage. I"m glad you don't have to overdo the grain, I think that's the one thing that looks unpleasant about most tests.

I've also wanted to get a Fuji look very badly and I feel like it doesn't quite get there, but it's still interesting. I like what it does for shadows, which is typically a bit harder to do with Resolve, or rather takes a bit more time. When the Blackmagic support comes it'll be pretty interesting.

Thanks for sharing the tests here.

It handles highlights quite well too, doesn't blow them out like magic bullet tends to do. I've gotta start playing with Resolve but I don't find the GUI very inviting. I spose I'll have to school myself in grading rather than just playing.

 

[jimagine]

Hehe, it is but who wants true colour accuracy?

Did you do any grading on it?

Just a very slight grade in FCPX.