CAMCORDERS: HC-X2: Zebra Invalid

ullanta

ullanta

Veteran
Howdy! It's been a while.

I'm working with the X2 for the first time, and can't find a quick answer in manuals or searches. When I try to turn the zebras on, the camera reports "INVALID". In the menu system (IE ASSIST, iirc), all the zebra options are greyed out. What am I missing?
 
Oh... just found it! Right in the manual (but only under the GAMMA menu!) - Zebra is disabled when using v-log.
 
I'm assuming its because the IRE values are different for log and they're not going to bother to give the equivalent 709 Zebra values, so they've disabled it to avoid confusion. For example setting zebras to 100 but in Log 94 is clipping. To be honest none of the other cameras handle zebras for log in a helpful way. Meaning you have to remember and change your zebra settings for log and if you switch or use a LUT it messes the values up. Still it leaves the question how would one expose when using log in this camera. I guess you could use an external monitor with zebras if you’re shooting on a tripod.

I haven't done a through test but my initial impressions log smaller sensors has limited use. I use camcorders to film events where I want it as seen. I wouldn't be using Log to impart a look. Do they even say how much more dynamic range if any you get shooting in Log? Makes me wonder if this is a feature to sell the camera but has little benefit for how the camera would actually be used. Doug it would be interesting if you're so inclined to test how much advantage there really is shoot log when you do the z200 review.
 
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Peter C. said:
To be honest none of the other cameras handle zebras for log in a helpful way.
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I hope you're not lumping Sonys into the "other cameras" category because zebras work great with LOG on all of my cameras. Zebra is the only exposure tool I use for REC709, RAW, LOG with LUTs, LOG without LUTs, etc. Yes, the zebra value has to be adjusted for each shooting mode, but that literally takes 2 seconds because it is at the top of my user menu.
 
Peter C. said:
Doug it would be interesting if you're so inclined to test how much advantage there really is shoot log when you do the z200 review.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'll be testing and comparing once I get my final production camera later this week. Waste of time to do anything before that. I suspect I might come to the same conclusion as I did with my FX6: I prefer S-Cinetone graded in Resolve rather than LOG. I almost never shoot LOG on the FX6. But I will keep an open mind.
 
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