HMC's biggest weakness? (or is it just me)

[FUBARFilms]

Not to long ago I worked on a job where I was shooting with the HMC along side an XH-A1 and while I think the HMC is superior to the A1 is every category, seeing the HMC's footage compared to the lens quality of a camera like the A1 blows it out of the water. Since then I've tried to mirror that lens quality of the A1 and I've found that bringing down the detail level, coring and V detail to -7 gives a less "crispy" image thats more appealing. Is this something in the default Scene File that's digitally sharpening the picture giving it that video camera look or is the lens on the HMC "weak".

 

[matt s.]

I'm confused about your post but with that said the image is going to be even less sharp shooting in the CineD/V gammas. I usually bump the sharpness up +2 shooting Cine-V.

 

[ikander]

I've shot an XH-A1 and an HMC-150 side by side. And, the color range of the HMC-150 just looks better. Sharpness has never been an issue for me.

 

[MadHMC150]

You watch the footage back on something besides the LCD screen? Sony is going to have a nicer LCD...

 

[Ed Kishel]

When judging picture quality, the three factors most observed are resolution, color, and noise. What I have observed is that when comparing these two cameras, resolution is least impactful when seen by the average viewer at the average distance (8-12 feet).

Sharpness drops the farther we get away from the screen. See these two pictures- up close one is pixilated, but 6-8 feet away they are very close.

These are just an illustration, and not from any particular camera.

Color and noise differences, on the other hand, can be seen at these distances. Of course changes in all 3 factors that can be noticed at a distance, but the average untrained eye sees resolution dropping away quicker.

That being said, this then is the reason why I chose the HMC150. There are sharper cameras out there for $3200, but low noise and rich color are more important to me. My average viewer doesn’t sit 2 away from a screen scrutinizing resolution like most of us do. The overall image of the HMC is more pleasing at a normal viewing distance, even if up close its not as sharp.

 

[jeff9329]

Not to long ago I worked on a job where I was shooting with the HMC along side an XH-A1 and while I think the HMC is superior to the A1 is every category, seeing the HMC's footage compared to the lens quality of a camera like the A1 blows it out of the water. Since then I've tried to mirror that lens quality of the A1 and I've found that bringing down the detail level, coring and V detail to -7 gives a less "crispy" image thats more appealing. Is this something in the default Scene File that's digitally sharpening the picture giving it that video camera look or is the lens on the HMC "weak".

Fubar:

I switched from shooting XH-A1s to the HMC-150s. Before deciding on the HMC-150 I did lots of comparison shoots. The acknowledged weak point of the HMC-150 is the slightly lower native resolution of the imager, mainly due to the 1.5 pixel offset (960X540). We all hope the next iteration of the sensor block the 150 and other cams share will be a native full 1920 resolution with all the other great qualities the sensor already has.

Even so, the 150 produces overall better video than the XH-A1 and I am very satisfied. I do hear your concern though. When the XH-A1 is in just the right light and setup well (say vividRGB preset), it can produce a stunning HD image which the 150 sensor cant. But, in the other 90 percent of normal use the 150 is better, it's just tough to let the 10% possibility go.

You can definately improve the HMC image quality by tweaking, so you are heading the right way. I did the same thing early on by connecting the HMC HDMI output to a calibrated HDTV and experimenting with the controls. It's a PITA to do this, but what you learn is incredibly valuable in understanding the controls ranges and effects.

IMO, the detail level controls have limited, but noticable, effect on the image. The coring has a significant effect and -7 would be way to much for me. Keep working with it, you can definately get the image sharper. I can't remember my settings right now, but I will look later & post. I have 2 150s and I have found that the scene file settings work universally across multiple camera for the most part, although the color between my 2 was different for awhile (looked like a WB issue) before it somehow self corrected.