VaricamLT: Horizontal line on Varicam LT
- Thread starter Alex Roz
- Start date
I put the P2 card in the reader and watch from P2viewerplus, I can see it.
It's very subtle and needs some heavy grading to notice it on most shots. But on a few of them it's here with a normal grading. That why it bothers me. I don't want to have an important shot showing the issue suddenly.
In P2viewerplus I see it on one shot that was shot in Vlog with a good exposure, so without any grading, you can imagine that pushing the contrast will make it even more visible.
I'm sure Panasonic is investigating right now anyway.
It's very subtle and needs some heavy grading to notice it on most shots. But on a few of them it's here with a normal grading. That why it bothers me. I don't want to have an important shot showing the issue suddenly.
In P2viewerplus I see it on one shot that was shot in Vlog with a good exposure, so without any grading, you can imagine that pushing the contrast will make it even more visible.
I'm sure Panasonic is investigating right now anyway.
NorBro
Major Contributor
New cameras arrive with new problems. The Varicam35 could never have had this (I don't know), but it doesn't mean the hardware in this one isn't causing it.
I hope it's software and easily fixed with firmware.
Yes, maybe there's somethnig else in the hardware causing it (since I guess it differs from the Varicam35), but it's not likely the sensor itself since it's been around for a while and used in high-end productions. I guess they would've noticed it if it was a sensor issue.
NorBro
Major Contributor
So the BMPC, URSA 4K and URSA Mini 4K all share the same sensor. Version 1 is in the BMPC. Version 1 or Version 2 can be in the URSA. And Version 2 is in the Mini.
Besides an increase from 4K/80p to 4K/120p in the big URSA, it's not quite clear what other improvements/modifications were made to V2.
I bring this up to mention that all three cameras have their own problems with the same sensor.
The BMPC/URSA Version 1 never had the sun spot fixed. The URSA Mini 4K had horrible horizontal lines when first released. And the URSA had this weird problem (when it was first released) where it would record a little bit of the image from the right edge of the frame to the left side of the frame (or vice-versa, I don't remember). The last two were fixed via firmware. Besides these three major issues, they all had/have other quirks as well.
With the Varicam35, I think it's difficult to know about any and all issues because the few people who use them probably only have that conversation with Panasonic.
This recent LT line issue in the middle of the screen (or any other problem) may not apply to every camera. [Think URSA Mini 4.6K magenta, ha.]
I think it's too early to tell, but this LT section is good to have here.
EDIT: Also forgot to mention that someone should try a test in all resolutions/formats...see what the results are.
Besides an increase from 4K/80p to 4K/120p in the big URSA, it's not quite clear what other improvements/modifications were made to V2.
I bring this up to mention that all three cameras have their own problems with the same sensor.
The BMPC/URSA Version 1 never had the sun spot fixed. The URSA Mini 4K had horrible horizontal lines when first released. And the URSA had this weird problem (when it was first released) where it would record a little bit of the image from the right edge of the frame to the left side of the frame (or vice-versa, I don't remember). The last two were fixed via firmware. Besides these three major issues, they all had/have other quirks as well.
With the Varicam35, I think it's difficult to know about any and all issues because the few people who use them probably only have that conversation with Panasonic.
This recent LT line issue in the middle of the screen (or any other problem) may not apply to every camera. [Think URSA Mini 4.6K magenta, ha.]
I think it's too early to tell, but this LT section is good to have here.
EDIT: Also forgot to mention that someone should try a test in all resolutions/formats...see what the results are.
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I was up all night yesterday and waisted time doing stupid mistakes installing the P2 software, and also trying to figure out how to best mount the camera on my shoulder since it's quite bigger than my FS700. 
I can try to check it this evening. What sort of settings do you use when you see it the most, and in what sort of light?
I can try to check it this evening. What sort of settings do you use when you see it the most, and in what sort of light?
I was up all night yesterday and waisted time doing stupid mistakes installing the P2 software, and also trying to figure out how to best mount the camera on my shoulder since it's quite bigger than my FS700.
I can try to check it this evening. What sort of settings do you use when you see it the most, and in what sort of light?
^^ Well it's not urgent. But if you have time, you can try the 4k AVC codec for example and shoot something a bit dark, not too bright at least, maybe something plain (too many elements or texture will make it more difficult to notice), and having a bit of vertical movement to see it move on the image if it's there.
Thanks!
keithlango
Well-known member
This may be of no use as the sensors are completely different beasts, but I'll offer it as a "maybe?" possibility:
On the Bolex D16 there is a very similar kind of line (it's vertical, though) that can show up on footage shot during the first 10-15 minutes of operation of the camera. It's allegedly due to the sensor taking time to heat up and not all quadrants/hemispheres of the sensor come to temp at the same rate. Maybe do a test where you shoot footage right after camera starts up from cold and then 15 minutes later after it's had a chance to warm up, then compare the footage and see if there's a difference.
Like I said, just a wild hair guess, but your line problem it does look very similar to what I've seen on D16 footage on cold cams.
On the Bolex D16 there is a very similar kind of line (it's vertical, though) that can show up on footage shot during the first 10-15 minutes of operation of the camera. It's allegedly due to the sensor taking time to heat up and not all quadrants/hemispheres of the sensor come to temp at the same rate. Maybe do a test where you shoot footage right after camera starts up from cold and then 15 minutes later after it's had a chance to warm up, then compare the footage and see if there's a difference.
Like I said, just a wild hair guess, but your line problem it does look very similar to what I've seen on D16 footage on cold cams.
Alex, here's a file that you can download. I shot it in 4K and scaled it down to 2K in post. The first part is shot at ISO5000, the second at ISO800. I've increased the contrast a lot in Resolve and also applied a pretty aggressive S-curve also. I don't know if the "motive" is ideal but I tried to change the aperture, so the picture is both over and under exposed. I'll try to get the camera out some day soon and shoot real life scenarios to se if something appears then.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4lexyqx73r5lwkh/Varicam LT test.mov?dl=0
Thank you! Downloading it right now.
Here is an original prores 444 file out from the camera I just shot. It shows a part of the horizontal line in the center where there are the darker vertical bars. You can see how far you need to push the levels to notice it then.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/90344707/A001C226_160909_D622.MOV
Keith, thank you for the idea, I shot the same thing at different moments waiting for the camera to warm but I see no difference though.
I tried to see the line but I guess I'm not sure what to do in post to make it visible, but I noticed something that looks like a "dead" pixel.
Edit: Okey, that was hard to see. Let's try it this way instead:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wzsj51r32qc8uch/pixel.tif?dl=0
Edit: Okey, that was hard to see. Let's try it this way instead:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wzsj51r32qc8uch/pixel.tif?dl=0
Run&Gun
Veteran
Have you black balanced the camera? A good habit to get into, if you don't already: black balance the camera at least once a day when you shoot, before you start shooting.
Haha I didn't even noticed it so far. Does someone know the policy of Panasonic concerning dead pixels? ^^
Well, no sadly. I notice it in some older 2k shots now and I blackshaded many times since then.
