How to expose SLOG-2 - Sony FS 700

F

Fader8

Well-known member
Hi there,

How do you properly expose the SLOG-2 to get the best results with the 8-bit internal codec?
Slightly overexpose, or around 60%?

And how do you know when your Exposure is right?

The thing with underexposing ist, that the 2000 ISO make it very noisy...

Thanks for the advice.

Cheers
 
Hi Fader8,

Unfortunately I would argue that there is no "one size fits all" one way to expose slog that will fit all shooting scenarios because there can be a lot of factors from the scene itself on how you base your exposure further depending on what's intended in post, or for example if its a high/low key scene, or green screen work, etc..

Especially if you're shooting 8-bit you have less data to play with in post so again you want to think through the entire process from what you get in-camera to what will have to be done in post.

In any case underexposing and lifting the image exposure in post is going to add noise with each stop of exposure you increase. It will be much more noticeable in the shadows as opposed to the mid or brighter tones but this is the effect you get when pushing exposure in post with really any camera. One solution is to increase the levels of the shadows you are recording in-camera and then lower them in post. You can overexpose the entire image to achieve this (eating stops from your highlight range) or you can chose to increase the light on your shadows areas and later reduce in post for a "cleaner" look.

ETTR is sometimes a good option but for narrative work can cause inconsistent exposures which in post can be a bit of a headache for whomever is working on the grading/coloring so again I'd be sure to think through the entire cycle of the project and what makes the most sense for those involved.

Lastly feel free to download my free Exposure Guide which was written for the F5/F55 but since it covers slog in general its also applicable to the FS700. You might find it useful.

cheers,
 
I agree with Star Central, there is NO one way to do it. Normally, I just expose to the middle, but that's with the 7Q. I would say on bright, outdoor days maybe even a little under because I've noticed things like white window trims get totally lost when over-exposed or even in the middle with S-Log.

With AVCHD S-Log since it's 8 bit, you have a very limited exposure window. It gets noisy really, really quick compared to the 7Q when under exposed because the 10-bit codec hold so much more info. I would say, try to stay at least to the middle.

As someone who has shot quite a bit with the 8 Bit AVCHD S-log, it's very tough to grade it because it falls apart quickly. S-Log is a 10 bit codec IMO.
 
As someone who has shot quite a bit with the 8 Bit AVCHD S-log, it's very tough to grade it because it falls apart quickly.
Click to expand...


Why shoot with it at all? ie. what is the benefit.
 
S.Blanchardon said:
I think he meant "why shoot AVCHD 8bit".
Click to expand...

Actually I did mostly mean "why shoot S Log"?

As an old fashioned D.P ( 40+ years experience ...film thru digital) .... I see so much dependence on post "fixing" and camera "magic bullets" (PPs) to shoot the most basic of scenes.

I am just making a futile stand for the D.P to have more control of their craft (esp. lighting) and the finished result.
 
stefanhuberfilms said:
why shoot slog? a few important benefits for me:

+ smoother highlight rolloff
+ great DR
+ lovely skintones
Click to expand...

The S-Log skin tones and color science is so much nicer than Cinegammas. I recently was forced to shoot something in Cinegamma 4 for a client and I was like... "Yuck. Did it always look like this?"
 
Are the two of you, who commented on "skin tones" , achieving that result thru CC / Grading of the S log and you feel same would not be achievable by same grading effort with other "capture settings".

What do you attribute to S Log being better for skin tone?

Edit: I will add Stefan that what I see in your very nice work (Vimeo) indicates you do get great results from what ever you are doing.
 
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thanks for your kind words Shooter, to hear that from an "old fashioned DP" means a lot to me.

I really think slog just gives a more natural look to start the grading from, maybe it comes down to how highlights on skin are rendered too. I think one can achieve great results without slog too, in the end it just comes down to personal preference i think. Sometimes it just makes things easier - and i like the muted look of it, even in 8bit.

Pretty sure that someone which is very experienced in lighting can shoot the same scene with a 8-9 stop PP, and the result would look not that much different.

Shooting in the woods on a bright summerday with such a contrasty profile would be a nightmare though.
 
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