Jvc ls300

lovecameras said:
Don't worry this 'cinematic' look phase evryone wants will soon move on and interlaced TV look will be the new trend. Hang in there.....
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The upcoming trend for DSLR cinematographers is shooting with a LOG tone curve and applying a customized LUT in post. To do this properly, you need an accurate (rather than "flat") logarithmic tone curve, calibrated light exposure, 10-bit 4:2:2 color or better, and a collection of LUT's color-corrected for your camera model. For those who want to pursue this type of workflow, the LS300 is absolutely the wrong camera. It lacks 10-bit color, offers no LOG curves, and no LUT's are currently available for this camera.

I wouldn't describe the LS300 as a "cinematic" video camera at all, I'd call it a flexible workhorse well-suited to live event shooting. With an adapter for its active MFT mount, the LS300 can use virtually any lens made in the last 50 years. With its VSM feature, you can tailor its video frame to match the image circle of any lens. With its numerical gamma and shadow exposure controls, you can tailor its tone curve to produce the levels of mid and shadow detail you want in-camera. And with an SDXC card, you can shoot a single continuous video file up to 64GB in length, no file-spanning required. No other video camera on the market offers a comparable set of features.

On the down side, the LS300 lacks histogram and waveform monitors, and offers only a single presettable zebra function. That means you either use an external light meter or set the LS300's zebra and highlight knee to 100 IRE and adjust your gain accordingly. In practice, Auto-ISO can do this for you, so long as your highlights aren't too extreme compared to the average light level.

The LS300 also supports the electronic features of MFT lenses, but not as comprehensively as I'd like. It controls aperture, focus, and zoom (on Panasonic power-zoom lenses), but failed to recognize the OIS feature on all lenses I've tested. It's particularly iffy with legacy Four Thirds lenses, but it can use the parfocal Four Thirds Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 in manual focus mode. Hopefully, JVC's engineers will continue to work on MFT lens compatibility and provide improved support in future firmware updates.
 
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Lpowell said:
The upcoming trend for DSLR cinematographers is shooting with a LOG tone curve and applying a customized LUT in post. To do this properly, you need an accurate (rather than "flat") logarithmic tone curve, calibrated light exposure, 10-bit 4:2:2 color or better, and a collection of LUT's color-corrected for your camera model. For those who want to pursue this type of workflow, the LS300 is absolutely the wrong camera. It lacks 10-bit color, offers no LOG curves, and no LUT's are currently available for this camera.

I wouldn't describe the LS300 as a "cinematic" video camera at all, I'd call it a flexible workhorse well-suited to live event shooting. With an adapter for its active MFT mount, the LS300 can use virtually any lens made in the last 50 years. With its VSM feature, you can tailor its video frame to match the image circle of any lens. With its numerical gamma and shadow exposure controls, you can tailor its tone curve to produce the levels of mid and shadow detail you want in-camera. And with an SDXC card, you can shoot a single continuous video file up to 64GB in length, no file-spanning required. No other video camera on the market offers a comparable set of features.

On the down side, the LS300 lacks histogram and waveform monitors, and offers only a single presettable zebra function. That means you either use an external light meter or set the LS300's zebra and highlight knee to 100 IRE and adjust your gain accordingly. In practice, Auto-ISO can do this for you, so long as your highlights aren't too extreme compared to the average light level.

The LS300 also supports the electronic features of MFT lenses, but not as comprehensively as I'd like. It controls aperture, focus, and zoom (on Panasonic power-zoom lenses), but failed to recognize the OIS feature on all lenses I've tested. It's particularly iffy with legacy Four Thirds lenses, but it can use the parfocal Four Thirds Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 in manual focus mode. Hopefully, JVC's engineers will continue to work on MFT lens compatibility and provide improved support in future firmware updates.
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Which other cameras around the same price as this JVC would you recommand for the cinematic look and better results as a "work horse" for events and that isn't missing histogram & waveform ?
 
monks19 said:
Which other cameras around the same price as this JVC would you recommand for the cinematic look and better results as a "work horse" for events and that isn't missing histogram & waveform ?
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The Blackmagic URSA, though when fully outfitted, it's nowhere near as cheap as the LS300.
 
Do you think some firmware upgrades cane improve the look to get something close to a cinematic look ?
 
Do you think some firmware upgrades can improve the look to get something close to a cinematic look ?
 
monks19 said:
Do you think some firmware upgrades can improve the look to get something close to a cinematic look ?
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Sincerely, I don't understand this question. A cinematic look depends from:

1) 24p = LS300 has it
2) A big sensor with shallow depth of field = LS300 has it
3) a cine gamma = LS300 has it (additionally gamma is variable in steps)
4) a wide dynamic range = LS300 has for sure a wider dynamic than other m43 cameras

When properly setted, for example, my LS300 is more cinematic than my GH4

The remaining is lighting, CC and camera configuration (and LS300 is fully configurable)

Regards

gary
 
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The body style is right on. So are the outer features, like XLR. The sample footage so far has been unimpressive. I'll be the first to tell you, though, that it can probably be made up for in post. But the format is 8 bits, so it can be pushed only so far. And JVC's claim of 12 stops looks dubious.

Eh, I'm holding out for global shutter anyway.
 
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Ok. So, what's really missing that a firmware can bring to improve This cam (aside of the viewfinder that is, according to som people, too small) ?
 
monks19 said:
Ok. So, what's really missing that a firmware can bring to improve This cam (aside of the viewfinder that is, according to som people, too small) ?
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A waveform or an histogram, for the correct exposure For the look there are no problems, you only need to understand the camera settings. There's a long review of a buyer on B&H, very well done: I totally agree
 
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Is there a place somewhere where we can address those issues to JVC directly (facebook page, forum, blog, etc) ?
 
If you agree with LPowell's statement, which I do, that the LS300 is not a 'cinematic camera' .... then I think most of the arguments about this camera are contextual misunderstandings but....there's still the highlight handling concerns that many have expressed..

Cheers...Tye
 
What are the recommanded lenses for this camera that can work both zoom & focus ? I have Nikon compatible lenses already, but are there any of those that can work with this camera or will they be only manual if I use them ? I know that the cam have a m4/3 mount, but still... just wondering...

Thanks to answer
 
Tye said:
If you agree with LPowell's statement, which I do, that the LS300 is not a 'cinematic camera' .... then I think most of the arguments about this camera are contextual misunderstandings but....there's still the highlight handling concerns that many have expressed..

Cheers...Tye
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1) could you kindly tell me ***in detail*** what do you mean for 'cinematic camera'?

2) With LS300 I have 1/10 of the problems that I had with AF100 in highlight handling. In my opinion, the highlight handling of the camera is good and variable gamma gives you the opportnunity to control them very well. On the opposite, my previous AF100 was a real disaster, with terrible yellow casting in highlights and slightly overexposed areas. So I don't see the problems you see. I can suggest you to try the camera before to repeat the same annoying music about 'highlight handling'.

Regards

Gary
 
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monks19 said:
What are the recommanded lenses for this camera that can work both zoom & focus ? I have Nikon compatible lenses already, but are there any of those that can work with this camera or will they be only manual if I use them ? I know that the cam have a m4/3 mount, but still... just wondering...

Thanks to answer
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I use mainly manual lenses (samyang cine lenses and old Canon FD). I prefer manual lenses over m43 because I can use the whole S35 sensor. With lumix lenses AF, auto exposure and face recognition seems to work well, but sincerely I have not investigated in deep.

Regards

Gary
 
Gary,

Since you are one of the few around here that actually has the camera, could you post or show us some footage that looks "filmic" to your eye? That is really what folks are unhappy about. All of the promotional material had a real video look to it. Yes one can debate what the 'film look' is but compared to a 5DMKIII or (I know) Alexa, can the JVC create an image that does not look video-y?

If so then show us and everybody will shut up.

Also, I have read that the viewfinder is "horrible". What is your impression and please compare it to other cameras you have used. Thanks.
 
Is there any footage out there that shows focus assist in action ? If no, Gary, could you shoot a little something that shows the focus assist in action ?

Thanks to answer
 
could you be getting that impression looking at footage made by people who really aren't familiar enough with the camera to get the best out of it?
 
Yes, that is totally possible.....still waiting to see some footage that shows that ... at least as a proof of concept. i think the main thing most people would like to see in this respect is highlight handling. That would....open some eyes!

Cheers......Tye
 
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