FS7: Overexposing on the FS7 for cleaner shadows

As a matter of fact, I am going to shoot scenes with a lot of details, such as dense foliage and ocean water with sun glare. Good to know about the precautions needed! In those cases, I will definitely go with ProRes HQ. And even though I don't think I'II ever go beyond 4K 60p, I will be careful to get a thick negative.

By the way, is the HDMI output from the FS7 in 10 bit 422 for 4K 24p and 60p? I remember this generated plenty of doubts and discussions for the FS5. But since I stayed away from shooting for several months, I can't remember the answer for the FS7.

Thanks a million! I can't express enough how much you all are helping me with this project.
 
The bit depth of the HDMI output has been somewhat a topic of debate, with some conflicting reports.
I do know that it is full 4K DCI to 30P. At 60P, it drops to UHD. I am told that the sampling drops to 4:2:0, too. I don't know if the bit depth is 8 or 10 bits in ANY of the modes. I tend to observe banding with some gradients of footage I've recorded to Shogun, whereas the XAVC version seemed to be nearly free of the bands. Mostly noticed with bokeh where the images have a similar range of colors and lumanence values. I'm not completely confident that HDMI out is truly 10-bit. It may be, but the occasional banding I find in those recordings leaves me with a question mark.
 
I got this straight from Sony: FS5 HDMI video output is always limited to 8-bit, in $k or HD and at all frame rates. Only way to get a higher 4K bit depth to to use RAW.
 
Mitch, do you have a similarly authoritative information about the FS7? It's so important to me, as I'm now debating over my next investment - a HDR-capable field monitor, possibly also DNxHR recorder (in that order). As I grade my stuff for HDR10, I wouldn't like to end up with 8 bit footage - so if FS7 HDMI output is indeed anything less than true 10 bit in UHD up to 50 Hz, I'd probably go with the SmallHD 1303 rather than Odyssey or Inferno...

Piotr

PS. Plus, if XAVC-480 were to ever come to the FS7 in (even paid) firmware update, I guess I'd never really be interested in external recording as I've no interest in RAW whatsoever....
 
Mitch or anyone else, can you confirm if the HDMI output of the FS7 in 4K 24/30p is 10 bit 422? Basspig made some interesting observations about the banding. I already have the 7q+, so purchasing the HD-SDI cable would definitely be easy. But since I will also need to deliver in UHD, I have to go with HDMI (if I don't remember wrong, SDI is only in HD unless you get Raw, which is out of my reach).
Thanks to everyone for their time and patience with this thread.
 
bill totolo said:
Just another note:
If you're shooting a scene with plenty of light, shallow depth of field without a lot of detail in the shot, ISO 2000 will look quite clean because you're not stressing the CODEC.
However, if you're shooting 180fps in the woods, with a lot of fine detail, forget it. Get yourself a 'thick' negative or you're going to have A LOT of noise.
Click to expand...

?????????
 
But anyway Bill, the point about the thick negative was very good. And it is something important to have in mind with HFR, whether it is internal XAVC, external recorder ProRes, extension unit.
 
I'm waiting for another previously owned extention unit to hit the market at $1500 or less. Then I will buy one. Only reason for me to have it is to get 240FPS recording capability.

Too bad the SDI out is limited to 1080P on a 4K camera.
 
moldcad said:
Mitch, do you have a similarly authoritative information about the FS7? It's so important to me, as I'm now debating over my next investment - a HDR-capable field monitor, possibly also DNxHR recorder (in that order). As I grade my stuff for HDR10, I wouldn't like to end up with 8 bit footage - so if FS7 HDMI output is indeed anything less than true 10 bit in UHD up to 50 Hz, I'd probably go with the SmallHD 1303 rather than Odyssey or Inferno...

Piotr

PS. Plus, if XAVC-480 were to ever come to the FS7 in (even paid) firmware update, I guess I'd never really be interested in external recording as I've no interest in RAW whatsoever....
Click to expand...

Sorry, I do not have the authoritative info on the HDMI output of the FS7 or FS7-2. I can tell you that the UHD signal drops to 4:2:0 above 30p, but 8-bit v 10-bit I don't know. I've heard too much back & forth to be willing to go out on a limb.
 
basspig said:
I'm waiting for another previously owned extention unit to hit the market at $1500 or less. Then I will buy one. Only reason for me to have it is to get 240FPS recording capability.

Too bad the SDI out is limited to 1080P on a 4K camera.
Click to expand...

+1 (with the exception the max I'd be willing to pay for a used extension unit is some USD 1,000).

Piotr
 
moldcad said:
+1 (with the exception the max I'd be willing to pay for a used extension unit is some USD 1,000).

Piotr
Click to expand...

The best price on eBay was $1495 about a month ago for a used unit in claimed good condition.

If any are being sold half price, they are probably grey market, from slipshod camera stores in back allies. I remember dealing with many of those in the early 2000s. Unscrupulous types.
 
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