Rumor: Sony A7s will have 4K video
- Thread starter vanvideo
- Start date
You say go. I'll follow.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
I think comparing it to the C500 or 5/55 is loony tune.
I think it is a moire free 5d2.
And that in itself is a very good thing.
S
I think it is a moire free 5d2.
And that in itself is a very good thing.
S
Samuel H
Major Contributor
I also think the C500 comparison is an overstatement.
But with the information I have right now, I actually believe the A7s is really really similar to the C100, maybe a bit better:
- very similar in the most important aspects: full 4K readout for clean and sharp 1080p video, internal 8-bit 420 with a very strong codec, lots of DR, nice colors, pleasing image in general
- with just a couple of physical shortcomings: no internal NDs, XLR is an $800 add-on
- and clearly better in everything else: bigger sensor, crazy ISO capabilities, much better EVF, higher frame rates, more flexible mount, probably better DR (though yes, I would also want to get a formal comparison), and 4K out
Plus it is much smaller, it takes stills, and (guess) is less than half the price.
If you trust that the DR is great indeed, the only questions out are price and rolling shutter.
Regarding 5D comparison: a 5D2 without aliasing/moire is a 5D3. I think this one has a much sharper image (probably on par with the 5D3+RAW) and a lot more DR (if the F5 claim is true, it should be at least a couple of stops better than the 5D3+RAW).
But with the information I have right now, I actually believe the A7s is really really similar to the C100, maybe a bit better:
- very similar in the most important aspects: full 4K readout for clean and sharp 1080p video, internal 8-bit 420 with a very strong codec, lots of DR, nice colors, pleasing image in general
- with just a couple of physical shortcomings: no internal NDs, XLR is an $800 add-on
- and clearly better in everything else: bigger sensor, crazy ISO capabilities, much better EVF, higher frame rates, more flexible mount, probably better DR (though yes, I would also want to get a formal comparison), and 4K out
Plus it is much smaller, it takes stills, and (guess) is less than half the price.
If you trust that the DR is great indeed, the only questions out are price and rolling shutter.
Regarding 5D comparison: a 5D2 without aliasing/moire is a 5D3. I think this one has a much sharper image (probably on par with the 5D3+RAW) and a lot more DR (if the F5 claim is true, it should be at least a couple of stops better than the 5D3+RAW).
Start a petition. I'll sign it.
Emanuel
Cross-Examiner
And it is 8-bit... Hate to burst the bubble here.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
The 5d3 (unhacked) is soft as toilet roll. It is just a 5d2 with a sock over the lens to stop moire. I was completely unimpressed with the 5d3.
I think this sony camera might actually be close to sharp.
As for that 13stops - no chance - no way in 8bit - OK you can record of 13 stops of milky flat mush but it will just fall apart if you try and make it look normal.
(I would say the same is true for F3 8bit and C300 8bit BTW)
S
I think this sony camera might actually be close to sharp.
As for that 13stops - no chance - no way in 8bit - OK you can record of 13 stops of milky flat mush but it will just fall apart if you try and make it look normal.
(I would say the same is true for F3 8bit and C300 8bit BTW)
S
cpc
Well-known member
I think most people here are looking for 1080p delivery out of the A7s. 8-bit UHD is essentially 10-bit FHD. It appears that Sony also included customizable gamma options missing in their stills cameras, and these may allow something similar to the Canon WideDR gamma (8-bit friendly with highlights roll-off) with some tinkering. The camera is certainly promising, but we've seen way too many promising cameras.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
I guess indeed that with a recorder as with an f3 one might indeed get enough colour info to make a nice 1080 image from slog. With the onboard (as with the f3) less so.
squig
Veteran
Can't we just give it to Hunter to create some beautiful images ;p
I've been doing a lot of peeping over the last few years :embarasse looking for the right camera to shoot my film. These are the cameras that have really impressed me with their film-like image capture-
Sony F35
Alexa
F5/F55
A7s
The 5D MK3 raw, 1DC, and C series produce nice image but they're just a bit lacking in dynamic range. 14-15 stops appears to be the point where a digital image really takes on the organic quality of film. It's really noticeable when you compare a dual ISO 5D shot to a raw shot.
Samuel H
Major Contributor
Both Sony and Den Lennie say it's the same DR as the F5. It would have to be at least 3 stops less than that for this to fall down to DSLR territory. And we know Sony sensors can deliver this, so, why not...
I know 14-15 stops of DR in an 8-bit codec is definitely a stretch: you're getting an average of 17 or 18 values per stop of light, and that's definitely going to break down once you start grading the image. Then again, that's theory; in practice, this looks great.
Of course, I won't buy the camera until I've seen more tests, including DR comparisons and such.
Edit: Den Lennie insists:
I know 14-15 stops of DR in an 8-bit codec is definitely a stretch: you're getting an average of 17 or 18 values per stop of light, and that's definitely going to break down once you start grading the image. Then again, that's theory; in practice, this looks great.
Of course, I won't buy the camera until I've seen more tests, including DR comparisons and such.
Edit: Den Lennie insists:
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Ian-T
Veteran
That's what I'm saying. To me it does not matter about specs anymore...it's the final image that counts )it's really always been that way for me). I like how the first image of this camera looked....I didn't buy the claims of DR though. But....it sure does look good. I don't care about low light either. people harp on that so much. No matter how good a camera is in low light...I absolutely hate the thought of pushing the ISO up for MOST reasons. Light the scene and get the absolute best out of the camera. There's just too many excuses to push that thing over its sweet spot. So far the daylight shot with that woman walking out in the open looked fantastic. I want the GH-4 to do that to me but....
There was a rumor months ago about Sony releasing a Full Frame DSLR which was touted as an F-5 in a DSLR body (inside rumor). This looks to be that camera. Sure...there are a lot of things about this camera that does not compete with those higher end ones....but the final image...is what counts.
cpc
Well-known member
Why not? These photosites are huge. It will most likely be the FF consumer camera with the most DR in the world at the time of its release. At least in raw. What goes down to s-log might be a different story.
pulpfiction007
Veteran
GH4 and A7s look good as B cameras for speciality shots. But only one of them can do internal 4K recording. So GH4 ---> 4K B cam. A7S, B Cam for 1080p. The addition of a 7" external 4K recorder negates the small size of these cams, and if you really want that kind of rig, well now you have the BM Ursa and AJA 4K cam available later this year.
Ryan Lightbourn
Well-known member
Very few people would be using a GH4 with no monitor on a proper gig, so it would end up being relatively the same size/weight as the A7S & Shogun. Not to mention, GH4 & A7S with monitors will still be significantly smaller, lighter, and more compact than the Ursa & Cion.
I plan on using an A7S on Defy G2 w/ Shogun mounted to my handles.
And very shortly down the road I'm sure there will be something similar to the Atomos Ninja Star (Ninja Star 2 perhaps) which records 4K in a compact package.
The sensors in these cams are probably far superior to the BM/AJA, the A7s sensor especially. The others just use the BM4K sensor.
Emanuel
Cross-Examiner
When we address the money in one direction, there's another one going out of our bed. We can't surely have all goodies we would like to sleep with. GH4 and a7s will be competent A cams in a lot of productions, count on it.
E
Emanuel
Cross-Examiner
Well, and here is the other reason why, Doctor Wu
Cosimo Bullo
Veteran
I use the GH/2/3/GX7/G6 nearly everyday on well paid gigs, and rarely with a monitor. I'm frequently in extreme conditions where weight and ability to move quickly is a factor. That's why the quality of the internal viewfinder is important to me (and why I'm loving the GX7 at the moment). Just an fyi.