F55: Sensors and Image Quality (F5/F55 vs F23 vs Codex ActionCam vs HPX3700)

It's interesting you bring up Canon cause I've always liked their look (color science) and form. I've generally always gravitated towards bright colors, deeper blacks (which is interesting cause it looks like the fx9 can provide those deeper blacks), saturation, and technicolor type color science even though nothing competes with film, some of those douglass sirk movies when they were really pushing the cinematography in the lat 50's was crazy atmospheric and I've never seen anything like that since. So I've always like the look of say Canon 1dc, C500, C300, C200, and so on. A lot of the canons if i'm not mistaken are compatible with the Cinedeck EX through Dual SDI 3g out and have crop modes for 2k/super 16 so I can easily use my b4 lenses on them through my abackus to pl mount adapter. Sigma Fp was also a cheap little camera i though had great colors. But to doug point the F55 was the 16 bit raw actually best utilizes that raw better than most I'd imagine with actually having a 16 bit bucket. Also I didn't know but the FX9 also apparantly has a sibling b4 format 3 chipper in the Z750 although i think that one is more tv centrick and lacks some of the looks especially the s cinetone the fx 9 has
 
Doug Jensen said:
I own both an F55 and FX6 and I can tell you that the F55 definitely has superior image quality. Sure, the FX6 has a FF sensor, variable ND, 120 fps internal, etc. but if you just compare images the F55 easily beats it. Plus the F55 makes it so easy to shoot 16-bit RAW with an R5 or R7 which basically attaches and functions just as if it was an integral part of the camera. If anyone thinks a high-end show like THE CROWN could have been shot on an FX6 they need to take a closer look.
Click to expand...

Have you considered doing some comparison shots with the two cameras? I certainly don't expect the FX6 to look like a high-end, professional cinema camera, but I'd be interested to see where the differences are. I watched the first season of The Crown and thought it looked absolutely fantastic. I think some F5's were used on later seasons of Parts Unknown and that show could look quite good, as well.

On a related note (and maybe this will help the OP), in what scenarios do you find yourself reaching for the FX6 versus the F55? Or in what scenarios do you anticipate doing so? The F55 doesn't suit most of my work but I'm always curious.
 
BatVal said:
It's interesting you bring up Canon cause I've always liked their look (color science) and form. I've generally always gravitated towards bright colors, deeper blacks (which is interesting cause it looks like the fx9 can provide those deeper blacks), saturation, and technicolor type color science even though nothing competes with film, some of those douglass sirk movies when they were really pushing the cinematography in the lat 50's was crazy atmospheric and I've never seen anything like that since. So I've always like the look of say Canon 1dc, C500, C300, C200, and so on. A lot of the canons if i'm not mistaken are compatible with the Cinedeck EX through Dual SDI 3g out and have crop modes for 2k/super 16 so I can easily use my b4 lenses on them through my abackus to pl mount adapter. Sigma Fp was also a cheap little camera i though had great colors. But to doug point the F55 was the 16 bit raw actually best utilizes that raw better than most I'd imagine with actually having a 16 bit bucket. Also I didn't know but the FX9 also apparantly has a sibling b4 format 3 chipper in the Z750 although i think that one is more tv centrick and lacks some of the looks especially the s cinetone the fx 9 has
Click to expand...

Well, those Sirk pictures were special. Most or all were shot on Technicolor I believe and had a particularly luxurious, dreamlike quality. As did Powell/Pressburger films - especially The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus, which IMO is the most beautiful color film ever...
 
BatVal said:
It's interesting you bring up Canon cause I've always liked their look (color science) and form...
Click to expand...
If you record Raw to an externally mounted monitor/recorder, then you can adjust almost any image.

And the investment into EOS R + Atomos is around $2,400 (plus glass, plus media, plus editing). And you get quality 4K and excellent auto focus (depending on the lens). And then your gear is up to date.
 
drboffa said:
On a related note (and maybe this will help the OP), in what scenarios do you find yourself reaching for the FX6 versus the F55? Or in what scenarios do you anticipate doing so? The F55 doesn't suit most of my work but I'm always curious.
Click to expand...

Good question, but I'm not a typical user so I doubt my input would be of much use. I have a PXW-Z750 with Fujinon 24x lens; F55 with R7 RAW recorder and about a dozen PL lenses; FS7 with R5 RAW recorder; PXW-Z280; Panasonic S1H; Canon 5Dmark4; and of course the FX6. More than any one person needs.. The Z750 is my go-to camera because it looks great and is so versatile. To be honest, I don't have a compelling need to keep the FX6 and there's no reason for me to choose it over the F55 so I'm not sure how much longer it will be around. Several of the cameras and other gear needs to be sold off but I am too busy (maybe lazy) to actually put the wheels in motion to get them advertised. One of these days . . .
 
drboffa said:
Have you considered doing some comparison shots with the two cameras? .
Click to expand...

Sure, not only the F55 and FX6, but also the FS7 and S1H as well. All with the exact same lens under controlled circumstances. But it would take too much time to do it right by myself, and ultimately there is nothing in it for me. i'm not a Youtuber so a crap load of views aren't going reimburse me for the time it would take. Maybe I should start a Go Fund Me. :)
 
I'm loving this thread because I'm on the fence of wanting to get the F55 as well. I have the FS7, but want some better IQ when shooting higher end projects. I really like the Sony workflow I've been using for the last 5 years, and the images I get with the FS7 are great, but there's the problem with image density that I don't get with it. Moving into RAW workflows is what I'd like to do, and the F55 can still shoot everything the FS7 does, but using XOCN really interests me. I'm prepping for a feature in October, and the typical Arri/RED ideas pop up, but I really think the F55 can do the job without having to change my workflow, and data management will be easier with a better compressed codec. If I sell the FS7 and get the F55, part of me feels I wouldn't be giving up on what I'm used to, but it also doesn't feel like a step forward.

I've tried to shoot RAW with the FS7, but it was clunky, and didn't seem to be any better.
 
Donny 123 said:
I used the f55 a fair bit and had an f5.. definitely a great camera back in the day , but for just a bit more than a cheap 2nd hand f55 , I feel something like an fx6 with variable ND, FF , S Cinetone and basically just a newer sensor is a better bet for someone with a 5-10 year plan.. actually I would recommend a second hand fx9 as the best idea even over a new fx6... this really is a very good all round camera for the price ..
Click to expand...

i never liked the F5. that was basically an Fs7, if i’m not mistaken
 
Mason O'Neill Hunsicker said:
I'm loving this thread because I'm on the fence of wanting to get the F55 as well. I have the FS7, but want some better IQ when shooting higher end projects. I really like the Sony workflow I've been using for the last 5 years, and the images I get with the FS7 are great, but there's the problem with image density that I don't get with it. Moving into RAW workflows is what I'd like to do, and the F55 can still shoot everything the FS7 does, but using XOCN really interests me. I'm prepping for a feature in October, and the typical Arri/RED ideas pop up, but I really think the F55 can do the job without having to change my workflow, and data management will be easier with a better compressed codec. If I sell the FS7 and get the F55, part of me feels I wouldn't be giving up on what I'm used to, but it also doesn't feel like a step forward.

I've tried to shoot RAW with the FS7, but it was clunky, and didn't seem to be any better.
Click to expand...

This seems like a good time to get the F55. Abundance of choice to price ratio is probable at its peak right now. Also, the Fs7 is still worth something, so it can help offset the purchase as well.
 
James0b57 said:
i never liked the F5. that was basically an Fs7, if i’m not mistaken
Click to expand...

Well sort of I guess but it was before the fs7 , had PL mount , all metal body , and a side LCD screen, and SxS card , changeable OLPF.. and V mount .. sensor the same but definitely superior build and possibly processing and a much better EVF.. but also cost alot more too at the time ..
 
Donny 123 said:
Well sort of I guess but it was before the fs7 , had PL mount , all metal body , and a side LCD screen, and SxS card , changeable OLPF.. and V mount .. sensor the same but definitely superior build and possibly processing and a much better EVF.. but also cost alot more too at the time ..
Click to expand...

If I separated Sony large sensor cameras by image quality:

Group A:
Venice

Group B:
F65, F55, F35, Fx9

Group C:
Fx6, Fs7, F5, A7/Fx3 series 10bit/raw

Group D:
Fs5, A7 series 8bit, F3, fs100, FS700

I'll admit, perhaps the Fs5ii is up with the Fs7 group, but the MK1 version represents those early low budget s35 cameras bring up the entry level.
 
Last edited:
James0b57 said:
If I separated Sony large sensor cameras by image quality:

Group A:
Venice

Group B:
F65, F55, F35, Fx9

Group C:
Fx6, Fs7, F55, A7/Fx3 series 10bit/raw

Group D:
Fs5, A7 series 8bit, F3, fs100, FS700

I'll admit, perhaps the Fs5ii is up with the Fs7 group, but the MK1 version represents those early low budget s35 cameras bring up the entry level.
Click to expand...

Yes would tend to agree with your ranking , its weird that the first camera to get S Cinetone (Venice look) was the fs5II ..! I guess I dont even think of the older ,cameras that are no longer made .. and there would be an argument that in alot of ways the fx6 is actually sensor and technology wise alot better than the f55
 
James0b57 said:
If I separated Sony large sensor cameras by image quality:

Group A:
Venice

Group B:
F65, F55, F35, Fx9

Group C:
Fx6, Fs7, F55, A7/Fx3 series 10bit/raw

Group D:
Fs5, A7 series 8bit, F3, fs100, FS700

I'll admit, perhaps the Fs5ii is up with the Fs7 group, but the MK1 version represents those early low budget s35 cameras bring up the entry level.
Click to expand...

Looks like you have the F55 on the list twice in both Group B and C. Not sure if that was intentional or if you meant to have the F5 in Group C.
 
FWIW, F5 didn't have 4K upon its release. Except, it did, if one went deep into the menu. Otherwise, it was a paid upgrade. Sony got a flack for it.

F55 was, obviously, a high end camera a decade ago.
 
Of those options? I'd 100% go with the F55. It's got a better image in every way, and is easier to use in almost every way (large-ratio zoom lenses excluded) compared to those other options.

The F55 gives you a global shutter and the same Colour Filter Array as the Venice and F65.

And for high-bit depth recording, it's the best by far - with internal 1080p 10-bit 4:4:4 recording (with the SR444 codec) which is superb, and the easy of use of the R5 or R7 raw recorders, which give you simple, integrated, cable-less raw recording.

Sony's newer options in the FX6 and FX9 are horrendous by comparison - and Prores RAW is horrendous to work with.

While I'm very fond of some aspects of the FX6, I'm frankly regretting selling my F55 for it - for conventional production, the older camera is vastly better suited.
 
Grug said:
And for high-bit depth recording, it's the best by far - with internal 1080p 10-bit 4:4:4 recording (with the SR444 codec) which is superb, and the easy of use of the R5 or R7 raw recorders, which give you simple, integrated, cable-less raw recording..
Click to expand...

In case anyone is interested, I've got an R5 with two 512GB AXM cards that I would like to sell. Everything you need for the F55 or F5. It gives you 16-Bit RAW 4K @ up to 60 fps and 2K @ up to 240 fps.
I also have a HXR-IFR5 adapter so the R5 can be used directly with an FS7. Sony's RAW codecs are a dream to work with in post. Even better than XAVC-I.
They want to find a nice new home. Send me a PM if interested.
 
That color filter array that the F55 shares with the Venice and F65. I'm curious the same wide color gamut that the F23 and F35 have does the F55 also have that wide a color gamut wider than film etc. I'm assuming because the Sony F55 is raw capable that it's color might be even wider but am I incorrect in that assumption?

The SR444 codec is primarily one of the reasons I was interested in those older formats. I love that codec. Is the implementation of that codec in the sony F55 essentially the same as what it was in the Fseries sonys?
 
BatVal said:
That color filter array that the F55 shares with the Venice and F65. I'm curious the same wide color gamut that the F23 and F35 have does the F55 also have that wide a color gamut wider than film etc. I'm assuming because the Sony F55 is raw capable that it's color might be even wider but am I incorrect in that assumption?

The SR444 codec is primarily one of the reasons I was interested in those older formats. I love that codec. Is the implementation of that codec in the sony F55 essentially the same as what it was in the Fseries sonys?
Click to expand...

I don’t think it could be the same as the F35’s, as that was a striped CCD rather than a bayer-pattern CMOS. I also don’t remember Sony ever advertising that fact when the F65 was first released.

I can’t remember exactly what the older SR recording options were, I’m pretty sure the top quality version was 880Mbps (Compared to 440Mbps with the one in the F55/F5), but it’s possible that the 880Mbps was for 60fps (while the F55 tops out at 30p for SR recording).

It’s exceptionally good though, beefy bitrate and the 1080p downsampled from the 4k sensor is perfect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top