FS5: Sony PXW-FX6

At 800MB/s you are getting 100% of the throughput of what CFExpress Type A can do. Nice work.
 
Well, I can't take all the credit. All I did was connect a USB cable and then drag and drop the folder. Barely even broke a sweat or got my hands dirty. :)
 
I do a fair bit of shots where there is a talking head in the foreground and the subject of the discussion in the background. My previous Cam was the 1" Canon XF400 so there was little separation (or control of the separation). I've been playing with the concept of racking the IRIS to go from a shallow to wide depth of field to do a "background reveal" during a shot, thanks to the auto vND (coupled with ISO) to keep the exposure as constant as possible during the rack. Anyway, here is one such attempt.

https://behome.dyndns.info/index.php/s/Hc2Lig3Jo7sPBLy

The increasing depth of field effect is better when combined with also going tight to wider at the same time as closing down the iris, .... , but I need to practice that a lot more as I start running out of hands!
 
jmone said:
I do a fair bit of shots where there is a talking head in the foreground and the subject of the discussion in the background. My previous Cam was the 1" Canon XF400 so there was little separation (or control of the separation). I've been playing with the concept of racking the IRIS to go from a shallow to wide depth of field to do a "background reveal" during a shot, thanks to the auto vND (coupled with ISO) to keep the exposure as constant as possible during the rack. Anyway, here is one such attempt.
Click to expand...

Philip Bloom does a nice demo of this as well, if you haven't already seen it.

And yeah, that variable ND (with an auto mode) is a big reason why I am firmly within the Sony ecosystem. Once you get used to that it's really hard to give it up.
 
Yup - I've seen the PB's stuff - he is a "bit" better than me however! :) ... so for me these are all practice clips.

For this to work, I've found you need to be in High Base ISO even in good light, or you don't have enough practice range with the vND to control exposure when stopping down from F4 to F22 without the ISO blowing way out. Unfortunately the vND has no "clear" so you are always losing some light.

Edit: and shooting with a 360 degree shutter also helps with the exposure (and as I shoot and playback at 50fps, then while the cadence is twice that of film, the motion blur is about the same as 180 degrees at 24fps).
 
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I would get a used FS7 to shoot shoulder style if that's my thing instead of ruin the compact form factor of the FX6. It would be both cheaper and better.
 
Nice rig, but yeah kind of defeats the ergonomic design of the FX6 for grab n' go work. I use my FS7 on my shoulder and A7SIII handheld...
 
Will use it like that about 5% of the time ... either tripod, RS2 or handheld ... but since I had the parts thought I would try it.

Will need to move the side handle down when someone has an extension.

From tripod to shoulder mount it takes less than a minute with the WC Universal Base Plate.
 
This is my shoulder-mount setup . . . as of right now. Nice and compact and tight. Goes right into a case with no breakdown, It really feels comfortable on my shoulder. I think I'll add a v-mount adapter at the rear but this feels very, very good right now. Frankly, I'm surprised because I didn't expect to like the FX6 this much.
No Frankencamera for me.

Zacuto Z-Finder loupe.
Zacuto Universal Base plate with VCT quick release (stolen off my FS7 rig)
Ergo CineWooden grips that (stolen off my F55 rig)
Sony ECM-MS2 stereo shotgun
Sony wireless receiver

FX6_DougJensen-1s.jpg
FX6_DougJensen-2s.jpg
FX6_DougJensen-3s.jpg
 
Atobit said:
I need to look in my toolbox to see if I can find similar videohead handle! :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, you'd be surprised how the shorter length, larger diameter, and rubberized handle really changes the feel and maneuverability of the head. It really makes a difference if you have a camera like a Z280 or FS5 where the EVF is located right at the rear of the body. But even with a side-mounted EVF it lets you get in closer to the camera. I've suggested to Sachtler that they make a shorter handle and they are considering it. Everything moves slower with COVID.
 
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Slightly off topic but very much on topic at the same time: has anyone received their FX6 in February? The wait is killing me!
 
Nope. B&H said they were expecting more sometime around mid-February. I'm hoping my order is among that group...
 
Smaller local shops may be a better bet ...

My local DFW dealer received one this week ... and I dropped my Canon 1DX III off on Monday ... picked up the FX6 on Tuesday and
have been hemorrhaging cash as I change back to Sony ...

Running a few tests ... strange quirk revelations ... and today was stunned at how good the AF and skintones present with little to
no post.

Up loading to YT now and will share the Skintone quick look as soon as it is available.

Back to topic ... my main dealer in California quoted me late April ... look around ... the bigger dealers are swamped with orders ... not so
the smaller ones and they still get product.
 
Q: on HDR Workflow: My priority is to produce UHD/HDR/50fps at high Bit Rates (aka similar profile to UHD Blu-Ray but at 50fps playback) for playback on UHD HDR PJ / OLED TV on my own LAN. So far I've settled on the following (which looks great to my eye) but I'm keen to see if you think I'm way off:

FX6 Settings:
- HLG Live (not sure of the difference between HLG Live and Natural)
- 50fps with 360 degree shutter

This gives me files with the following characteristics

Code: 
General
Complete name                            : M:\Video Editing\2021\2021 05- Mandy Day Trip\PRIVATE\XDROOT\Clip\174_0311.MXF
Format                                   : MXF
Format version                           : 1.3
Format profile                           : OP-1a
Format settings                          : Closed / Complete
File size                                : 965 MiB
Duration                                 : 15 s 600 ms
Overall bit rate                         : 519 Mb/s
Encoded date                             : 2021-02-05 01:32:15.000
Writing application                      : Sony Mem 2.00

Video
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High 4:2:2 Intra@L5.2
Format settings, CABAC                   : No
Format settings, GOP                     : N=1
Format settings, wrapping mode           : Frame
Codec ID                                 : 0D01030102106001-0401020201323001
Duration                                 : 15 s 600 ms
Bit rate                                 : 510 Mb/s
Maximum bit rate                         : 500 Mb/s
Width                                    : 3 840 pixels
Height                                   : 2 160 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS
Standard                                 : Component
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:2
Bit depth                                : 10 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 1.229
Stream size                              : 948 MiB (98%)
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.2020
Transfer characteristics                 : HLG
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.2020 non-constant

Audio #1
ID                                       : 3
Format                                   : PCM
Format settings                          : Little
Format settings, wrapping mode           : Frame (AES)
Codec ID                                 : 0D01030102060300-0402020101000000
Duration                                 : 15 s 600 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 1 152 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 1 channel
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS (960 SPF)
Bit depth                                : 24 bits
Stream size                              : 2.14 MiB (0%)
Locked                                   : Yes

Audio #2
ID                                       : 4
Format                                   : PCM
Format settings                          : Little
Format settings, wrapping mode           : Frame (AES)
Codec ID                                 : 0D01030102060300-0402020101000000
Duration                                 : 15 s 600 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 1 152 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 1 channel
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS (960 SPF)
Bit depth                                : 24 bits
Stream size                              : 2.14 MiB (0%)
Locked                                   : Yes

Audio #3
ID                                       : 5
Format                                   : PCM
Format settings                          : Little
Format settings, wrapping mode           : Frame (AES)
Codec ID                                 : 0D01030102060300-0402020101000000
Duration                                 : 15 s 600 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 1 152 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 1 channel
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS (960 SPF)
Bit depth                                : 24 bits
Stream size                              : 2.14 MiB (0%)
Locked                                   : Yes

Audio #4
ID                                       : 6
Format                                   : PCM
Format settings                          : Little
Format settings, wrapping mode           : Frame (AES)
Codec ID                                 : 0D01030102060300-0402020101000000
Duration                                 : 15 s 600 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 1 152 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 1 channel
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS (960 SPF)
Bit depth                                : 24 bits
Stream size                              : 2.14 MiB (0%)
Locked                                   : Yes

Audio #5
ID                                       : 7
Format                                   : PCM
Format settings                          : Little
Format settings, wrapping mode           : Frame (AES)
Codec ID                                 : 0D01030102060300-0402020101000000
Duration                                 : 15 s 600 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 1 152 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 1 channel
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS (960 SPF)
Bit depth                                : 24 bits
Stream size                              : 2.14 MiB (0%)
Locked                                   : Yes

Audio #6
ID                                       : 8
Format                                   : PCM
Format settings                          : Little
Format settings, wrapping mode           : Frame (AES)
Codec ID                                 : 0D01030102060300-0402020101000000
Duration                                 : 15 s 600 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 1 152 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 1 channel
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS (960 SPF)
Bit depth                                : 24 bits
Stream size                              : 2.14 MiB (0%)
Locked                                   : Yes

Audio #7
ID                                       : 9
Format                                   : PCM
Format settings                          : Little
Format settings, wrapping mode           : Frame (AES)
Codec ID                                 : 0D01030102060300-0402020101000000
Duration                                 : 15 s 600 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 1 152 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 1 channel
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS (960 SPF)
Bit depth                                : 24 bits
Stream size                              : 2.14 MiB (0%)
Locked                                   : Yes

Audio #8
ID                                       : 10
Format                                   : PCM
Format settings                          : Little
Format settings, wrapping mode           : Frame (AES)
Codec ID                                 : 0D01030102060300-0402020101000000
Duration                                 : 15 s 600 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 1 152 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 1 channel
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS (960 SPF)
Bit depth                                : 24 bits
Stream size                              : 2.14 MiB (0%)
Locked                                   : Yes

Other #1
ID                                       : 1-Material
Type                                     : Time code
Format                                   : MXF TC
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS
Time code of first frame                 : 05:52:04:10
Time code settings                       : Material Package
Time code, striped                       : Yes

Other #2
ID                                       : 1-Source
Type                                     : Time code
Format                                   : MXF TC
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS
Time code of first frame                 : 05:52:04:10
Time code settings                       : Source Package
Time code, striped                       : Yes

Other #3
ID                                       : 11
Format                                   : Acquisition Metadata
Muxing mode                              : Ancillary data / RDD 18
Duration                                 : 15 s 600 ms
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS
CaptureGammaEquation_FirstFrame          : 0E06040101010704
IrisFNumber_FirstFrame                   : 5.611566
FocusPositionFromImagePlane_FirstFrame   : 1.282 m
LensZoom35mmStillCameraEquivalent_FirstF : 29.600 mm
LensZoomActualFocalLength_FirstFrame     : 28.000 mm
LensAttributes_FirstFrame                : 0001807694
FocusRingPosition_FirstFrame             : 70.8511%
ZoomRingPosition_FirstFrame              : 0.0000%
AutoExposureMode_FirstFrame              : Shutter Priority Auto
AutoFocusSensingAreaSetting_FirstFrame   : Single Spot Sensing Auto
NeutralDensityFilterWheelSetting_FirstFr : 1/8
ImageSensorDimensionEffectiveWidth_First : 35.616 mm
ImageSensorDimensionEffectiveHeight_Firs : 20.092 mm
CaptureFrameRate_FirstFrame              : 50.000 fps
ImageSensorReadoutMode_FirstFrame        : Progressive frame
ShutterSpeed_Angle_FirstFrame            : 360.0°
ShutterSpeed_Time_FirstFrame             : 1/50 s
CameraMasterGainAdjustment_FirstFrame    : 0.00 dB
ISOSensitivity_FirstFrame                : 800
ElectricalExtenderMagnification_FirstFra : 100%
AutoWhiteBalanceMode_FirstFrame          : Automatic
WhiteBalance_FirstFrame                  : 5199 K
CameraMasterBlackLevel_FirstFrame        : 0.0%
CameraAttributes_FirstFrame              : ILME-FX6V 7600174 Version1.00
ExposureIndexofPhotoMeter_FirstFrame     : 800

Other #4
Type                                     : Time code
Format                                   : SMPTE TC
Muxing mode                              : SDTI
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS
Time code of first frame                 : 05:52:04:10


Davinci Resolve Studio: Unfortunately the Video Renderer I use for playback (madVR) at present does not support HLG, so (for now) I'm using Resolve to output to HDR PQ with the following Project and Render Settings:
https://behome.dyndns.info/index.php/s/N4nbBrGZftDieAB

For the footage I want to share on my own web server for browser playback over the net, I then make a lower bitrate SDR R709 version with just the following changes (plus it is a MP4 container with AAC audio):
https://behome.dyndns.info/index.php/s/BaGc59Kzz2i5NbM

Notes: There are a couple of reasons I'm going for HLG:
- It is designed for straight from Camera to Consumption without the need to colour grade (reference is Allister Chapman)
- I also really can't colour grade on my setup for HDR anyway. While I'm editing on a 43" UHD Monitor, it appears Resolve needs a 2nd HDR Monitor and additional PCI hardware (Declink) to do so (you can't put your primary monitor into HDR mode). So for now I just use the above, render it out and have a look.... though, If I've really butchered a clip then I do adjust it to save what I can.
- If/when HLG support in playback devices (HW/SW) become more common, I should be able to push out a single HLG grade that will look pretty good on both SDR and HDR equipment.
 
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Ordered FX6 as well. BH told me at first around mid February - then I got an email the end of February beginning of March - so we will see.
 
I was very fortunate to snag an FX6 last Monday from Texas Media Systems. I’m replacing my FS7II with it and so far I’ve been blown away.

I have a question concerning the base ISOs of this camera. I’ve read that it essentially has two like the A7SIII, one being ISO 800 and the other being ISO 12,800. My question though is this: Is the base ISO the same in Cine EI mode as well as Custom mode? I’ll likely shoot in Cine EI most of the time like I did with my FS7II, but I’ll definitely still use Custom mode and S-Cinetone for certain projects and want to make sure I know the base ISOs for both.
 
Joshua Milligan said:
I have a question concerning the base ISOs of this camera. I’ve read that it essentially has two like the A7SIII, one being ISO 800 and the other being ISO 12,800. My question though is this: Is the base ISO the same in Cine EI mode as well as Custom mode?
Click to expand...

As far as I'm aware the base sensitivities are always 800/12,800. This would appear to be different from predecessors like the Fs5, where base sensitivity varied depending on the gamma.
 
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