Uncompressed 7D footage LOOKS UNBELIEVABLE, so HOW DID THEY DO IT?

J. Odoms

J. Odoms

Well-known member
So I was over at the guys from Germany's website http://www.syndicate.se/ and noticed they are getting footage from the 7D that looks CRAZY GOOD:2vrolijk_08:

I get that they actually have a Prime mount, and therefore are using prime lenses, but that still doesn't account for that ridiculous image. If you look at the 7D blog entries http://www.syndicate.se/Default.aspx?Id=294 they mention several times about Uncompressed 4:2:2 capturing from the 7D, so I wanted to know How were they getting this.

Per their Press Release on 11-3-09

David Kvart from Hobby Factory rents the Syndicate 7D BNR-R Cine HD system with the Matrox HDMI recorder and shoots green screen with DOP Martin Grafström. The production was later posted at Syndicate. The green screen was lit with simple lighting and the extreme low noise level in the images from the uncompressed matrox footage from the 7D sensor provides a key channel that beats competitors like RED or celluloid footage by far. This proves the theory that the HDMI 7D reconstructed source is optimal for chroma key shooting. It provides a far better picture source at a fraction of the cost of any other camera at this date.


And on another page, they did a commercial for a company using the 7D's uncompressed footage and stated this:

The material was caputred both on the memory card in the camera but also as uncompressed 4:2:2 onto a stationary mac on set. The material was later posted in full HD and the film is now broadcasted in the swedish cinemas

So are they just using this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815106023&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Devices+++TV+Tuners-_-matrox-_-15106023 hooked up to a MacBook Pro maybe and capturing the raw footage from the cam, then cropping it to remove the RED dot on the right hand corner of the screen or something else?

I am really intrigued by this setup because for only $850 more you can get some excelent possibly artifact free footage from the 7D, which only increases its value.

What do you guys think?
 
Somebody posted about this a few days ago. I'm not sure where the link is though. So HDMI out is really 4:2:2?

I have not seen their footage as yet.
 
NoahK said:
Or an AJA KI Pro would free you from the tethering to a machine...

Noah
Click to expand...

Yeah Noah but that price EXPONENTIALLY :( increases the overall 7D's package cost. to a point where its purposeless to even build a rig such as this. The RED ONE would be more beneficial in capturing HQ files.

So for the AJAX its another $4K vs. the Matroxs'$840 price tag.
 
But do you guys think this is how they're accomplishing it. By using ther Maxtrox, capturing to the laptop, then croping the RED dot out of the footage in post?
 
They captured at 1620x910 4:2:2, not full 1920x1080. I haven't tried it yet but my understanding is that the 7D through HDMI pillors the image to the smaller size. You can then upscale the images. On the 5D they only got that through the hack.

That's no assurance that its fantastic footage though. I was laughing that they had the talent wear a helmet. They cheated. Hair is the hard part to greenscreen, not skin. Especially when the green in the back ground is nice and smooth like that.

I like my 7D but that isn't much of a news release. Claiming that it was better than a Red didn't lend much to their credibility either. I'm no fanboi of the Red, but it does have several times more data to work with and even more color data than 4.2.2.
 
Duke M. said:
That's no assurance that its fantastic footage though. I was laughing that they had the talent wear a helmet. They cheated. Hair is the hard part to greenscreen, not skin. Especially when the green in the back ground is nice and smooth like that.
Click to expand...

If you read the post, and actually take it into context, they said it was a client, who had rented their setup and did the keying. So the "HELMET" you speak of I'm sure, wasn't part of a grand conspiracy, to hide the faults of the 7D for the Press Release, but more over possibly was part of what that clients "CLIENT" hired him to do. But hey, I'm just throwing it out there for consideration.

Regarding it possibly "not being good footage", I can only assume that the uncompressed footage captured directly from the HDMI port would be better than the compressed footage from the cam. I'm just inquiring, because for only another $850 to increase the quality of the footage acquired from the 7D is almost worth it, considering I was about to spend that much on a lens.
 
Those video samples they put up really blows cause the were not still and in focus. But that commercial with the young kid looked great to my eyes...even at its lower resolution.

Edit: Oh...I see they have an uncompressed version. I'm downloading it now (got 2 hrs to go).
 
Last edited:
I was thinking the same thing. it does seem to increase the image quality, even though its scaled down res. but I'm really considering it. I can imagine, or at least I'd like to hope that the Uncompressed footage has to be much, much, much better than what the Camera's compressing does to it. But what do you think?

I was going to buy the Tokina 11-16mm this weekend but I might just add antoher $250 and try this out. I mean if the image quality justifies that extra price increase for the 7D, it might become a better all around CAM to me.
 
Well...I'll wait till I see the uncompressed version before I judge... But from what I seen in the commercial and knowing it's 4:2:2 output I don't see why this wouldn't be worth it. The fact is...love it or hate it (unlikely) the option is definitely there which makes this cam even more desireable to me.
 
I know I'm actually watching a presentation right now from one of the Matrox reps on youtube. Pretty intresting. Check it out.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.
I AGREE
 
J. Odoms said:
I know I'm actually watching a presentation right now from one of the Matrox reps on youtube. Pretty intresting. Check it out.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.
I AGREE
Click to expand...
Does not load...
 
The improvement in image quality is a definite benefit, but you lose the freedom of a small, portable package that is the 7D. I can see this for controlled, studio-based situations, but I would dislike having to tote the extra equipment around for field work.
 
Don't forget the host adapter you need to get the HDMI signal from the box to your laptop, which adds anoter $100 to the total pricetag.
 
KeithAndrews.TV said:
The improvement in image quality is a definite benefit, but you lose the freedom of a small, portable package that is the 7D. I can see this for controlled, studio-based situations, but I would dislike having to tote the extra equipment around for field work.
Click to expand...

I hear ya, and yeah for outdoors its a bit of a hassle, but the image quality is almost worth it. I found the Maxtor MXO2 mini and its actually pretty small. About the size of the Beachtech. But Just using that and your laptop, accompanied by a couple of those quick charging laptop batteries its not that much more gear. not to mention you actually get a 1:1 viewing monitor out of the whole deal as well.

Here is another video of a guy using the mini with his XBOX 360 and macbook pro, but you can see kinda how the capture process works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Khss-90P5I
 
KeithAndrews.TV said:
Don't forget the host adapter you need to get the HDMI signal from the box to your laptop, which adds anoter $100 to the total pricetag.
Click to expand...

Nah not true, it comes in the package, check out the Newegg site. It shows all that comes in the package, and the PCI-Express setup is there. But if you want to add the MacPro PCI-E connection, YES it is an additional $100. But B&H has the entire kit advertised as $449, but when I emailed for a better price they offered it to me for only $395.

So for relatively $410 w/shpping included you can get an increased amount of rez from the 7D. Assuming you already have a Macbook Pro, which i do, so the cost is already subsidized, lol

I'm liking this more and more, especially for this short I'm writing, and gonna make this Spring. Its gonna have some CGI and I'm gonna use my 7D, so this just makes it all that much more realistic, to get a great final result.
 
Mention of the MX02 mini not doing 24fps and losing audio sync is bothersome. But these complaints could be coming from improper use or setup. I'd sure like to know that the mini works well. It's only 6x4x1.5"...very portable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top