C100: Usable ISO
- Thread starter KINOKS
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KINOKS
Well-known member
Till where do you consider the noise levels to be tolerable - on a controlled set that is, I'm not talking about ENG and docu stuf
The dynamic range distrubution is exactly the same for 850 iso and 20,000 iso. its one of the greatest things about the C series cameras. The benefit of 850 iso is that its the lowest signal to noise ratio that has the most even dynamic range distribution.
As far as the question about top usable iso. I would say 3200 for serious narrative stuff 6400 for not super serious narrative stuff or stuff where exposure is more important than noise. 12,000 for events and or corporate stuff for non discriminating clients.
Darren Levine
Veteran
up to 12,800 there's a remarkable amount of detail, past that is usable if no other options are available to you
AndreeOnline
Veteran
The best signal to noise ratio you're going to get on the C100 is 54db. It's maintained all the way up to ISO 3200 where it dips slightly to 53db. In other words, even ISO3200 is essentially the same...
So much for theory. My experience tells me that I wouldn't hesitate to use ISO6400 if that was what it took to get to the aperture I wanted. That is, if the shot calls for a certain depth of field, I'd rather bump ISO to 6400 than open up to stay at lower ISOs.
ISO12800 is usable, but should probably be run through Neat Video. But then it's more than fine.
The real power is -->3200 (6400).
But if lighting is controlled, there isn't much of a discussion: you add as much as you need to get to your desired ratios and stay at 850 or below.
Like it has been mentioned above. 850 is the lowest ISO that gives you the most highlight protection, i.e. the most stops above 18% gray. 12 stops of DR is available at all ISOs, but the range shifts so that you have more stops available below 18% gray at lower ISOs.
Lower ISOs can be a good choice for green screen work for clean keys.
So much for theory. My experience tells me that I wouldn't hesitate to use ISO6400 if that was what it took to get to the aperture I wanted. That is, if the shot calls for a certain depth of field, I'd rather bump ISO to 6400 than open up to stay at lower ISOs.
ISO12800 is usable, but should probably be run through Neat Video. But then it's more than fine.
The real power is -->3200 (6400).
But if lighting is controlled, there isn't much of a discussion: you add as much as you need to get to your desired ratios and stay at 850 or below.
Like it has been mentioned above. 850 is the lowest ISO that gives you the most highlight protection, i.e. the most stops above 18% gray. 12 stops of DR is available at all ISOs, but the range shifts so that you have more stops available below 18% gray at lower ISOs.
Lower ISOs can be a good choice for green screen work for clean keys.
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KINOKS
Well-known member
That's great info Andree! Thx. Looks like 3200 it is! Maybe 6400 if the situation really calls for it.
The key here is having light. As you can see in Darren's sample that at 12,800 ISO, the image is still holding up and the reason is that he has enough reflected or direct light in the shot to feed the sensor. That's the key to making high ISO footage work on the C100. Simply put you cant expect any camera to hold up in 0 lighting sample. General rule of thumb, if you've got really good exposure levels at ISO 10000 for example, and minimal black areas it should be workable.
I never use NR in cam. Better NR tools that can be used in post.
Darren Levine
Veteran
the overall discussion of this thread seems untethered, talking about which iso to use but not specifying what light is available.
if you have the light to do it, shoot 850 whenever you can.
if you're looking to get away with less light, the camera has a high ceiling, and yes iso 12,800 is completely usable when properly exposed. not maybe; COMPLETELY.
there's only 2 real reasons i ever see to need to use that high though: no light available, or light is available, but you need more DOF.
if there were ever a thought to keep in your head when shooting, it's that an out of focus shot, is a ruined shot, and if it means adding a bit of grain to prevent it, it's not even a tradoff, its just a plain good idea.
skip to 2:35 for another example of 12,800 at work, and this is a raw clip off the cam you can download from vimeo to play with.
if you have the light to do it, shoot 850 whenever you can.
if you're looking to get away with less light, the camera has a high ceiling, and yes iso 12,800 is completely usable when properly exposed. not maybe; COMPLETELY.
there's only 2 real reasons i ever see to need to use that high though: no light available, or light is available, but you need more DOF.
if there were ever a thought to keep in your head when shooting, it's that an out of focus shot, is a ruined shot, and if it means adding a bit of grain to prevent it, it's not even a tradoff, its just a plain good idea.
skip to 2:35 for another example of 12,800 at work, and this is a raw clip off the cam you can download from vimeo to play with.
KINOKS
Well-known member
Darren, offcourse. I don't just up the ISO if there is no special need for it. But when I do so in a controlled environment it usually has something to do with DOF...
DL Razinkas
Member
I recently shot a night scene in a parking lot. I had the lighting gear to shoot at 850 ISO but when we lined up the wide shot the city scape in the bg looked incredible at a much higher ISO. The director, who I have worked with quite a bit, kept saying go higher. We settled on 6400. On the 17" monitor I did see a bit of noise but the shot looked beautiful, so I went for it. Lit the entire scene with one 1x1 LED panel, set 25ft away from the car as a 3/4 back light. The biggest issue was flagging the (bright!) sodium street light off the actors face.
The more I shoot with the C300, the more I'm throwing out conventional wisdom.
The more I shoot with the C300, the more I'm throwing out conventional wisdom.
Yes, if i know, that there is only a minimal postproduction (normal gamma or cine1). Some clients only want to take shots, the postproduction is at the different studio, it is not my work. So I need to know, how good is NR.