VaricamLT: Varicam LT, Scarlet-W or something else?

[hudbl]

Many VariCam users choose to set the native ISO to 5000 and then use negative gain to set the sensor to 2500-3200 ISO. This creates a very clean, robust image, which some prefer to the 800 ISO native.

Anyone who would like to demo a VariCam LT can shoot me a PM. It's really a great camera.

I used the negative gain feature extensively on a recent shoot. Anything over 1600 would have a base of 5000. Its a really useful feature.

 

[Guest]

Many VariCam users choose to set the native ISO to 5000 and then use negative gain to set the sensor to 2500-3200 ISO. This creates a very clean, robust image, which some prefer to the 800 ISO native.

Anyone who would like to demo a VariCam LT can shoot me a PM. It's really a great camera.

Me and a colleague plan to test one out soon. May hit you up! =)

 

[Guest]

Yes it is!

I guess its very subjective, but when shooting white and black skin tones I've not found any colour weirdness going on and the highlight DR helps with pale skin. I have seen some funny colour with Varicam footage on Netflix, but I've also seen a lot of appauling Dragon footage on there as well. Maybe that's just a Netflix thing.

Yeah, shows how important skill of the crew is. House of Cards Ep1 was shot on some Red MX, and it looks better than most of the rest of the show, and most other Netflix Originals.

Certainly the native 5000 isn't as clean as the 800, but its way better than anything Red or Arri can do at that level. Red originally claimed 2000 iso would be as clean as 800, but that never happened. The Dragon sensors may well have shadow detail but they're pretty noisy sensors. Also, keep in mind that Red have 'recalibrated' ISO for Helium as the Dragon was always dimmer at an equivalent ISO.

For one man banding, or using available light, V35 is definitely above other cinema cameras in terms of sensitivity. It is one of the biggest draws for me. I work with very low budgets, and so I love cameras like 1DC and A7s that allow me to shoot in almost any situation. They just aren't cinema level cameras, but the Varicam is.

I don't think it is just a netflix thing about the skin tones though. Otherwise all cameras would have that look. But it is an attribute directly related to Varicam 35/LT footage both in Netflix and in the field looking at DIT monitors. Again, it is not bad, just not my preference, and I feel it could be graded to taste fairly easy. Dragon footage has a pretty distinct look on Netflix too. Red cameras have maintained that more linear curve. Has a "grungy" raw digital look, vs the bright plastic digital of v35/alexa.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Y'know, there were a couple of DPs who came by the booth at NAB and said that they felt the VariCams had a slightly magenta look to them. We had a Local 600 DIT with us and I asked him what he felt about it. He shrugged, went to the CDL menu in one of the cameras and adjusted one bias by a couple points and laughed. Then to every DP they felt the camera looked perfect. He later showed me the adjustment on his vectorscope and when I tell you that it was infinitesimal, well frankly it took a precision scope to measure it. He noted that some people are a little more sensitive to green/magenta shifts than others, and that both settings were well within tolerance. It was mostly a matter of taste.

The Vari in VariCam represents a lot of things. There are many adjustments to tailor the camera precisely to your liking.

 

[Guest]

Y'know, there were a couple of DPs who came by the booth at NAB and said that they felt the VariCams had a slightly magenta look to them. We had a Local 600 DIT with us and I asked him what he felt about it. He shrugged, went to the CDL menu in one of the cameras and adjusted one bias by a couple points and laughed. Then to every DP they felt the camera looked perfect. He later showed me the adjustment on his vectorscope and when I tell you that it was infinitesimal, well frankly it took a precision scope to measure it. He noted that some people are a little more sensitive to green/magenta shifts than others, and that both settings were well within tolerance. It was mostly a matter of taste.

The Vari in VariCam represents a lot of things. There are many adjustments to tailor the camera precisely to your liking.

If I am reading you right, that sounds like a different issue. The one I am talking about is an issue that happens on several digital cameras, when the shadows are underexposed. This happened on the original Red sensor, and to a smaller degree on the MX. I believe I have seen it on some BMC cameras, but I have never used it, so can't say what the cause is on those. I think it is just the nature of digital sensors being more sensitive to red than green, that dark light starved areas get that way. A lot of people use the V35 for its low light ability, and it has less shadow detail than the average cinema camera, so I am assuming it is just an underexposure issue in low light situations.

In any case, most of the things I dislike about the Varicam can be fixed either in camera or in post. Whereas, many of the things I like about a V35 series camera, can only be done on a varicam. =)

 

[Mitch Gross]

Using bias, one can alter color tones in the shadows without affecting the midrange or highlights. Exactly as you are asking, available on camera.

 

[CharlesPapert]

I too will admit that I have seen the underexposure on faces lean towards magenta. We have graded it out for the most part, but it usually requires a tracked window around the face to keep other areas from going a little green. Maybe we'll try that bias control sometime.

 

[Guest]

Using bias, one can alter color tones in the shadows without affecting the midrange or highlights. Exactly as you are asking, available on camera.

Then what if I am shooting something that is actually dark magenta? Thank you for the tip. I look forward to testing it out. You are always extremely helpful here on dvxuser, and part of what makes this a community.

 

[Guest]

I too will admit that I have seen the underexposure on faces lean towards magenta. We have graded it out for the most part, but it usually requires a tracked window around the face to keep other areas from going a little green. Maybe we'll try that bias control sometime.

I will try to test it along side a red and a sony soon. Maybe the F55.