Would you spend $1K for Slog without 4:4:4?

Lenilenapi

Carbonite Member
I usually don't respond to polls and don't know how to post one here ( if anyone can explain it I would add one), but in the event Sony is watching these boards I'm wondering who (like me) would spend $1K for an SLog upgrade that could be used with the SDI out but does not expect to buy the 4:4:4 upgrade.
My reasoning is its not a $3600 upgrade for me but a $7-8K upgrade since I need to buy a 10bit recorder and SSD drives and that's just too much for me right now. I could always rent the upgrade and a recorder for the rare 4:4:4 gig. I would drop $1K and buy the recorder though for general purpose work. My guess is Sony would sell a lot of them.

Of course I would prefer a free SLog upgrade...Sony?...
 
I don't think I'll every buy a 4.4.4 recorder, but will get a 4.2.2 recorder. Like you its hard to justify a recorder and the upgrade. I'd jump at 4.2.2 S-Log for $1k though.
 
Maybe someone could loan an f3 to vitally. I mean $4K to turn on a feature that is built into the camera, come on. For that money it should at least activate a high band codec that can be written onto the internal cards. The Alexa can write 444 ProRes to sxs cards, why not sony. I wonder what hidden gems could be found in the fs100 firmware.
 
As soon as Panasonic comes out with a competitive product, the S-log upgrade will be free.

considering Panasonic has no history or legacy cameras that shoot in log, it may be a long hard road of r&d for them if they do intend to come out with a competitive product. don't be so sure it would be free from them either even if they did want to come out with one. It's not cheap to get these things right.
 
considering Panasonic has no history or legacy cameras that shoot in log
Not claiming to be an expert in this, but the VariCam 3700 (at least) has Cineon P10 Log gamma. Doesn't that qualify? If not, why not? The brochure for the 2700/3700 says that it has RGB 4:4:4 10-bit Log output.

And how does the original Film Rec gamma (dating back to 2001) compare to today's S-Log? It was a nonlinear gamma designed to extend dynamic range and give the user substantial control over the gamma...
 
Any chance we could stick to the subject of the thread instead of endless discussions on the ethics of Sony marketing strategy.

Would any of you guys spend $1K for Slog?
 
I would spend $1K for S-Log via 4:2:2 in a hearbeat.

I do not need 4:4:4, and am having a hard time justifying $3600 as well. I've shot 4:2:2 Alexa Log-C and it's just fine.
 
I feel that for a lot of people except doing super high graphic content or feature film with sfx will never need to use 4:4:4 and never buy/rent a 4:4:4 recorder. I would pay 1k for a 10bit 4:2:2 Slog only upgrade. But I'd also buy the full S-log upgrade as well, because I tend to rent out a lot of gear lately and slowly turning over to gear rentals I feel both items would be good to rent.

Honestly for my own work I think I would 80% of the time be shooting to a ProRes 10bit 422 codec to whatever external recording i'm using at the time which means yes having an option for 1k upgrade would be great. I'll bring it up to my Sony rep and see if they have any future ideas for this. You also must realize they are trying to protect their higher end as well... so theres much more in the price than just software... its making sure their playing field doesn't because ridiculously under-priced.
 
True, but then again their stated marketing niche for the F3 is the smaller indie movie makers.

Right now I'm just looking at what I can do without S-Log, but with 4.2.2. At a $3,600 price S-Log may be equal to my entire budget for actors excluding my one name talent.

Its a matter of S-Log or some other major item. I paid less than $3k for my three Nikon zooms to use on this camera. :undecided Tell your rep the sales of the 444 upgrade will be low, but offer 4.2.2 with S-Log for $1k and I think most owners would buy it.
 
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I'd definitely get a 4:2:2 10-bit S-log update for 1000$! My work doesn't need the full rgb 4:4:4 and I really like the though that I could film documentary with the full dynamic range the F3 is capable of and still would get long recording times.
 
As of right now the new S-log upgrade only allows for 4:2:2 S-log via HD SDI and not from the A or B spigots, this means S-log to the SxS cards and no way to monitor with a LUT. Not what I expected at all.
Yes I would love to see S-log 4:2:2 as a stand alone option.
 
But what if renting 444 Slog were only 50$? you would get the benefits of 444, if you felt like recording ot it, or you can just use the 10bit 422... either way its inxpensive.
 
First I don't think a $3.6K+ item will rent for $50. More like $150 is my guess. Additionally every time you want to use SLog you'll need to go to a rental house and it may or may not be available. To me that fine for 4:4:4 where I'll need to rent a deck also anyway. But SLog along with a Samuraii or similar could be a normal part of my package.
 
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