Dan Keaton
March 7th, 2017, 10:09 AM
Dear Friends,
The following are techniques to obtain better, lower noise images from the Sony FS700.
These techniques has been proven to be extremely effective.
These are our techniques and recommendations to obtain the best images from the FS700
when using our Odyssey7Q/Odyssey7Q+ with our Convergent Design Raw Bundle,
which provides Raw Support for the Sony FS700, FS7, FS7 Mark II, FS5, and other cameras.
This document assumes that you are using an Odyssey7Q/Odyssey7Q+ firmware release,
2016-10-1641 or higher, which includes our comprehensive 3D LUT feature.
If you are using an earlier version, please upgrade to our latest version.
You may call Dan Keaton, Convergent Design, for assistance with the upgrade process, or for advice in using this technique.
Seven One Nine -- Nine Three Zero --- One Three Seven Six
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When you wish to record 4K Raw, from the FS700, use Picture Profile 7,
it is important to reset your Picture Profile 7 to the factory defaults,
which is a neutral Picture Profile with Gamma set to S-Log 2.
Do not customize Picture Profile 7.
In the FS700, one can easily reset any Picture Profile back to the factory defaults.
Picture Profile 7 (Reset to Factory Defaults) has Gamma = S-Log 2
(All other custom settings are removed, as is necessary.)
On the Odyssey7Q or Odyssey7Q+, press and hold the LUT Button for 1/2 second to open the LUT menu, and then select our “Sony_EE_SL2_L709A-2” 3D LUT (Look Up Table).
To get the best images out of the FS700, we recommend the following:
Use Picture Profile 7, as outlined above, reset to the factory defaults, using the Picture Profile Menu in the FS700.
Press and hold the LUT button, then release,
then press Customize Outputs and set Monitoring Tools to LUT Off.
(You want the Waveform Monitor to display the “Pre-LUT” values.)
Alternatively, if you are very careful, you may set this to Mirror OLED (LUT),
then the LUT button on the lower menu determines if the LUT is applied.
When a LUT is applied, there will be a green line connecting the monitoring tools
on the lower right menu items.
For the rest of this document, we expect the LUT to be off for the Monitoring Tools.
Set the Waveform Monitor to Full Screen Luma mode.
Press and Hold the WFM button for ˝ second to open the Waveform Monitor Options Menu.
Set the exposure in the camera so that the general peaks are 80% to 85%,
ignoring any unimportant, small highlights such as a bright light,
or a reflection from the sun, or other bright lights.
The bright reflections are called specular highlights.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specular_highlight
This is the best technique to avoid the noise in the blacks (shadow details) when shooting SLOG-2,
since with the FS700 and S-Log 2, you are shooting at a base in minimum ISO of 2000.
Adam Wilt, a very technical industry expert, also recommends 80-85%, as you are effectively over exposing two stops. A regular S-Log 2 image is 59 IRE, but this gives you a noisy image.
Noise in the Shadow Details is not just an issue with the Sony FS700, there are many other cameras that are noisy in the shadow details, and these also benefit from this technique. Examples include the FS7, the F5, the F55 and other cameras, not just Sony cameras.
Important: Adjust the exposure on the FS700, using the Luma Waveform Monitor on the Odyssey7Q, with the LUT Off for the Monitoring Tools.
Press the LUT Button and select our “Sony_EE_SL2_L709A-2”, which a 3D LUT which adjusts the displayed image so that the image is displayed two stops lower.
The 3D LUT sets up the Odyssey7Q and Odyssey7Q+ to display a normally exposed image in Recommendation 709 (Rec. 709) while recording the wide dynamic range of the S-Log 2 images.
The goal is to record the best image, and the FS700 produces a much lower noise image if you expose this way.
If you have to show the image to a client, one who may not understand the flat image that S-Log 2 creates, then be certain to use the LUT mentioned above so that the client see an image
that he or she can appreciate.
The recorded images will be flat, (in S-Log 2) but the images provided to Post will be far superior,
and Post (and your client) will be able to obtain great images with very little noise.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When recording in our 4K to HD ProRes mode, you can expose, as above.
In this mode, 4K to HD ProRes mode, you can also use Picture Profile 7, with Gamma set to S-Log 2.
Alternatively, you may want to use Rec. 709 800%,
if you or your client does not wish to color correct or grade the footage.
Rec. 709 800% has similar characteristics to SLOG 2 when it comes to luminance and exposure.
If so, you can change Picture Profile 7, or use Picture Profile 3 (or another Picture Profile) with Gamma set to Rec. 709 800%.
We have not experimented with other Picture Profiles, nor have we experimented using custom settings in these picture profiles.
Note: We recommend you always check your picture profiles before you shoot,
especially if you change Picture Profile 7.
If the LUT Button is grayed out on the Odyssey7Q, then the FS700 is not sending you
a S-Log 2 image.
The Odyssey7Q will detect if the camera is in S-Log 2, and then allow you to turn the
S-Log 2 to Rec. 709 LUT on or off.
However, when you are in Rec. 709 or Rec. 709 800%, the LUT button will be grayed out.
Please test your desired setup, including going through post, before any important shoot.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Quality of the footage from the FS700, from highest to lowest:
1. FS700 4K Raw, 12-Bit, Recorded as Raw
Also, FS700 4K Raw high speed (Burst ) 3.63 to 4 seconds 100/120 burst. (Super Slo-Mo)
2. FS700 4K Raw, 12-Bit, Recorded in 10-Bit as 4K Apple ProRes 422 (HQ)
3. FS700 4K Raw, 12-Bit, Recorded in 10-Bit as HD Apple ProRes 422 (HQ)
4. FS700 2K Raw, Recorded as Raw, (This supports up to 240 fps)
5. FS700 2K Raw, Recorded as 10-Bit HD Apple ProRes 422,
(This supports up to 240 fps)
5. FS700 HD, 8-Bit, Recorded as 10-Bit Apple ProRes 422 (HQ), 220 Mbps (Avoid this option)
6. FS700 HD, 8-Bit, Recorded internally in the FS700, at a lower bit rate. (Avoid this option)
This technique was developed by Dan Keaton of Convergent Design.
You may reach Dan (available 24/7 every day of the year)
Seven One Nine -- Nine Three Zero --- One Three Seven Six
or Skype: dan.keaton1 or via email dan@convergent-design.com
If Dan is not available, you may call Convergent Design Support, at 720-221-3861
During regular business hours for Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA (Mountain Time)
Respectfully,
The following are techniques to obtain better, lower noise images from the Sony FS700.
These techniques has been proven to be extremely effective.
These are our techniques and recommendations to obtain the best images from the FS700
when using our Odyssey7Q/Odyssey7Q+ with our Convergent Design Raw Bundle,
which provides Raw Support for the Sony FS700, FS7, FS7 Mark II, FS5, and other cameras.
This document assumes that you are using an Odyssey7Q/Odyssey7Q+ firmware release,
2016-10-1641 or higher, which includes our comprehensive 3D LUT feature.
If you are using an earlier version, please upgrade to our latest version.
You may call Dan Keaton, Convergent Design, for assistance with the upgrade process, or for advice in using this technique.
Seven One Nine -- Nine Three Zero --- One Three Seven Six
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When you wish to record 4K Raw, from the FS700, use Picture Profile 7,
it is important to reset your Picture Profile 7 to the factory defaults,
which is a neutral Picture Profile with Gamma set to S-Log 2.
Do not customize Picture Profile 7.
In the FS700, one can easily reset any Picture Profile back to the factory defaults.
Picture Profile 7 (Reset to Factory Defaults) has Gamma = S-Log 2
(All other custom settings are removed, as is necessary.)
On the Odyssey7Q or Odyssey7Q+, press and hold the LUT Button for 1/2 second to open the LUT menu, and then select our “Sony_EE_SL2_L709A-2” 3D LUT (Look Up Table).
To get the best images out of the FS700, we recommend the following:
Use Picture Profile 7, as outlined above, reset to the factory defaults, using the Picture Profile Menu in the FS700.
Press and hold the LUT button, then release,
then press Customize Outputs and set Monitoring Tools to LUT Off.
(You want the Waveform Monitor to display the “Pre-LUT” values.)
Alternatively, if you are very careful, you may set this to Mirror OLED (LUT),
then the LUT button on the lower menu determines if the LUT is applied.
When a LUT is applied, there will be a green line connecting the monitoring tools
on the lower right menu items.
For the rest of this document, we expect the LUT to be off for the Monitoring Tools.
Set the Waveform Monitor to Full Screen Luma mode.
Press and Hold the WFM button for ˝ second to open the Waveform Monitor Options Menu.
Set the exposure in the camera so that the general peaks are 80% to 85%,
ignoring any unimportant, small highlights such as a bright light,
or a reflection from the sun, or other bright lights.
The bright reflections are called specular highlights.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specular_highlight
This is the best technique to avoid the noise in the blacks (shadow details) when shooting SLOG-2,
since with the FS700 and S-Log 2, you are shooting at a base in minimum ISO of 2000.
Adam Wilt, a very technical industry expert, also recommends 80-85%, as you are effectively over exposing two stops. A regular S-Log 2 image is 59 IRE, but this gives you a noisy image.
Noise in the Shadow Details is not just an issue with the Sony FS700, there are many other cameras that are noisy in the shadow details, and these also benefit from this technique. Examples include the FS7, the F5, the F55 and other cameras, not just Sony cameras.
Important: Adjust the exposure on the FS700, using the Luma Waveform Monitor on the Odyssey7Q, with the LUT Off for the Monitoring Tools.
Press the LUT Button and select our “Sony_EE_SL2_L709A-2”, which a 3D LUT which adjusts the displayed image so that the image is displayed two stops lower.
The 3D LUT sets up the Odyssey7Q and Odyssey7Q+ to display a normally exposed image in Recommendation 709 (Rec. 709) while recording the wide dynamic range of the S-Log 2 images.
The goal is to record the best image, and the FS700 produces a much lower noise image if you expose this way.
If you have to show the image to a client, one who may not understand the flat image that S-Log 2 creates, then be certain to use the LUT mentioned above so that the client see an image
that he or she can appreciate.
The recorded images will be flat, (in S-Log 2) but the images provided to Post will be far superior,
and Post (and your client) will be able to obtain great images with very little noise.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When recording in our 4K to HD ProRes mode, you can expose, as above.
In this mode, 4K to HD ProRes mode, you can also use Picture Profile 7, with Gamma set to S-Log 2.
Alternatively, you may want to use Rec. 709 800%,
if you or your client does not wish to color correct or grade the footage.
Rec. 709 800% has similar characteristics to SLOG 2 when it comes to luminance and exposure.
If so, you can change Picture Profile 7, or use Picture Profile 3 (or another Picture Profile) with Gamma set to Rec. 709 800%.
We have not experimented with other Picture Profiles, nor have we experimented using custom settings in these picture profiles.
Note: We recommend you always check your picture profiles before you shoot,
especially if you change Picture Profile 7.
If the LUT Button is grayed out on the Odyssey7Q, then the FS700 is not sending you
a S-Log 2 image.
The Odyssey7Q will detect if the camera is in S-Log 2, and then allow you to turn the
S-Log 2 to Rec. 709 LUT on or off.
However, when you are in Rec. 709 or Rec. 709 800%, the LUT button will be grayed out.
Please test your desired setup, including going through post, before any important shoot.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Quality of the footage from the FS700, from highest to lowest:
1. FS700 4K Raw, 12-Bit, Recorded as Raw
Also, FS700 4K Raw high speed (Burst ) 3.63 to 4 seconds 100/120 burst. (Super Slo-Mo)
2. FS700 4K Raw, 12-Bit, Recorded in 10-Bit as 4K Apple ProRes 422 (HQ)
3. FS700 4K Raw, 12-Bit, Recorded in 10-Bit as HD Apple ProRes 422 (HQ)
4. FS700 2K Raw, Recorded as Raw, (This supports up to 240 fps)
5. FS700 2K Raw, Recorded as 10-Bit HD Apple ProRes 422,
(This supports up to 240 fps)
5. FS700 HD, 8-Bit, Recorded as 10-Bit Apple ProRes 422 (HQ), 220 Mbps (Avoid this option)
6. FS700 HD, 8-Bit, Recorded internally in the FS700, at a lower bit rate. (Avoid this option)
This technique was developed by Dan Keaton of Convergent Design.
You may reach Dan (available 24/7 every day of the year)
Seven One Nine -- Nine Three Zero --- One Three Seven Six
or Skype: dan.keaton1 or via email dan@convergent-design.com
If Dan is not available, you may call Convergent Design Support, at 720-221-3861
During regular business hours for Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA (Mountain Time)
Respectfully,