Soft Footage from 70D at DVinfo.net

Alan Maughan · April 9th, 2023, 04:09 PM

I recently upgraded from an original 7D to a 70D and I was expecting an improvement in the video quality, sadly it seems no better.

Im filming indoors, mainly machinery. I have plenty of light so Im able to keep the ISO at 640 or lower and Im using either a Canon EFS 24mm or Nifty Fifty MK1 both of which seem to be quite sharp lenses.

Im generally disappointed in the sharpness of the image. I film in ALL-i 24fps, picture profile is STD with the sharpness turned down to zero. Applying sharpness in FCPX to values around 2.5-7.5, any more and it started to look artificial but still not as sharp as I would like compared to tier cameras Ive seen.

Is there any truth in what some people say about Canon DSLRs being soft?

Pete Cofrancesco · April 9th, 2023, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Maughan

I recently upgraded from an original 7D to a 70D and I was expecting an improvement in the video quality, sadly it seems no better.

Im filming indoors, mainly machinery. I have plenty of light so Im able to keep the ISO at 640 or lower and Im using either a Canon EFS 24mm or Nifty Fifty MK1 both of which seem to be quite sharp lenses.

Im generally disappointed in the sharpness of the image. I film in ALL-i 24fps, picture profile is STD with the sharpness turned down to zero. Applying sharpness in FCPX to values around 2.5-7.5, any more and it started to look artificial but still not as sharp as I would like compared to tier cameras Ive seen.

Is there any truth in what some people say about Canon DSLRs being soft?

I bought this camera years ago. The AF tracking and flipout touch screen were decades ahead. Easy and intuitive to use but unfortunately I experienced the same softness. I thought I might have a bad lens, only to find out many years later Canon used line skipping to reduce the resolution which degrades and softens the image.

Note that many modern cameras can still employ this sort of line skipping in HD. Even though I deliver almost everything still in HD, I always film in 4k on my Sony A7 IV because the HD looks so soft. Camera manufactures don't usually disclose they line skip.

Alan Maughan · April 10th, 2023, 08:06 AM

Thanks for the reply, thats disappointing to hear but at least it lets me know where Im at and that it isnt me.

Ive just borrowed a 90D this morning and recording in 4K with the same lens shows more detail for sure but the difference isnt exactly night/day.

Im starting to think a camcorder might give me better results.

April 9th, 2023, 04:09 PM	#1
Alan Maughan Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wylam Posts: 46	Soft Footage from 70D I recently upgraded from an original 7D to a 70D and I was expecting an improvement in the video quality, sadly it seems no better. Im filming indoors, mainly machinery. I have plenty of light so Im able to keep the ISO at 640 or lower and Im using either a Canon EFS 24mm or Nifty Fifty MK1 both of which seem to be quite sharp lenses. Im generally disappointed in the sharpness of the image. I film in ALL-i 24fps, picture profile is STD with the sharpness turned down to zero. Applying sharpness in FCPX to values around 2.5-7.5, any more and it started to look artificial but still not as sharp as I would like compared to tier cameras Ive seen. Is there any truth in what some people say about Canon DSLRs being soft?

April 10th, 2023, 08:06 AM	#3
Alan Maughan Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wylam Posts: 46	Re: Soft Footage from 70D Thanks for the reply, thats disappointing to hear but at least it lets me know where Im at and that it isnt me. Ive just borrowed a 90D this morning and recording in 4K with the same lens shows more detail for sure but the difference isnt exactly night/day. Im starting to think a camcorder might give me better results.