Bristol Harbourside, England

Kevin Langdon · May 10th, 2015, 12:45 PM

Here's a video I shot today. I switched back to my Sony Zeiss 55mm prime lens. Images are much better and sharper all round compared to the 18-105mm zoom. I'm looking to order the 28-70mm zoom to take its place which will hopefully compliment the prime lens.

Andrew Smith · May 11th, 2015, 12:21 AM

I can see that the lens is definitely better. It just looks a bit softer than I would have expected - possibly from encoding settings or something.

It's beyond me what is doing it. More contrast needed, perhaps?

Andrew

Kevin Langdon · May 11th, 2015, 12:59 AM

I think the encoding to You Tube is definitely making a difference. Pictures are much sharper and brighter on my laptop.

Andrew Smith · May 11th, 2015, 04:57 AM

Is it possible to encode to 1080p at 10Mbit/sec mp4?

Andrew

Kevin Langdon · May 11th, 2015, 08:39 AM

I have the default You Tube export setting in FCP X set to 1080p and Better Quality for the encode.

But, the You Tube Ghost Boats upload file size is still only 521MB compared with the normal Pro Res 422 which is much, much bigger at 3.29GB. So, regardless of how you shoot, it's still going to be compressed quite a bit which will lead to a reduction in quality.

Andrew Smith · May 11th, 2015, 03:58 PM

Even a raw camera video clip uploaded direct to YouTube would be a start for a proper test sample (much like what I did).

Andrew

Ryan Douthit · May 22nd, 2015, 10:44 AM

I would suggest that isn't a matter of applying in-body lens correction. That's really wonky looking. Looks like Vaseline is smeared on the right side of the lens. Defiantly not right. (I upload a ton to YouTube, and can confirm that's not an artifact of their transcoding.)

Kevin Langdon · May 26th, 2015, 07:30 AM

The strange thing is other footage shot using this lens a few months earlier looks much, much better.

And, even on this video, when zoomed in their isn't any smear/bluriness, etc - it only appears on the very wide shots. I do use a screw in ND filter but it's the same make (Hoya Pro) as on my other A7s lenses and I've not had any problems with these.

Strange indeed...anyone have any thoughts as to why this may be??

May 10th, 2015, 12:45 PM	#16
Kevin Langdon Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Somerset, England Posts: 120	Re: Bristol Harbourside, England Here's a video I shot today. I switched back to my Sony Zeiss 55mm prime lens. Images are much better and sharper all round compared to the 18-105mm zoom. I'm looking to order the 28-70mm zoom to take its place which will hopefully compliment the prime lens. The Ghost Ships, Bristol filmed with a Sony A7s - YouTube

May 11th, 2015, 12:21 AM	#17
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,064	Re: Bristol Harbourside, England I can see that the lens is definitely better. It just looks a bit softer than I would have expected - possibly from encoding settings or something. It's beyond me what is doing it. More contrast needed, perhaps? Andrew

May 11th, 2015, 12:59 AM	#18
Kevin Langdon Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Somerset, England Posts: 120	Re: Bristol Harbourside, England I think the encoding to You Tube is definitely making a difference. Pictures are much sharper and brighter on my laptop.

May 11th, 2015, 04:57 AM	#19
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,064	Re: Bristol Harbourside, England Is it possible to encode to 1080p at 10Mbit/sec mp4? Andrew

May 11th, 2015, 08:39 AM	#20
Kevin Langdon Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Somerset, England Posts: 120	Re: Bristol Harbourside, England I have the default You Tube export setting in FCP X set to 1080p and Better Quality for the encode. But, the You Tube Ghost Boats upload file size is still only 521MB compared with the normal Pro Res 422 which is much, much bigger at 3.29GB. So, regardless of how you shoot, it's still going to be compressed quite a bit which will lead to a reduction in quality.

May 11th, 2015, 03:58 PM	#21
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,064	Re: Bristol Harbourside, England Even a raw camera video clip uploaded direct to YouTube would be a start for a proper test sample (much like what I did). Andrew

May 22nd, 2015, 10:44 AM	#22
Ryan Douthit Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 474	Re: Bristol Harbourside, England I would suggest that isn't a matter of applying in-body lens correction. That's really wonky looking. Looks like Vaseline is smeared on the right side of the lens. Defiantly not right. (I upload a ton to YouTube, and can confirm that's not an artifact of their transcoding.) __________________ MediaSpigot LLC http://www.mediaspigot.com

May 26th, 2015, 07:30 AM	#23
Kevin Langdon Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Somerset, England Posts: 120	Re: Bristol Harbourside, England The strange thing is other footage shot using this lens a few months earlier looks much, much better. And, even on this video, when zoomed in their isn't any smear/bluriness, etc - it only appears on the very wide shots. I do use a screw in ND filter but it's the same make (Hoya Pro) as on my other A7s lenses and I've not had any problems with these. Strange indeed...anyone have any thoughts as to why this may be??