NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode at DVinfo.net

Michael Johnston · July 19th, 2011, 08:34 AM

Not sure if anyone else has had his issue but the image from my NX5U in full HD mode is not crisp and sharp. It almost looks flat and smeared. I've set up my picture profiles and maxed out the DETAIL and other settings with no luck. It's only in 1920x1080 mode. SD, 720, and 1440x1080 modes all look fantastic. I posted this on b-roll.net and some have suggested it could be the aperture but that doesn't explain why only 1920x1080 mode is affected. Right now I'm shooting everything in 1440x1080 mode until I figure this out. Anyone else have this problem? Anyone know what's going on?

Victor Wilcox · July 19th, 2011, 09:25 AM

I've never had issues with 1920x1080. I normally shoot 1920X1080 30p FX, GAMMA=x.v, COLOR LEVEL=6 and DETAIL=2.

What are you using to view the results?

Ben Moore · July 19th, 2011, 02:46 PM

I agree that the camera's image is soft in general, would love to hear others input and geting a better image. Is the AVCHD codec playing a part in this issue?.........seems like a lot a people have sharpness issues, maybe thats just the way the camera is...

Michael Johnston · July 19th, 2011, 03:08 PM

I did a quick test where I dual recorded SD to the SDHC card and 1920x1080 FX mode to the 128GB flash drive. SD image looks fine but the HD image is awful. It's clearly a problem with the codec and not the optics or sensor. I have no idea what is going on. Calling Sony tomorrow.

Ben Moore · July 19th, 2011, 05:35 PM

Cool, let us know what Sony has to say.

Thanks
Ben

Michael Johnston · July 19th, 2011, 11:49 PM

I'll know for sure tomorrow but I think I've figured it out. There is a flicker reduction setting in the camera that is on by default when the camera ships. I somehow did not notice this option before. I turned flicker reduction off and did a test shoot and the issue seems to have gone away. Not sure why it only affected full HD modes. I have a half day shoot scheduled tomorrow so we'll see how it turns out.

Michael Johnston · July 19th, 2011, 11:51 PM

I believe flicker reduction is just blending frames. If so, that definitely will blur, soften, and flatten an image but it should have affected all modes.

Ben Moore · July 20th, 2011, 12:11 PM

Nice find Michael, I think you made a break through, I just did some testing with different settings. Here is what I think is the best for getting a sharper picture.

1920X1080 60i
Flicker reduce off
Detail 6.

I personally am very happy with picture quality here. It might actually be over sharp for some applications but It will work great for a lot of what I do. Now just need to tweek the color a bit.

Ben

Ben Moore · July 20th, 2011, 12:18 PM

One other thing. I turn skin tone detail off. This is meant to soften faces only, but I think it softens the whole picture some.

Ben

Michael Johnston · July 20th, 2011, 06:58 PM

UPDATE: Issue solved. It must have been the Flicker Reduction setting

Alec Moreno · July 20th, 2011, 08:44 PM

Michael...Were you shooting interlaced or progressive?

Michael Johnston · July 20th, 2011, 09:28 PM

This issue was with both i and p

Tom Hardwick · July 24th, 2011, 08:29 AM

Uh-Oh, I've had flicker reduction on since day one. Not had a problem with iffy sharpness, but it's definitely turned off now.

So what's it for? 'On' when you're shooting under fluorescent lights maybe?

tom.

John Cline · July 26th, 2011, 02:23 AM

Like many people I had flicker reduction turned on since day one, turning it off made a significant difference.

Cristian Adrian Olariu · July 29th, 2011, 12:03 PM

I have an NX5E, I don't see any difference in any of the cases described here.

July 19th, 2011, 08:34 AM	#1
Michael Johnston Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 130	NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode Not sure if anyone else has had his issue but the image from my NX5U in full HD mode is not crisp and sharp. It almost looks flat and smeared. I've set up my picture profiles and maxed out the DETAIL and other settings with no luck. It's only in 1920x1080 mode. SD, 720, and 1440x1080 modes all look fantastic. I posted this on b-roll.net and some have suggested it could be the aperture but that doesn't explain why only 1920x1080 mode is affected. Right now I'm shooting everything in 1440x1080 mode until I figure this out. Anyone else have this problem? Anyone know what's going on?

July 19th, 2011, 09:25 AM	#2
Victor Wilcox Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Iron Horse Guest Ranch, Waller County, TX Posts: 340	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode I've never had issues with 1920x1080. I normally shoot 1920X1080 30p FX, GAMMA=x.v, COLOR LEVEL=6 and DETAIL=2. What are you using to view the results? __________________ Vic Wilcox, http://wilcoxvideoproductions.com/Default.aspx Sony FDR-AX100, DJI Phantom 4 Pro, GoPro Hero 8 Blk, Vegas Pro 15, DaVinci Resolve 18

July 19th, 2011, 02:46 PM	#3
Ben Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 190	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode I agree that the camera's image is soft in general, would love to hear others input and geting a better image. Is the AVCHD codec playing a part in this issue?.........seems like a lot a people have sharpness issues, maybe thats just the way the camera is...

July 19th, 2011, 03:08 PM	#4
Michael Johnston Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 130	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode I did a quick test where I dual recorded SD to the SDHC card and 1920x1080 FX mode to the 128GB flash drive. SD image looks fine but the HD image is awful. It's clearly a problem with the codec and not the optics or sensor. I have no idea what is going on. Calling Sony tomorrow.

July 19th, 2011, 05:35 PM	#5
Ben Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 190	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode Cool, let us know what Sony has to say. Thanks Ben

July 19th, 2011, 11:49 PM	#6
Michael Johnston Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 130	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode I'll know for sure tomorrow but I think I've figured it out. There is a flicker reduction setting in the camera that is on by default when the camera ships. I somehow did not notice this option before. I turned flicker reduction off and did a test shoot and the issue seems to have gone away. Not sure why it only affected full HD modes. I have a half day shoot scheduled tomorrow so we'll see how it turns out.

July 19th, 2011, 11:51 PM	#7
Michael Johnston Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 130	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode I believe flicker reduction is just blending frames. If so, that definitely will blur, soften, and flatten an image but it should have affected all modes.

July 20th, 2011, 12:11 PM	#8
Ben Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 190	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode Nice find Michael, I think you made a break through, I just did some testing with different settings. Here is what I think is the best for getting a sharper picture. 1920X1080 60i Flicker reduce off Detail 6. I personally am very happy with picture quality here. It might actually be over sharp for some applications but It will work great for a lot of what I do. Now just need to tweek the color a bit. Ben

July 20th, 2011, 12:18 PM	#9
Ben Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 190	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode One other thing. I turn skin tone detail off. This is meant to soften faces only, but I think it softens the whole picture some. Ben

July 20th, 2011, 06:58 PM	#10
Michael Johnston Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 130	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode UPDATE: Issue solved. It must have been the Flicker Reduction setting

July 20th, 2011, 08:44 PM	#11
Alec Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 184	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode Michael...Were you shooting interlaced or progressive?

July 20th, 2011, 09:28 PM	#12
Michael Johnston Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 130	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode This issue was with both i and p

July 24th, 2011, 08:29 AM	#13
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode Uh-Oh, I've had flicker reduction on since day one. Not had a problem with iffy sharpness, but it's definitely turned off now. So what's it for? 'On' when you're shooting under fluorescent lights maybe? tom.

July 26th, 2011, 02:23 AM	#14
John Cline Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico USA Posts: 333	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode Like many people I had flicker reduction turned on since day one, turning it off made a significant difference.

July 29th, 2011, 12:03 PM	#15
Cristian Adrian Olariu Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Iasi, Romania Posts: 121	Re: NX5 Image Issue in 1920x1080 mode I have an NX5E, I don't see any difference in any of the cases described here.