RX10-II ISO vs.Gain at DVinfo.net

Cliff Totten · July 26th, 2015, 06:43 PM

I was curious as to how much gain is being applied at each ISO on the RX10-II.

I shot some test footage with the RX10-II and went up the ISO ladder and stopped for a few seconds on each setting. I then took the card and placed it in my AX100 and played back the file. As you might know, the AX100 will display the gain amount data in real time as you play back the file .

This is gain metadata inside the .mp4 file so I suspect it should be accurate. Here are the results:

0db - 200 ISO
3db - 250 ISO
3db - 320 ISO
6db = 400 ISO
9db = 500 ISO
9bd = 640 ISO
12db = 800 ISO
15db = 1,000 ISO
15db = 1,250 ISO
18db = 1,600 ISO
21db = 2,000 ISO
21db = 2,500 ISO
24db = 3,200 ISO
27db = 4,000 ISO
27db = 5,000 ISO
30db = 6,400 ISO
33db = 8,000 ISO
33db = 10,000 ISO
36db = 12,800 ISO

I don't have my original RX10 anymore. I sold it a few months back. So, I can't compare them side by side. However, just looking at these RX10-II files, it seems that either this new sensor is a bit cleaner or the noise reduction has been modified? (maybe?) At least compared to my memory of the original RX10 but it's hard to say for sure unless you test them both together.

I can do some side by sides with the AX100 which I believe uses the same sensor as the original RX10.

Anybody have both RX10's (original and new?)

Chris Harding · July 26th, 2015, 06:56 PM

Hi Cliff

All cameras are basically the same with gain and ISO and you can simply calculate one to the other as long as you know the camera's base ISO which in your case is 200 ... then for every 6db gain the ISO number will double ...Your ISO base at 0db is 200 so ISO 400 = 6db gain ISO800 = 12db gain ISO 1600 = 18db gain etc etc Traditionally still cameras used ISO (as old film was always expressed in ISO sensitivity) and camcorders always used gain in db. Nowdays due to cameras being able to "multitask" either can be used but the bottom line is that electronic sensitivity is used to boost the incoming signal and it really doesn't matter whether it's expressed in db or ISO ...it still the same amount of amplification applied ...sorta like using inches and centimetres!

Cliff Totten · July 26th, 2015, 07:10 PM

Yup, interesting.

ISO 1000 and 12,500 both display 15db. Also 2,000 and 2,500 ISO both display 21db.

27db and 33db also share ISO's

So can we say the display on playback is rounding up or down?

Jim Giberti · July 26th, 2015, 08:23 PM

Hey Cliff, are the ND filter options - 2, 4, 6 stops?

Cliff Totten · July 26th, 2015, 10:11 PM

Only 1 internal.

I believe it's 3 stops.

I pack a 1 stop and 2 stop screw on. So between 1, 2 and 3? (or combination) That should be enough to get me at the shutter speeds I want or the depth of field I want.

Elias Neris · July 26th, 2015, 10:48 PM

Any chance you can post your videos Cliff? I'm curious too see how the rx10 ii performs at 1600-6400 ISO.

July 26th, 2015, 06:43 PM	#1
Cliff Totten Trustee Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 1,197	RX10-II ISO vs.Gain I was curious as to how much gain is being applied at each ISO on the RX10-II. I shot some test footage with the RX10-II and went up the ISO ladder and stopped for a few seconds on each setting. I then took the card and placed it in my AX100 and played back the file. As you might know, the AX100 will display the gain amount data in real time as you play back the file . This is gain metadata inside the .mp4 file so I suspect it should be accurate. Here are the results: 0db - 200 ISO 3db - 250 ISO 3db - 320 ISO 6db = 400 ISO 9db = 500 ISO 9bd = 640 ISO 12db = 800 ISO 15db = 1,000 ISO 15db = 1,250 ISO 18db = 1,600 ISO 21db = 2,000 ISO 21db = 2,500 ISO 24db = 3,200 ISO 27db = 4,000 ISO 27db = 5,000 ISO 30db = 6,400 ISO 33db = 8,000 ISO 33db = 10,000 ISO 36db = 12,800 ISO I don't have my original RX10 anymore. I sold it a few months back. So, I can't compare them side by side. However, just looking at these RX10-II files, it seems that either this new sensor is a bit cleaner or the noise reduction has been modified? (maybe?) At least compared to my memory of the original RX10 but it's hard to say for sure unless you test them both together. I can do some side by sides with the AX100 which I believe uses the same sensor as the original RX10. Anybody have both RX10's (original and new?) Last edited by Cliff Totten; July 26th, 2015 at 07:21 PM.

July 26th, 2015, 06:56 PM	#2
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: RX10-II ISO vs.Gain Hi Cliff All cameras are basically the same with gain and ISO and you can simply calculate one to the other as long as you know the camera's base ISO which in your case is 200 ... then for every 6db gain the ISO number will double ...Your ISO base at 0db is 200 so ISO 400 = 6db gain ISO800 = 12db gain ISO 1600 = 18db gain etc etc Traditionally still cameras used ISO (as old film was always expressed in ISO sensitivity) and camcorders always used gain in db. Nowdays due to cameras being able to "multitask" either can be used but the bottom line is that electronic sensitivity is used to boost the incoming signal and it really doesn't matter whether it's expressed in db or ISO ...it still the same amount of amplification applied ...sorta like using inches and centimetres!

July 26th, 2015, 07:10 PM	#3
Cliff Totten Trustee Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 1,197	Re: RX10-II ISO vs.Gain Yup, interesting. ISO 1000 and 12,500 both display 15db. Also 2,000 and 2,500 ISO both display 21db. 27db and 33db also share ISO's So can we say the display on playback is rounding up or down?

July 26th, 2015, 08:23 PM	#4
Jim Giberti Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bethel, VT Posts: 824	Re: RX10-II ISO vs.Gain Hey Cliff, are the ND filter options - 2, 4, 6 stops?

July 26th, 2015, 10:11 PM	#5
Cliff Totten Trustee Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 1,197	Re: RX10-II ISO vs.Gain Only 1 internal. I believe it's 3 stops. I pack a 1 stop and 2 stop screw on. So between 1, 2 and 3? (or combination) That should be enough to get me at the shutter speeds I want or the depth of field I want.

July 26th, 2015, 10:48 PM	#6
Elias Neris New Boot Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 14	Re: RX10-II ISO vs.Gain Any chance you can post your videos Cliff? I'm curious too see how the rx10 ii performs at 1600-6400 ISO.