stephen

Panasonic S5 II + BRAW vs BMPCC 6K Pro FF - as expected practically no difference in image quality. Downloadable source files are available too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuzKtL8p5M8a

Realistic assessment of iPhone 15 pro with Apple Log vs pro Camera in good lighting conditions. Good review and tips IMHO. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SiqKfm-8kA Everybody is trying to push some LUTs but you don't need them There is an official Apple Log to REC 709 transform LUT and CST in latest Davinci Resolve that supports Apple Log and works very well

We are different and have different tastes. I like fall in Colorado video. There is some grain applied, color grading is very good IMHO, skin tones are good for me too, overall good image quality. Compare it to other iPhone 15 video posted here and this one for me ranks at the top 10% as image quality. This is exactly the occasion I would use a smartphone, when you are with friends and/or family and your focus are the people and your journey together. Filming is a side job just for memories and some enjoyment of the hobby or profession. For the purpose this video is well done! As a camera and what it can do iPhone 15 Pro is expensive but for smartphone with ton of features, usability and a camera that is in your pocket IMHO it is worth the money. If I am at the end of my 5 year smartphone upgrade cycle it would be on my list for sure. Would I buy LG V60 instead for Android RAW video? No. If I choose Android for RAW video it would Xiaomi 13 Ultra or at least Pro. After 5 years with the same smartphone I want the latest and greatest that shoots good video too, I want a great smartphone that has all the bell and whistles. It’s another story how many of them I will use. 🙂 Price may seem steep but let make a simple calculation. 1100 Euro for Xiomi 13 Ultra or 1400 For IPhone 15 Pro for 5 years / 12 months is 1100/5/12 = 18.3, 1400/5/12 = 23.3. 18 to 24 euros (or dollars) per month for the most used and also useful device is worth it for me. A smartphone is much more of a tool that I use every day, rather than a gadget. And I can save much more money from other activities and things. For me it would be a consumerism if I upgrade or purchase latest and greatest DJI drones each year for example if drones are not my business or profession.

Using lenses wide open at f1.4 for shallow DOF is a recent trend in photography or even as you say obsession. Fully agree. It was not the case 20-30 years ago. People are lazy. Instead of using some additional lighting or putting the model in front of a nice background they prefer to blur the background. I don't find this always appealing or attractive but it is the current fashion trend. In cinema most used aperture for super35 format is f2.8 which corresponds in DOF to f4 for a full frame format. One of the reasons is the fact that is quite difficult to manually pull focus with smaller apertures. Now that we have LIDAR technology this may change. As you said the other reason is that in cinema they prefer and want to show the environment and surroundings as well. Roger Deakins in an interview shared some technical details (camera and lenses) used to shoot 1917. He basically confirms that for day light he used f4 and even f5.6. He says that he used Alexa LF (FF) for shallow DOF. This is interesting as it shows that different people have different views of what shallow DOF is. 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpCD67BEjiA My problem with m43 are the lenses. Focal length changes if I want to use vintage lenses or some other great optics from Zeiss or Nikon or Canon on m43. Those lenses are designed for FF. I can’t get the character of a russian 50/58mm Helios for example as it completely different focal length on m43. I used m43 in the past but moved to FF when BRAW became available with External recorder to Panasonic S Series. It gives me access to huge number or lenses - new or vintage and just simplifies my lens choice. For video close the aperture to f4 most of the times and that's it. In low light I may open it to f2.8 or simply bump ISO to higher value. FF sensor compensates for lower light and more closed aperture with better ISO performance (low noise in high ISO)

Well you can buy and try iPhone 15 as your main camera. There is no better way but to try it personally. My limited experience with iPhone 14 Pro and more extensive with Android RAW showed me that smartphones as cameras have many limitations. The list is long. At the end it is a simple choice: Can you live with and/or work around all those limitations or not. For me answer is clear: I can't and don't want to. I prefer the inconvenience to lug 1 to 2 kg of equipment more for several kilometers, but have great experience shooting rather than the other way around. Here are some examples: When testing iPhone 14 Pro as a camera I used it as GPS navigation too. Mounted on the front dashboard of my car in sunny spring day with temperature around 25-27 degree Celsius it overheated and shut down. Had to stop my car and swap it with my Android phone. It took more than 30 min for IPhone to cool down and be usable again. If you want to have some decent footage you still need ND filters, this means a special case or cage for iPhone as minimum plus probably a handle. How long will the battery last? So maybe an external battery too ? Or external SSD ? But both can't be used at the same time. 🙂 You see, if you want a semi decent footage and shooting experience, you still have to prepare and take several other items, spend time planning, etc. With time and experience for me the weight of my camera bag up to a certain limit is at the bottom of my inconveniences and concerns. As a camera that is always with me, in my pocket though latest generation of Android phones or iPhone 15 Pro are something that I can't resist. 🙂 Another case to use them would be when I go out for a day or more and am not sure do I want to shoot something or not, will I have the time or not. Having a smartphone as a camera + maybe a case with ND filters for those casual shoots is great.

Cinematic Mode doesn't use Apple log. It has all the deficiencies of previous gen iPhone video like tone mapping and sharpening. They were skillfully hidden in post. Skin tones in the last third of the video where face was lit with warm side light are a little bit off.

Indeed ! I was wondering if ProRes 4444 can be used with the new iPhone 15 Pro and this video gives the response. Good and realistic comparison with bigger sensor cameras, not just oh look it is as good as my Sony FS30. Lots of useful information. iPhone 15 Pro is great for video.

This is exactly my experience too. Still have S1 and it still drains the battery to 0 for 4 to 7 days without using it. S5IIX doesn't.

DNG files from Android RAM footage can be imported directly in Resolve. They also can be labeled in a way that Resolve see them as DNG files coming from a blackmagic camera. You have access to all the settings, like change ISO in post and even Highlight Recovery ! I'll share my workflow with some sample clips in a few days. It is easy if you have the knowledge. Funny enough but to shoot in 4K ProRes 60p on new iPhone 15 pro Apple forces you to use external storage, while with Android RAW you can get 4K at 60p internally on the latest generation flagships without any problem. External recording to SSD is available to Android RAW too. With Xioami 13 Ultra or Vivo x90 Pro Plus 1Tb internal storage at 1000-1100 E, you may never need external one. Going back to IPhone 15 Pro, here is one good example that shows that aggressive noise reduction in high ISOs is also gone with new iPhone 15. Flares are still present but much less than in 14 Pro where they are simply ruining the image. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHT2TEwJJz4 This guy claims that with Blackmagic application you can have Apple Log with HEVC (265) codec. Check the Apple Log part. Hm interesting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOZUfWcGCxk

@SRV1981 - I said PROBABLY I would still prefer Android RAW 🙂 Until somebody shares some Apple Log footage that can grade myself or even better, test iPhone 15 with Apple log myself, will hold any judgement. I am skeptical about those comparisons with Sony S Log and FF cameras. We've seen plenty of those over the years with similar claims. I suspect their main purpose is to generate more youtube views. 🙂 Smartphones had never been so good for video, yet nobody throws away their FF, Super35 or m43 cameras and lenses. 🙂 For myself smartphone video will not replace my FF camera and lenses it will just complement them for personal projects and family video. Workflow Android RAW vs iPhone 14 Pro Can only compare with older iPhone model as this is the one I had experience with. Yes Android RAW workflow is more time consuming and space consuming at the beginning You have two extra steps before starting editing: - unpack DNG files from the file container that comes from MotionCam - run exiftool to label them in a specific way so Resolve recognize them as DGN files from a Blackmagic camera However it compensates with easy color correction and grading. With iPhone 14 Pro initial steps are easy and fast, just drag your footage in Resolve. Color correction is time consuming and no so easy, often with extra steps like applying film look with Dehancer in an attempt to hide sharpening and tone mapping. I can do something else while DNGs are unpacked and labeled, those operations can run on the background and do not requite my attention. IPhone grading on the other hand does require all of my attention and skills. I prefer the Android RAW workflow as am able to get the picture quality I like faster and easier. Again this may change with iPhone 15 and Apple Log but need to test it first. One big advantage of iPhone is that it has excellent stabilization combining Optical IS with software one. Raw video on Android often can't use Optical IS or results are not good. At least for some smartphone models. It begs for a gimbal. In general shooting with iPhone is easier and better experience. For me the whole idea to shoot on a smartphone is about having a good camera with you all the time and shoot quality video if you suddenly get an inspiration. You just don't think about it, don't have to take a bag, choose lenses, etc. It is always with you. For the moment Android RAW video is my personal preference but it doesn't have to be yours. 🙂

I don't have iPhone 15 and can't share any examples or direct comparison with Android RAW. Few months ago tested iPhone 14 Pro then two months ago Xiaomi 13 Ultra + MotionCam (Android RAW). I like raw video from Android more as picture quality is obviously better. I expect iPhone 15 with Apple Log to be better than iPhone 14 Pro but not by much. I don't see dramatic difference so far between iPhone 14 Pro and 15 Pro with Apple log. Not in the examples published on youtube. Maybe log footage was not well graded. Yes can share some of the clips made by Xiaomi 13 Ultra + MotionCam and iPhone 14 Pro on the thread dedicated to RAW video on smartphones. Here is a frame grab from one of the clips made using Android RAW video. Background blur is natural from the lens, not computational

Biggest problem with previous generations of iPhone was the extra processing of the video. It was impossible to switch off - tone mapping they use to increase DR - sharpening - noise reduction at higher ISOs Even when using third parties applications Now with Apple log, tone mapping and sharpening can be switched off apparently according to some initial tests https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSqgzddHooM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VojSIi4SgMk Another big problem were flares at night, Apple claims that nano coating of the lenses solves this problem. We'll see Adding the ability to record to external SSD and even SD card is another useful feature. I still would prefer probably Android RAW video but IPhone 15 + Blackmagic application + Apple Log shapes to be a great pocket camera that is always with you.

Blackmagic application for iPhone is a good one. However Filmic Pro already has an affordable alternative. CinemaP3 application has all the functionality and is not that expensive at 16 or 17 $/E if remember well. Latest generation Android phones like Xiaomi 13 Ultra + Motioncam give 4K RAW video 24/25/30/60p and really good image quality that IPhone cannot compete with. Those smartphones + Motioncam are the TRUE pocket cinema cameras of 2023. They really do fit in a pocket 🙂

Most of my speculations in another theme turned out to be true. 🙂 Blackmagic joins L Mount and produces it's first FF cinema camera. Price is good but form factor is disappointing. Still prefer Panasonic S1/S5/S5II + BM Video Assist 5 12G for BRAW video. Much more versatile combo.

Good news for people shooting with L Mount cameras ! Samyang has some good to great lenses which are typically cheaper than Sigma or lenses produced by camera manufactures.

For those who are interested in using smartphones as video cameras, check motioncam and Sebastian Merca's youtube channels. There are some great examples and also comparisons with BMPCC 4K and Panasonic S1H. And you can download source file too ! I downloaded one clip shot by Sebastian Merca at night (challenging lighting) on Samsung S22 Ultra main camera and applied some fine grain, film emulsion and blooming with Dehancer plugin. Total 15 min. of work. Here is the result (file in the link will stay for few weeks, then it will be gone): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15blxv9w_8nsOdTWgZbLKsCwTkVi9f1Bm?usp=sharing and here is the original with download link to a much bigger Prores source file https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1_TSYpYFBU For me picture quality is better than iPhone 13/14. I would say much better. Also shot few clips at 18 fps on my Samsung S10+. I am impressed ! This year some flagship Android phones from Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo are with 1 inch main camera sensor size and the other cameras are with bigger sensors too. According to some initial reports and reviews on Vivo X90 + all 4 cameras are available to motioncam application and can shoot at 60fps with just few dropped frames. Same for Xiaomi 13 Ultra and Pro although on main camera 60fps are only at 4K DCI aspect ratio. At 24 and 30 fps you can shoot at 4:3 or so called open gate. Keep in mind this is not my personal experience, just what I read in forums and what people testing those devices report on youtube. Those smartphones for me are the Super 16 digital cameras of the year not EOS M in crop mode. Downside are tiny lenses and 23mm equivalent focal length on main camera. One solution would be to crop in post 4000:1.5=2666 to get to 35mm which is much better focal length. Still decent resolution and with Davinci Resolve Super Scale to 4K picture will look very good IMHO. For smartphones where cameras are in circular block like Xiaomi 13 Ultra and Vivo X90+ there are special cases where filter can be attached (screwed), similar to the Xiaomi 13 Ultra photo case which takes 67mm filters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UVQ5jK-Ygw For all other phones look at third parties solution like smallrig. They have universal cages where in similar fashion you can use regular circular ND or VariND filters on top of the camera block. Like this one: https://www.smallrig.com/SmallRig-MagEase-Magnetic-1-4-Effect-Black-Mist-Filter-Kit-52mm-4217.html

What we get in export with adjustment layer is IMHO intended behavior. An alternative to adjustment layer for color grading that many prefer are Davinci Resolve group or remote grade functionalities. Grouping clips from one camera and then using Group Pre-Clip or Group Post-Clip instead of adjustment layer will give the same result and functionality as adjustment clip, while exported individual clips will all have color grade for the specific group in Group Pre-Clip or Group Post-Clip all applied. Exactly the way zerocool22 wants it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtXuabX-ims Before submitting a request to Blackmagic it makes sense to try clip grouping functionality. IMHO it is what zerocool22 wants to achieve in export while workflow changes will be minimal.

Did a test and IMHO it works correctly. If I click on Render Timeline Effects checkbox for the export it will export all clips that are under adjustment layer as one clip with color grade coming from this layer applied, then individual clips as separate files but without the color grade from the adjustment layer. No compound clip or anything else was used. Will try with several adjustment layers on the timeline Yes it works also with several adjustment layers one after another on the timeline.

Instead of using adjustment layer for color grading use/switch to timeline in color panel. You can apply color grading and everything else with nodes on individual clips but also exactly the same way on all clips in the timeline by simply choosing one or the other. This is how I typically do it when would like to apply a color grade for all clips and this is in general one of the ways to do it. Saw this from a Hollywood/Company 3 colorist 🙂

According to same John Brawley there is no licensing cost for any camera manufacturer to implement BRAW recording internally, it is not just for post processing. There is a cost however in development, to put all those algorithms in the processor chip. To my knowledge processor chip development is quite costly. Companies are using one chip for all of their models and for several years in order to be able to pay for this development.

By the way there is a long thread on BM forums on the subject started in January this year. Last post from John Brawley explains in details why Blackmagic would not go or even cannot go with Sony E mount. Previous posts from him explain what L mount alliance is and how it differs from m43 one, why developing FF camera using EF mount doesn't make sense for BM, etc. He basically makes the same argument in details that L mount is the one that makes sense for BM. Worth reading for those who are interested: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=173840&start=450 John Brawley of course is not BM but he has a good relationship with the company. I doubt he knows something from inside but his argumentation IMHO is solid

BRAW codec is already open standard. Open Standard and Free to Download Cross platform and license free! Why ? I have no idea, you have to ask Blackmagic how their business works 🙂 L mount 20mm Flange focal distance is not a lot but if you don't have to put a shutter there, and have a bigger camera body then maybe it would be enough to squeeze an ND filter. Sony proved already that it is possible. This is one of the ways for Blackmagic to differentiate from hybrid cameras. They already did it in a simplistic way in BMPCC 6K Pro. A more compact and sophisticated ND filter solution is maybe not out of reach for them. Tracking auto focus and IBIS, no, this would be Panasonic territory and too expensive for Blackmagic to achieve.

Exactly ! If you are at Blackmagic and have to make a decision, which mount would you choose ? Market pushes toward FF, this is clear. Company has to make a move in this direction if it wants to stay relevant. L Mount seemed to me like a logical move, Kye gave much more detailed argumentation that I had in my head 🙂 Yes Blackmagic is competitor for Panasonic but so are Sony and Canon. Blackmagic carved a niche for themself. BMPCC 4K was selling well alongside GH5, GH6, GH5S and again as Kye rightfully noted: " Panasonic make hybrid MILCs and BM make cinema cameras." So they have slightly different niches. I don't know, it just makes sense to me and wanted to share those rumors with all of you. Would be happy to see Blackmagic go in this direction.

In a discussion some time ago on this forum argued that Blackmagic camera development should go into : - full frame camera - a mirrorless mount and best candidate would be L Mount. According to some rumors, it is exactly what is going to happen till end of 2023. I am happy with Panasonic and out of camera game for quite some time but still would be nice to see what Blackmagic has to offer. If rumors are true, L Mount alliance will be stronger and my investment in some L mount lenses seems like a longer lasting move. 🙂 If Blackmagic wants to sell Full Frame L mount camera they have to offer some extra features over current generation of Lumix cameras. BRAW internal is obvious one. Maybe internal ND filters as extra bonus feature would be another one ? https://www.l-rumors.com/soon-blackmagic-will-announce-their-first-l-mount-cine-camera/

@TomTheDP - You have high standards 🙂 If you shoot with Alexa and Red and work with footage having highest image quality it is understandable you would want this in hybrid cameras too. I can see your point now. Still IMHO high image quality can't be attributed to one single parameter as color depth. Red Komodo raw is still 16bit but you didn't like it. Having in mind how big Alexa and Red cameras are with lots of electronics and cooling inside, am not sure this all can be squeezed in small hybrid camera body. Having experience with Canon RAW again am not sure it can reach the high standards of Alexa or Red image quality. Moved away from Canon 5D to BMPCC 4K + monitor and now to Panasonic S5 with or without external Recorder. I like image quality from Panasonic S5 + BRAW more than Canon 5D ML Raw. Same weight but easier to shoot with too. Yes Canon 5D Mark III default colors have some attractive mojo in some scenes, not all. Have deficiencies too. That's me other people may like Canon 5D more. @Attila Bakos - Will try again. Maybe I am not doing something right. This is another problem with ML Raw - steep learning curve, spending lots of time on forums in order to understand all details and latest changes. Will not return or shoot in crop mode, that's for sure. It's game over for me. Just curious to check and see.