blafarm

On 2/3/2018 at 5:04 PM, Andrew Reid said:

It's a superb grading format and similar to Canon LOG, with a wide colour gamut.

Definitely good for more than just TV compatibility.

Where might one find good normalization (technical) LUTs for HLG-1, HLG-2, and HLG-3 that can be used in, say, Resolve or another editing platform?

Not really interested in Catalyst Browse or Catalyst Prepare.

Thanks

6 hours ago, jax_rox said:

For reference, my A7sII doesnt do this in any way. I bought mine this year and it is running newer firmware. YMMV, but I've not experienced this issue.

Follow the settings listed in the first post of this thread.  It is highly unlikely that your camera does not do this.

On 12/13/2016 at 5:29 PM, blafarm said:

I like the samples posted so far in this thread.

However, it would be nice to see some more daytime skin tone shots with the A7SII, and even better, with Canon comparisons shot at the same time.

Thanks in advance.

On 12/13/2016 at 5:36 PM, Andrew Reid said:

Next example video is that... Coming soon!

Still looking forward to seeing this when your schedule permits

Don't know if it is the Edelkrone, the tripod, or the two not being tightly scewed into each other -- but there is a whole lot of sagging going on when that camera is at the extreme ends of the slider.

5 minutes ago, Andrew Reid said:

Next example video is that... Coming soon!

Thank you Andrew.  Looking forward to it.

I like the samples posted so far in this thread.

However, it would be nice to see some more daytime skin tone shots with the A7SII, and even better, with Canon comparisons shot at the same time.

Thanks in advance.

Came-TV at NAB 2016:  Came Optimus

Pricing and pre-order information to be released soon 

1 minute ago, dafreaking said:

I really wonder why DJI hasn't got one out as yet (can't count the OSMO as you have to use the X3 or X5)

I assume they would rather have control of the entire device (stabilizer/software/camera) -- than deal with myriad customer service problems caused by different camera/lens combinations, software settings and operator errors.

At the same time, in spite of having complete control, I've read a number of posts regarding performance issues with the OSMO.

At least DJI can attempt to address those problems knowing that the hardware in the field that's been sold is uniform.

I've been using the DSC Labs Front Box One Shot for white balance, but on run-and-gun it can be inconvenient.

Anyone have experience with the ExpoImaging ExpoDisc White Balance Filter?

Seems highly-rated and it might be a bit easier to use when on the run.

A considerable amount of time has passed, and this news has already been well-publicized, but I wanted to alert the OP that Sony recently announced a very fairly-priced FE 50mm lens that might suit your needs:  

Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Lens

Is this product possibly being redesigned or end-of-life?

I see it is still for sale on Edelkrone's website, but B&H lists it as no longer available.

Just curious.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1205239-REG/edelkrone_so_sliderone.html

This company has a long and storied history of extremely bad behavior and customer service.  Their overly-aggressive and accusatory posts on DVXuser would be laughable -- if they weren't so pathetic and repugnant.  I wouldn't buy one of their products if they were the only game in town.

Thank you all for the DS1 comments and samples.  It seems like a good product, but the B&H reviews are a bit concerning.

No and no.

@stuckat1

I agree with all of your comments above, with the possible exception of the one having to do with display frequency.  A video assist monitor that is being used for critical evaluation purposes must be able to lock onto the frequency of the incoming HDMI signal -- otherwise the viewer will see cadence errors -- or, more likely nothing at all.  

In the US, even lower-end consumer monitors will lock onto 1080p / 23.976, 24, 59.94 and 60.  As closed ecosystems, Android tablets have no such demand, they are purpose-built to display only their own graphics output -- and nothing else.

Even in a scenario where an external video capture solution allows for real time ingest of frequencies not fundamentally supported by a tablet's display, unless its signal processing capabilities are on the order of Teranex or Alchemist, cadence errors will significantly undermine its usefulness.

The hybrid monitors I linked are interesting products -- if you have the specific need.  There are also a number of small, portable, HDMI-based "second screen" products that are intended to increase screen real estate for laptop users.  However, none of these products are designed to support common camera output frequencies. 

At the end of the day, it makes more sense to just purchase a dedicated video assist monitor.  There are plenty to choose from -- some quite inexpensive.  However, like everything else, you get what you pay for.  

1 hour ago, stuckat1 said:

The OTG cable probably just needs to support USB: its like saying an Ethernet cable must support Skype.

Not sure you are speaking from experience.  However, as the owner of 8-Android devices (combination of phones and tablets) and 11-OTG cables from various manufacturers, I can tell you that not every USB device, works with every OTG cable, on every Android platform.  And in fact, I currently can't get any OTG cable to work on my Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 (which is a USB 3-based device).

It's actually quite vexing, and it becomes even more complicated when the power consumption requirements of the attached USB device are factored into the equation (which would certainly be the case with this scenario).  And this performance inconsistency is not necessarily resolved through the use of OTG cables that offer a separate Micro USB power leads.  

Unfortunately, Android was never developed with any emphasis on the ease of connecting external USB-based devices -- and years later, it is still an afterthought.  For this reason, Windows-based tablets will likely have a leg-up in this realm.

1 hour ago, stuckat1 said:

Also, I am not aware of single Android device that HDMI input.  

Here are two one, but there are others.  You just have to look for hybrid devices that function as both tablets and external screens ...

Wacom Cintiq Android Tablet

Acer Aspire Android Desktop

But the bigger fundamental issue, which you already mentioned, is that tablet screens were never manufactured to display the frame rates that emanate from our cameras.  They were designed as a closed ecosystem -- optimized for one function (and that function is clearly not video assist).  Whether you use a capture device -- or jack-into a tablet that has an HDMI input, frame rates like 23.976, 29.97, 59.94 will either cause unacceptable motion artifacts -- or it won't be displayed at all.

20 minutes ago, Andrew Reid said:

I am surprised there's so much chatter about this and so few people willing to just TRY it. No harm in that is there? I am tempted to find one on Amazon and return it if it doesn't work, no harm in trying.

If you look hard enough, you will find dozens of people that have already tried myriad variations of this.  I have already done that -- so I have no interest in wasting my time.

However, I say, knock yourself out!

Just know that you are tying to change the function of a purpose-built device -- transforming it into something it was never designed to do -- and that it will never do well.

And even if you can achieve a remote image display, it will not be usable for the function you intend (for reasons I have already documented above) -- and it will have deal-killer limitations what will cause you to just spend the money on a product that was designed to do what you want.

I wouldn't count on this being a usable solution.  Here are the potential problems I see in no particular order:

1.  Android device must support USB 3

2.  Assuming the requirement specified in Number 1 is satisfied -- the device must also support USB Host Mode

3.  Assuming the requirements specified in Number 2 are satisfied, the OTG cable must support this capture device

4.  Assuming the requirements specified in Number 3 are satisfied, the Android device must be able to adequtely power the capture device from the USB 3 bus

5.  Assuming the requirements specified in Number 4 are satisfied, the solution must not require the Android device being rooted (for obvious reasons)

6.  Assuming the requirements specified in Number 5 are satisfied, un-rooted Android devices currently cannot simultaneously function in USB Host Mode and be charged at the same time. Currently, you get to choose only one -- an Android device is either a USB device, a USB Mass Storage device, or a USB Host device.

7.  The latency of the entire signal chain (capture device, data transmission, device-based app processing, device-based display output) will likely be unacceptable for real time applications.  Of course it's impossible no know, but I would 'blue sky' estimate the latency as being somewhere in the ballpark of the Sony A7x PlayMemories Android app.

There is a reason no one is doing this -- it's just not practical.  Generally speaking, Android devices are architected as media consumption devices -- not content creation.  Over the years, I have run into a couple of Canon-based apps that display Live View with minimal latency.  And, there are small number of Android devices that have HDMI inputs -- but their form factor would not satisfy this need.  As much as I would like a solution like this, I've concluded that a dedicated monitor is the only viable approach.

I have adopted an alternate approach that is capable of turning any good quality monitor into a very nicely-calibrated display.

And it does not require first purchasing an expensive HD calibrated display, then purchasing an expensive 4k calibrated display, and then purchasing an expensive 4k HDR calibrated display.  And I can even use it on the large format client monitor in my edit bay.

I use SpectraCal CalMAN Studio, with the completely automated Virtual Forge pattern generator, and the C6-HDR Colorimeter.

With this combination, I create a massive 65-point 3D Cube LUT that I use as a "Display LUT" with various pieces of post production software.  The 65-point LUT compensates for non-linear deficiencies in the monitor and allows me to achieve very good results.  More importantly, I can test the LUT for accuracy before a grading session.

Is this SpectraCal solution inexpensive -- no, it is not.  Is it as good as buying a dedicated, high-end calibrated display -- no, it is not.  

However, this solution is immensely flexible, works with myriad monitors (as long as they are reasonably linear and display all, or the majority, of the sRGB colorspace), and it has prevented me from running after the "monitor of the week" -- in an industry whose technical standards are changing a bit too quickly.

The way I view it, this approach has already saved me money.

Thanks ... that's what I assumed.

Appreciate your feedback.

Couple of questions if you don't mind:

Were you able to get the slowest speed to work?  Assuming the answer is yes.  Was there a problem with your unit?

Are you saying that the Kickstarter campaign assertion that the device works with cameras "up to 20 pounds" is false -- and that it only supports lower amounts of weight?

Lastly, I'm assuming your comment regarding avoiding seeing the slider is based on a scenario where you are shooting on a flat surface -- which entirely avoids the use of the Hercules track.  Is that correct?

Thanks for your feedback. 

^  Agreed.  If there is a possibility you will have to go back, I would archive using DNxHD or DNxHR.

I'm going to try this 40mm square heat sink placed right behind the screen. I got it off of Amazon

 

Would you mind sharing a link for that heatsink? 

Thanks.  The video they posted relating to the way speeds are selected looked a bit fiddly.  The move in your video is quite nice, however I hope you are able to access the other speed.

To be fair, this is not a camera I need to own.

However, if it were, I don't think I'd have the stomach to gamble on all of these issues being fixed -- and fixed in a timely fashion.

This isn't a single "black hole where the sun should be" problem.

And if enough of these issues don't get fixed -- what are you left with -- and how are you going to sell it?