bezerk55

​If you're trying to compare source files to see differences, and then go on to complain that the 0-255 file has deeper blacks than the 16(32?)-255 file, that doesn't sound like a rational or fair comparison to me. Properly matching your source levels to your output levels isn't grading. And getting your black and white points to match when you are specifically comparing DR and talking about "crushing blacks" would seem to me like the first thing you would want to do. Within the a7s itself, the cine1 gamma goes to superwhites and the cine2 gamma doesn't. If you didn't know/understand this and just looked at them both to "see differences" and declared "the cine1 highlights are clipped, this needs to be fixed!", or "the cine2 highlights are washed out, this needs to be fixed", then that would be incorrect. As far as noise goes, there is clearly more noise reduction going on in the 1dc (regardless of what the camera is telling you) than the a7s which appears to be applying none or little. I personally would prefer to apply some chroma NR on the a7s file in post (just like I do to all my RAW photos) and keep some grain-like luma noise and the extra detail, than have the baked in NR and loss of details on the 1dc. And if I wanted to do luma NR on tha a7s file as well, then I have that choice I can make in post with the trade-off in details. It's starting to sound like a case of post purchase rationalisation for the 1dc at this point. Having said that, I think we can all agree that colours on the a7s are a pain in the ass!

As per the thread jcs linked to, I applied the levels fix to the a7s portion of the image. I also pushed the a7s white balance closer to that of the 1dc. The 1dc image remains untouched. The comparison would be better if the levels fix was applied to the prores and the WB applied in camera, but even just working with the jpg I think the a7s is the better image (more detail, better DR, less banding). Colours could be better but I'm guessing a7s was using s-gamut as opposed to cinema or pro colour. Black level on the 1dc image seems to be 32(?) The apperance of noise on the a7s image is reduced somewhat after the levels and WB fixes. And regarding noise, a comment from the same thread jcs linked: