mercer

I wish I could have liked it twice!!! Really nice work. There is a hauntingly, romantic feel to the entire piece. The music works great, nice edit, good color. I believe this is just a hobby for you, but you should think about doing some music videos. You have a really good eye. Also, I loved that you only added the voices when your friends were standing around looking at the map. Was this with the Sigma 18-35mm? All handheld, or did you use a slider in some shots?

Yeah the battery life is a little disappointing but aftermarket batteries are so cheap and they charge pretty fast, so it's not the end of the world. Obviously the menus are a tad convoluted but it seems Sony is at least starting to organize them a little better. The IBIS really is great and the IQ is just phenomenal. I've only had about an hours of use with mine, but it fixed everything I couldn't take with the a6300. Do you shoot slog2 or 3?

Yeah these look fantastic. Great job.

The fact that he exposed +1 stop on the subject's face and the window wasn't completely blown out is a testament to both camera's DR. If he exposed for the sky, the subject would be a shadowed, noisy mess.

@Gregormannschaft yes the Sigma 30mm 1.4 is a native e mount lens. From what I've read and seen, the AF is a touch slower than the Sony lenses but more than fast enough for a smooth rack focus. It also has nice separation with that 3D pop. Thanks, for a first go at SLog3 and coloring SLog, it could have turned out worse. By keeping the minimum and maximum ISO at the same ISO number, there shouldn't be too much of a change anyway. I stopped using zebras a while ago because the pattern distracts my composition and I found you can get some major exposure differences by relying on zebras... so I started using the in camera meter. With this little trick, I found it easier to hold the +1.7 stop... because the meter blinks at you when you are not at it. However, I think the shot of the outhouse has different Auto ISO values... 800 and 1600.

Do you have any before or after screengrabs, I'd love to see your results with it. I'm working on a short film that basically takes place entirely in the woods, a sparse pine forest, so I definitely need some DR. I'm going for a soft look similar to this... minus the snow... I asked the filmmaker what profile he used, but he hasn't replied yet. The 35mm Flektogon is an amazing lens. I had one a while back but I needed some cash and sold it. It must look great with SLog/GFilm.

I've only used Auto ISO one othe other time with my D5500 when I borrowed a Sigma 17-50mm for the day. I was shooting in Shutter Priority mode but the D5500 decided to change the ISO values moreso than the aperture, so I turned it off and shot manual. So this is all new to me. Honestly I don't remember you linking me to an SLog2 profile... Do you still have the link? I'd love to give it a go. I've always loved Minolta lenses with Sony cameras, but I am going to pick up that Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens and give the Touch PDAF a go. Yeah I was actually fairly impressed with SLog3, on tighter shots. With some of my other clips, I threw on an Impulz LUT, adjusted the curves a touch and that was it and the clips looked pretty good. But the project I am working on now requires a lot of wide shots and I can't risk the banding. My interest in Sony again started by coming across some videos from the FS5... man did I drool over that Raw image... even the in camera 10 bit 1080p looks amazing. I want to test SLog2 a little more, SLog/G-Film and probably EOS Pro... but most likely I will keep it simple with Cine 2.

Yes, it does. If you set different values for minimum and maximum, then you can use +/- exposure compensation to hold at your specified stop... obviously the camera is adjusting ISO. Or you can keep the same value at minimum and maximum, adjust +/- exposure compensation and use the meter to gauge your exposure more precisely because your designated stop will blink until you adjust accordingly. But when it stops blinking, it seems to hold steadier at that stop than it would without using Auto ISO... so I'm unsure if the meter is just reacting differently with auto ISO on or if it is performing very minute, micro ISO adjustments to keep you there... even though you set the minimum and maximum to the same value.

I guess I am not explaining myself clear enough. By using auto ISO and exposure compensation in this manner, with manual lenses, you can basically turn the camera's meter into a zebra-like exposure tool that will blink until you set either your aperture or ND filter to the proper setting based on your chosen +/- exposure stop.

Yeah, when you say it like that it doesn't sound all that impressive. And maybe this is just my ignorance but I was surprised you can set the minimum and maximum ISO to the same value but still use exposure compensation with a manual lens to tame the touchy meter or micro adjust the ISO.

And wrapped the ends of the antenna with aluminum foil.

I tested my a6500 today for the first time. I'm pretty sure I will be using Cine 2 most of the time, but I was curious about SLog3, even after hearing all the horror stories of using it with an 8-bit codec. After reading up on it, I was aware that SLog should be exposed by + 1-2 stops with a lot of folks saying 1 2/3 stops is the sweet spot, especially since the meter will not register anything over 2 stops. So I attached my trusty Minolta 28mm and my strap and headed out with a couple freshly charged batteries and a fader nd filter. Well, I learned quickly how difficult shooting Slog is on the a6500 in the bright midday sun. Between the darkened 4K screen and flat, muted profile, the LCD is nearly impossible to see. But the real tricky part was holding the + 1 2/3 stop. I was shooting in an area filled with pockets of bright sun and sky and curtains of shadows. With the camera's meter set to multi, I found that even the slightest move to the left or right and the meter would erratically jump between + 1 stop all the way to the blinking + 2 stops. It did the same with the spot meter. Also with even the slightest of adjustments to the ND filter and the exposure would jump +/- a stop. And this is where I stumbled upon this little trick. I'm sure a lot of you may be aware of it, but some may not... I went into the menu and check that I was at 800 ISO and noticed an Auto ISO option with a right arrow to modify settings. Curiously I chose it and surprisingly it allowed me to choose both 800 ISO for the minimum and maximum ISO. Ok... I'll bite. I then quickly noticed that the camera wanted to keep me at +/- 0 on the meter, so curiously I pressed the exposure compensation button and even though I was using a manual lens from the 1980s, the camera let me compensate exposure to + 1.7 stops, I still had to ride my aperture and/or ND filter, but now the meter would blink as soon as I wasn't at + 1.7 stops and it also seemed to accept the micro adjustments to the filter and/or aperture more smoothly. This simple little trick made exposing SLog a lot more easier for me. So after shooting a couple dozen clips, I can see why SLog3 is not recommended with an 8 bit codec, especially when I found the black veil of banding death on any shot that showed a good bit of blue sky in it, but I did manage to get a few good shots and I find the 5-axis IBIS to be as good, if not better, than the Panasonic variant on the GX85. And as long as you don't move too quickly, the RS is pretty much tamed by the IS. Here are a few shots at my first attempts with the a6500 and SLog3. I just quickly ran it through the FilmConvert standalone app before chopping a little off the front and back of the shot. One shot I left a little wiggle at the beginning of the take to show how the RS reacts to a quick movement with the IS on. Sorry for the poor color correction/grade... and boring rack focuses...

Hmm, that is so very odd. Why would Panasonic list it on their spec sheet and also list a footnote that they are only available in Creative Movie Mode? Strange. Thanks for taking the time to look.

Nice images and color!!! Sorry, but according to Panasonic's specs, the CineLike profiles are available in creative movie mode... do you shoot video from a photo mode? Also it seems the 5-axis hybrid IBIS is not available in 4K, but your shots seemed pretty steady... were they handheld? If so, the OIS is great. Anyway thanks for sharing! It could be the pocket cam I've been looking for.

Yup most are fast lenses and a lot have declicked apertures. Most of those were shot with the G7, except the last one which was with the BMMCC.

@kidzrevil everybody has different needs and different standards... I applaud your standards, but the one point that hurts your argument is that I think your XC10 work is your best looking footage to date. I'm sure part of it is the high bitrate 4K that comes out of the XC10, but even still... you owned the poop outta that camera.

A Kern Switar 25mm f/1.4 should work on micro 4/3rds. Over at personal view there are threads upon threads about c-mount lenses.

I have a set of Cosmicar TV lenses at f/1.9, a couple Kern Paillard, a couple Fujinon TV lenses, a Meopta Openar 20mm and I have two Angenieux but the ones I have won't cover the G85 sensor. C-mounts are tricky for coverage. With the GX85 and G85 and GH4 opens up a little more usability due to the extra 4K crop, but to be safe you will want to keep your c-mounts at 25mm focal length or more so they won't vignette. Canon makes an old TV-16 25mm f1.4 originally used for their Scoopic 16mm cameras. 1" Television or TV c-mount lenses will usually just cover the sensor with a 12.5mm lens, but every c-mount is different. I did extensive research and trial and error to know what will work or not. The other issue with TV lenses is that a lot of them will not fit into a c-mount to micro 4/3reds adapter so some will need a little modification. Others won't have that issue. If you stick with lenses made for S16mm or 16mm cameras at 25mm or above they usually will fit in the adapter. There's also a cheap made in China lens called the Fujian that sells brand new for 20 or 30 bucks with a c-mount adapter that is a pretty cool little lens. But it's an effect lens at best. If you want quality look for either Zeiss Jena Tevidon lenses (Matthias has a great review of them) Fujinon, Kern or one of those canon. Vintage lenses for video has a review of the 13mm Canon on a BMPCC... I don't think that lens will cover the G85 but it will give you an idea of IQ of the 25mm.

I know there's plenty of GX85 footage floating around, but here are a couple videos I shot handheld a while back... This was shot with a Minolta 28mm and a Cosmicar 25mm TV lens. I colored it with FilmConvert but it ended up a little more saturated than I had planned... And here is another one I shot using the Monochrome L setting. I used a Rokinon 12mm cine lens.

@markr041 OT question... do you have the ZS100? And if so can you tell me anything about it's quality. Does the hybrid 5-axis work in 4K? How is the CineLikeD? I have been searching for a small p&s for a while now and other than the slow lens, the ZS100 seems to tick most of the boxes.

Wait a minute, stop the presses... Canon 1080p is considered soft now...

Then again everyone and their mother are going to sell off their 1DCs and C100s and BMPCCs to buy the new GH5, so your work may be more differentiated by keeping the 1DC.

I thought there was a test performed somewhere that showed no benefit using a Ninja Star over the internal codec?

Are you creating user names so you can answer your own questions? I was gonna say it was a canon in B&W to prove a point that without the color you get a soft image? But since you're a Panasonic man, I would say it's a GM1?

I see your point and respect it. I enjoy testing cameras and attempting to find one that fits perfectly with my style and plans. So far, I have not found the perfect match. But I really hope people do not listen to a word I say about anything, even if I knew everything... which I obviously don't. Look at specs, look at samples and then if they are still unsure, rent one or purchase from somewhere that has a good return policy. All I can say about the XC10 is that I really enjoyed the camera and had to push it to a high ISO to see the ghosting. Or it's very possible you guys have better eyes and standards than I do. For what it is, a native ISO point and shoot cinema camera, I think a lot of filmmakers could do worse.