GFILM: An easily graded Flat Profile for Sony Cameras

[Geoff CB 789]

 

GFILM
Made for A7rII, should work on A7s, A7sII, A6300, A6500  EDIT: While it will work on all these cameras, some have been reporting subpar results on the origional a7s due to its slightly different color science. I've only tested myself on the A7r II, results may very slightly on other cameras.

I've been trying to give the A7r II a look similar to "Film" on the blackmagic Ursa Mini 4.6K. The need arose because I am shooting with the two camera side by side and need to edit them together.

Had a couple goals with this:
- Get away from the "Magenta" look
- Be able to match with BM "Film" in post
- A flat profile that doesn't break when grading like S-log sometimes does, is easier to shoot with, and can get a get a great look with a simple color wheel adjustment.
- Don't clip any color channel

Let me know what you guys think!

Black Level: 0
Gamma: S-Log2
Black Gamma 
- Range: Middle
- Level: 0
Knee: Manual  (It blows my mind this is left on Auto by default, it controls how the highlights behave)
- point: 77.5%
- slope: +3
Color Mode: Pro
Saturation: +3
Color Phase: -4
Color Depth: (Wish they would let this be adjusted for highlights/midtones/blacks independently)
- R: +5
- G: +7
- B: +3
- C: +2
- M: -2
- Y: +2
Detail: -7
- Mode: Manual
- V/H Balance: 0
- B&W Balance: Type5
- Limit: 3
- Crispening: 3
- Hi-Light Detail: 0

Couple notes on shooting with this:

-Always overexpose by at least one stop to get a clean image.
-Set WB manually, do not leave on Auto
-Shoot at the native ISO of your camera

UPDATE:
I've created this correction LUT for viewing on external monitors and to provide a quick correction in post. Keep in mind that this is a correction LUT, and does not replace actual grading, it's just meant to give you a good base. I typically apply this then raise the highlights/exposure further.

Please feel free to test and give feedback!
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0n4afeTfggjamF1TFFna05DdGM

All samples shot in FF mode on the A7rII, will post more from the short film when I have permission.

(This shot above was underexposed, resulting in noisier blacks)

[Gregormannschaft 270]

Those shots look terrific, I'll give it a try on the Sony A7SII - similar settings should produce good results as well right?

[Geoff CB 789]

16 minutes ago, Gregormannschaft said:

Those shots look terrific, I'll give it a try on the Sony A7SII - similar settings should produce good results as well right?

It should look similar on all Sony cameras with S-Log, let me know how it works!

[Mattias Burling 2,765]

Cool, Thanks!

I tried it quickly with the rx100iv but its dark already and I suspect thats why it turned out a bit weird. Will try in daylight tomorrow and report the results. Always fun to checkout others settings.

[The Chris 277]

Those shots look great, especially the first one.

I've read up on the Knee and still can't see what changes do to the footage, so I never mess with it. Any chance you can expand on what your change achieved compared to leaving it on auto?

Will try this on the a7rII, a6300 and soon the a6500. Thanks!

[TheRenaissanceMan 981]

Looks awesome! I'd love to see how this works for other Sony cameras.

Btw, I'm fine with the grittier blacks in the third image because you managed to maintain the sky detail, which wasn't the case in the fourth one. No accounting for taste, I suppose.

[TheRenaissanceMan 981]

5 hours ago, The Chris said:

Will try this on the a7rII, a6300 and soon the a6500. Thanks!

Definitely share your results on the A6500! I think we're all very interested in how much can be squeezed out of that camera.

[tellure 85]

Looks really cool, thanks for sharing!  What kind of grading are you doing on your modified SLOG2 footage?  Are you using a LUT or grading manually per shot?

[Geoff CB 789]

5 hours ago, tellure said:

Looks really cool, thanks for sharing!  What kind of grading are you doing on your modified SLOG2 footage?  Are you using a LUT or grading manually per shot?

Manual adjustment using the color wheels. Dragging down shadows, raising highlights, and slightly dropping midtones. Add a little saturation and that's it to get a good base.

[Nrubloc 32]

Hello... I was wondering if anyone has examples of this profile used with the A7Rii under tungsten or other types of mixed lighting conditions rather than just the above daylight examples.

[Geoff CB 789]

Will have video comparison up soon.

[Jim Giberti 122]

Didn't mean to step on the other thread Geoff. By the way, our first studios were on the other side of the Cape from you in Orleans.

[Geoff CB 789]

1 hour ago, Jim Giberti said:

Didn't mean to step on the other thread Geoff. By the way, our first studios were on the other side of the Cape from you in Orleans.

That's very cool, where are your studios now? Hope the profile works well for your work. I look forward to trying out the H Hijmering's LUTs you suggested for Blackmagic.

[Joe3 6]

On 10/10/2016 at 9:54 AM, Geoff CB said:

 

GFILM
Made for A7rII, should work on A7s, A7sII, A6300, A6500, FS5, FS7.

I've been trying to give the A7r II a look similar to "Film" on the blackmagic Ursa Mini 4.6K. The need arose because I am shooting with the two camera side by side and need to edit them together.

Had a couple goals with this:
- Get away from the "Magenta" look
- Be able to match with BM "Film" in post
- A flat profile that doesn't break when grading like S-log sometimes does, is easier to shoot with, and can get a get a great look with a simple color wheel adjustment.
- Don't clip any color channel

Let me know what you guys think!

Black Level: 0
Gamma: Slog2
Black Gamma 
- Range: Middle
- Level: 0
Knee: Manual  (It blows my mind this is left on Auto by default, it controls how the highlights behave)
- point: 77.5%
- slope: +3
Color Mode: Pro
Saturation: +3
Color Phase: -4
Color Depth: (Wish they would let this be adjusted for highlights/midtones/blacks independently)
- R: +5
- G: +3 (Edit: +7 works better to get deeper greens)
- B: +3
- C: +2
- M: -2
- Y: +2
Detail: -7
- Mode: Manual
- V/H Balance: 0
- B&W Balance: Type5
- Limit: 3
- Crispening: 3
- Hi-Light Detail: 0

Couple notes on shooting with this:

-Always overexpose by at least one stop to get a clean image.
-Set WB manually, do not leave on Auto
-Shoot at the native ISO of your camera

All samples shot in FF mode on the A7rII, will post more from the short film when I have permission.

(This shot above was underexposed, resulting in noisier blacks)

Looks Great. I substituted Cine 2 in place of S-Log2 for a test. Looks pretty good straight out of the camera. What do you think about that?

 

[Jim Giberti 122]

Our studios and offices are in the forest now...actually on our mountainside farm in VT but on their own 200 acre retreat.

And I'd be curious to hear your opinion of the HH LUT on your footage. We've used about every post option for film mode in Pro Res and raw and these are in a whole other league than anything else IMO...almost plug and play. And there's a series of four with increasing saturation at conversion that's a nice option.

[bigfoot 41]

looking forwards to test this out... Thank you Goeff

[Geoff CB 789]

14 hours ago, Joe3 said:

Looks Great. I substituted Cine 2 in place of S-Log2 for a test. Looks pretty good straight out of the camera. What do you think about that?

 

Saw your test on the other page, looks pretty good! Will have to give it a try myself. 

51 minutes ago, bigfoot said:

looking forwards to test this out... Thank you Goeff

Your welcome!

[Geoff CB 789]

Testing out some new lights/diffusers. Diffuser on setting sun camera left (can see unfiltered on my arm), LED light camera me some pop/fill.

Only grading I did in Resolve was adjusting Lift and Gain. No color adjustment. 5600K with Voightlander 40mm

 

 

[bigfoot 41]

Skin tone is looking great - Healthy ! 

[Jim Giberti 122]

So, this is your settings w/S-Log2 and what gamut?