Alfonso Parra’s analysis of the Sony FX3 concluded that:
“[…] for optimal noise management, controlling white balance—especially in scenes dominated by critical channels such as blue or red—is more important than the choice of base EI value.”
The finding indicates that white balance isn’t only affecting color; it’s also changing the noise structure of the image:
“[I]t is clear that color temperature exerts a far greater influence on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the Sony FX3 than the variation between base EI values.”
Parra’s research reframes the goal from simply eliminating noise to actively controlling it. As he writes, these findings “challenge the common belief that increasing EI inevitably degrades image quality; instead, they show that… noise can be deliberately shaped and managed.”
This principle of intentional noise shaping was applied creatively by DP Adriana Bernal on the documentary If I Tell You The Truth, I’m Lying, introducing visual texture through deliberate underexposure which was then enhanced through manipulation of colors in post.
“The intentional use of noise transcends technical knowledge and becomes a narrative strategy that reinforces both the emotional tension and the documentary character of the image.” Alfonso Parra, AEC, ADFC
The takeaway: “…effective noise management requires coordinating white balance with ISO selection rather than relying on base EI alone.”
Methodology Note: All tests in Parra’s study were conducted using the FX3’s Full Frame 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution at 23.98 fps, recorded in XAVC S-I 4:2:2 10-bit. The footage was processed in DaVinci Resolve 20 using the ACES workflow with a Rec. 709 transform LUT.
“Noise study on the Sony ILME-FX3 camera”
By Alfonso Parra AEC, ADFC
The Daejeon Chronicles 
Leave a Reply