Ninja V False Color

There can never be too many blog posts on exposing for HDR! Ninja V False Color False color is a practically foolproof method for determining exposure for HDR. Avoid bright orange and red - colors that indicate overexposure. DaVinci Resolve 17 waveform before color correction. Although the tee shirt looks completely blown out on our... Continue Reading →

Tribute to Sony a7s III

For a long while now, we've been keenly aware that highlights in skin tones and light-colored fabrics have been difficult if not impossible to recover in post, leading us to re-examine our ETTR method. After watching a video by Gerald Undone, we tried using two zebra settings, aiming for an ETTR of only +1.66 stops... Continue Reading →

Monster Guide: HDR10 in Resolve Studio 20 (Part II)

Part I: Project settings, Project Render Settings, Generate MaxCLL and MaxFall HDR10 Metadata Part II: RAW Part III: The Grade Avoid Y’CbCr Limitations of Y’CbCr with wide colour gamut and high dynamic range Quantization distortions due to bit depth limitations with the increased colour volume. Chroma subsampling distortions due to a perceptually uneven distribution of code words.... Continue Reading →

Debunked: Sonys Suck in Mixed Lighting

We hear repeated online the lie that Sonys are dreadful in mixed lighting, so we set about to disprove this fallacy, recording in a cafe illuminated by daylight and tungsten. Of course, they'll say it's gotta be a mix of tungsten, halogen, neon, fluorescent and daylight and HLG3 at ISO 50 or some other such... Continue Reading →

RAW Power!

In the video, we demonstrate one way to create depth and contrast for HDR in a hopelessly cramped living space (16 m2) using lighting modifiers - specifically the Nanlite Projection Mount and Aputure Lantern Softbox - along with the Nanlite Forza 300 and Forza 60. Nanlite PJ-FZ60-19, Forza 60 We've spared no effort in order... Continue Reading →

Big Announcement!

Now that we were able at last to get our hands on an Arca Swiss QR plate and SmallRig swivel and tilt monitor mount for the Tilta a7s III cage, we've got a very portable setup leaving us no more excuses not to shoot RAW with the Ninja V. So in the coming months, expect... Continue Reading →

Sony Crushing It!

Leaked images of upcoming Sony 14mm f/1.8. Source: Nokishita The 12-24mm GM, 14mm GM, 20mm f/1.8 G, 24mm GM, 35mm GM, 50mm GM and 135mm GM are each indisputably the very finest instruments in their class - smaller, lighter, sharper, quieter and faster than any of the competition. We feel really sorry for all the... Continue Reading →

Not Blackmagic

They seem to be everywhere, spamming the comments section of review after review with their cult-like nonsense about Blackmagic being the best camera at any price, with image quality rivaling Arri. Well first, let’s note that most of us - if we’re fortunate to be employed at all - are doing documentaries, travel and nature... Continue Reading →

Resolve 17 HDR Tools (in HDR!)

Of the hundreds of videos on YouTube promising to demonstrate the spectacular new features in DaVinci Resolve 17, nearly all are in low dynamic range. It's our belief that those who've only watched the LDR tutorials are really being deprived of understanding just how powerful new tools like the Color Warper and HDR Color Palette... Continue Reading →

Watch Those Knobs!

While out on a shoot yesterday morning, we noticed that the pan control on our Gitzo 1545TA went missing. Sad day indeed, because the refractory knob set us back $35.00, or a month's worth of morning coffee. For some reason, the knob does not tighten down as much as the others, so that's something to... Continue Reading →

Adjusting Exposure in Final Cut Pro

I was just in the middle of doing yet more tests to determine the very best zebra settings for the a7s III when I came across this - arguably the single most important step toward getting vibrant, contrasty, High Dynamic Range images in Final Cut Pro - adjusting exposure. Simply pulling shadows down till they... Continue Reading →

Upgrade to the 50mm f/1.2 GM?

Buying the latest and greatest is seriously tempting, but is it really worthwhile? Going from the MeFoto RoadTrip to a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod; from the a7 III to the a7s III; from the Shogun Inferno to the Ninja V; and from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 12 Pro Max: those were all substantial... Continue Reading →

Sony a7s III S-Log3 ISO 160

A few appallingly rude, ignorant forum members over at DPReview prompted me to shoot a clip at ISO 160 - only to discover that it looks perfect, with great colors, pleasing skin tones, good contrast and detail, and low noise. In a pinch, if I didn't have an ND filter, I wouldn't hesitate to use... Continue Reading →

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