Sony stopped by the office with the FS100 the other day, and we were able to do some quick tests. The first thing I wanted to know was how the camera rated in terms of ISO, so we repeated the same tests we did for the F3 ISO. Here are our findings:

We were amazed by the results, especially the ISO 8000 and 16000 results. My light meter couldn’t even go above 8000. Click on the 24 db image (above) and 30 db image (below) to see the output of the camera. This should help you get an idea of the noise associated with these high gain values. The low light capabilities of the camera are amazing.

…continue reading Sony FS100 Ratings and Dynamic Range

The Sony PMW-F3 has a very nice standard look right out of the camera, but it also has many many ways of adjusting the image to your liking. At AbelCine we have been making scene files for our clients, designed to both match cameras and create a look. With the wide range of adjustments available in the F3′s picture profile control, I was able to make several looks that you might find useful. Some are aimed at maximizing the range of the camera, while others are aimed at creating a specific look. You can download all of the scene files here, and easily upload them to your camera through an SxS card but this will change all of your other camera settings. You can instead download the files individually from links below each profile. Here is a brief description of each and what you can expect. Learn how these files were made and how to make your own in our F3 class, which is going on this week in NYC & LA.

…continue reading F3 Scene Files from AbelCine

Sony’s new SR-M9000 camera builds on the SRW-9000PL platform by adding a built-in SR memory recorder that records to SR cards at up to 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 in S-Log. Watch my video as I detail some of the specifications of this new camera.

We’ve received a lot of great feed back from our NAB booth tour video, and one of the most inquired about items is our decked out Sony PMW-F3. Some of the new accessories we’re showcasing for the F3 include the new Element Technica 15mm lightweight baseplate that we helped design, as well as a heavy duty top handle that replaces the standard Sony handle. We were also fortunate enough to have the new S-Log 4:4:4RGB firmware that let us take advantage of the new Sony SR-R1 Memory Recorder, which records at 220Mbps or 440 Mbps.

Watch my video to see some of the great accessories we have available for the F3.

In the second part of our three-part series on the Sony PMW-F3, I look into the camera’s dynamic range and the various gamma modes that it offers. The test results were quite impressive, and I learned more about the different Cine Gamma modes built into the camera. I tested it right out of the box, without the upcoming S-Log firmware upgrade. With S-Log, the camera will output higher dynamic range video. In the tests, the F3 had the following settings: 1920×1080 23.98p, Black Gamma 0, Matrix Standard, Detail OFF and Aperture OFF. All testing was performed with a Leader LV7330 scope, DSC Labs Ambi – Combo System and DSC Labs 18 step grayscale chart. Watch the video above to see how the F3 performed.

You can also read Part 1 of our series here: AbelCine Tests the Sony F3 ISO Rating