Using X70 for features, documentaries? at DVinfo.net

Terry Hirsch · February 18th, 2018, 04:39 PM

Hello,
Using an X70 with 4K license for the usual stuff; events, web videos, fundraisers, behind-the-scenes videos. Even though the 4K is 8 bit, and looks decent, is anyone using it's lower-rez, 10 bit modes and up-rezing it for cinematic/documentary work? Is anyone using an outboard SDI recorder with good results?

Craig Seeman · February 19th, 2018, 09:50 AM

I can't imagine too many scalers that would upscale 1080 to 4k better than shooting in 4k. It's possible (some hardware scalers like Terenex) but if you've that requirement you might be better off shooting with an FS7 or equivalent that shoots 4k 10 bit 4:2:2.

Kevin Lau · February 23rd, 2018, 02:36 PM

Are you trying to save on storage requirements or do you find the higher bit depth is easier to work with later?

There is no way to get QFHD 4K out of the X70's 3G-SDI(B) connection to an external recorder as a technical limitation, but for HDMI there was an earlier discussion over whether the clean UHD output (with firmware version 3.0+) is 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 :

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-4k-...over-hdmi.html

Cliff Totten · February 23rd, 2018, 07:27 PM

The X70 doesnt have SLog and only shoots in limited rec709-ish profiles. If you expose properly and want to do some light adjustments in post, then 8bit color depth is perfectly fine to handle that. I mean, you shouldn't need to be stretching very far for a rec709 delivery....you are capturing in rec709 then grading and delivering in rec709. Not a huge jump.

I'll take a rec709 4k 8bit image over a rec709 1080 image in 10bit ANY day.

Four times the frame size (UHD) is going to be FAR more noticeable and appreciated by common viewers than 1080p, 10bit color ever will be. In fact, 99.999% of people will be watching your work on 8bit monitors anyway. Now,...if you were shooting in SLog? Well, now the decision gets "a little" more complicated. ;-)

Yup, almost all Sony 4k cameras output 4:2:2 chroma sampling over HDMI.

February 18th, 2018, 04:39 PM	#1
Terry Hirsch New Boot Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6	Using X70 for features, documentaries? Hello, Using an X70 with 4K license for the usual stuff; events, web videos, fundraisers, behind-the-scenes videos. Even though the 4K is 8 bit, and looks decent, is anyone using it's lower-rez, 10 bit modes and up-rezing it for cinematic/documentary work? Is anyone using an outboard SDI recorder with good results?

February 19th, 2018, 09:50 AM	#2
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Re: Using X70 for features, documentaries? I can't imagine too many scalers that would upscale 1080 to 4k better than shooting in 4k. It's possible (some hardware scalers like Terenex) but if you've that requirement you might be better off shooting with an FS7 or equivalent that shoots 4k 10 bit 4:2:2.

February 23rd, 2018, 02:36 PM	#3
Kevin Lau Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 46	Re: Using X70 for features, documentaries? Are you trying to save on storage requirements or do you find the higher bit depth is easier to work with later? There is no way to get QFHD 4K out of the X70's 3G-SDI(B) connection to an external recorder as a technical limitation, but for HDMI there was an earlier discussion over whether the clean UHD output (with firmware version 3.0+) is 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 : http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-4k-...over-hdmi.html

February 23rd, 2018, 07:27 PM	#4
Cliff Totten Trustee Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 1,197	Re: Using X70 for features, documentaries? The X70 doesnt have SLog and only shoots in limited rec709-ish profiles. If you expose properly and want to do some light adjustments in post, then 8bit color depth is perfectly fine to handle that. I mean, you shouldn't need to be stretching very far for a rec709 delivery....you are capturing in rec709 then grading and delivering in rec709. Not a huge jump. I'll take a rec709 4k 8bit image over a rec709 1080 image in 10bit ANY day. Four times the frame size (UHD) is going to be FAR more noticeable and appreciated by common viewers than 1080p, 10bit color ever will be. In fact, 99.999% of people will be watching your work on 8bit monitors anyway. Now,...if you were shooting in SLog? Well, now the decision gets "a little" more complicated. ;-) Yup, almost all Sony 4k cameras output 4:2:2 chroma sampling over HDMI. Last edited by Cliff Totten; February 23rd, 2018 at 10:04 PM.