Low light stuff at DVinfo.net

Eugene Kosarovich · August 9th, 2009, 01:59 PM

For those of you that have a PDW-700/800 and a PDW-F335/F355, how does the low light performance compare? Is there a full stop of difference?

Same question for a PDW-EX1/EX3 and a PDW-F335/F355.

Also, do they all have the same type of noise filters like the PDW-F335/F355 has?

Is there any chance Sony will do a firmware upgrade where the low noise filter can be tied to the gain setting? I mean, for instance, I always want Low Noise 1 set for +9dB or greater, and it would be great to tie that in so flipping my gain switch did both instead of having to go in a menu which is rather cumbersome in a dynamic shooting situation.

Thanks.

Ben Ruffell · August 9th, 2009, 02:42 PM

I have the 700 and the EX3. I have used the 350 extensively in the past.

The 700 is very sensitive. I reckon it's about an 800 iso.

It is a huge improvement over the 300 series.

On both the 700 and the EX3 I have used gain with no problems. On the 700 during a nighttime breaking news event I had 12db gain with no noticable loss in image quality.

During the day I need ND filters to keep the exposure in a reasonable range.

Alister Chapman · August 10th, 2009, 02:39 AM

The 700 is around 2 stops more sensitive than the f350. it's also a lot lot quieter. It has a low noise mode that is a high frequency noise filter and is usual to have this on all the time as it makes no noticable difference to sensitivity, resolution or dynamic range. As has been said even at 12db gain the 700 pictures are perfectly useable. One of the biggest problems I have with the 700 is that at times it is just too sensitive requiring the use of additional ND filters.

August 9th, 2009, 01:59 PM	#1
Eugene Kosarovich Taken away too young... rest in peace Eugene Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 161	Low light stuff For those of you that have a PDW-700/800 and a PDW-F335/F355, how does the low light performance compare? Is there a full stop of difference? Same question for a PDW-EX1/EX3 and a PDW-F335/F355. Also, do they all have the same type of noise filters like the PDW-F335/F355 has? Is there any chance Sony will do a firmware upgrade where the low noise filter can be tied to the gain setting? I mean, for instance, I always want Low Noise 1 set for +9dB or greater, and it would be great to tie that in so flipping my gain switch did both instead of having to go in a menu which is rather cumbersome in a dynamic shooting situation. Thanks. __________________ Scorpio Productions PDW-F335, PDW-U1, Vegas Pro 9.0b

August 10th, 2009, 02:39 AM	#3
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	The 700 is around 2 stops more sensitive than the f350. it's also a lot lot quieter. It has a low noise mode that is a high frequency noise filter and is usual to have this on all the time as it makes no noticable difference to sensitivity, resolution or dynamic range. As has been said even at 12db gain the 700 pictures are perfectly useable. One of the biggest problems I have with the 700 is that at times it is just too sensitive requiring the use of additional ND filters. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

August 9th, 2009, 02:42 PM	#2
Ben Ruffell Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Queenstown, New Zealand Posts: 117	I have the 700 and the EX3. I have used the 350 extensively in the past. The 700 is very sensitive. I reckon it's about an 800 iso. It is a huge improvement over the 300 series. On both the 700 and the EX3 I have used gain with no problems. On the 700 during a nighttime breaking news event I had 12db gain with no noticable loss in image quality. During the day I need ND filters to keep the exposure in a reasonable range.