RX10-II ISO vs.Gain
 

I was curious as to how much gain is being applied at each ISO on the RX10-II.

I shot some test footage with the RX10-II and went up the ISO ladder and stopped for a few seconds on each setting. I then took the card and placed it in my AX100 and played back the file. As you might know, the AX100 will display the gain amount data in real time as you play back the file .

This is gain metadata inside the .mp4 file so I suspect it should be accurate. Here are the results:

0db - 200 ISO
3db - 250 ISO
3db - 320 ISO
6db = 400 ISO
9db = 500 ISO
9bd = 640 ISO
12db = 800 ISO
15db = 1,000 ISO
15db = 1,250 ISO
18db = 1,600 ISO
21db = 2,000 ISO
21db = 2,500 ISO
24db = 3,200 ISO
27db = 4,000 ISO
27db = 5,000 ISO
30db = 6,400 ISO
33db = 8,000 ISO
33db = 10,000 ISO
36db = 12,800 ISO

I don't have my original RX10 anymore. I sold it a few months back. So, I can't compare them side by side. However, just looking at these RX10-II files, it seems that either this new sensor is a bit cleaner or the noise reduction has been modified? (maybe?) At least compared to my memory of the original RX10 but it's hard to say for sure unless you test them both together.

I can do some side by sides with the AX100 which I believe uses the same sensor as the original RX10.

Anybody have both RX10's (original and new?)

Re: RX10-II ISO vs.Gain
 

Hi Cliff

All cameras are basically the same with gain and ISO and you can simply calculate one to the other as long as you know the camera's base ISO which in your case is 200 ... then for every 6db gain the ISO number will double ...Your ISO base at 0db is 200 so ISO 400 = 6db gain ISO800 = 12db gain ISO 1600 = 18db gain etc etc Traditionally still cameras used ISO (as old film was always expressed in ISO sensitivity) and camcorders always used gain in db. Nowdays due to cameras being able to "multitask" either can be used but the bottom line is that electronic sensitivity is used to boost the incoming signal and it really doesn't matter whether it's expressed in db or ISO ...it still the same amount of amplification applied ...sorta like using inches and centimetres!

Re: RX10-II ISO vs.Gain
 

Yup, interesting.

ISO 1000 and 12,500 both display 15db. Also 2,000 and 2,500 ISO both display 21db.

27db and 33db also share ISO's

So can we say the display on playback is rounding up or down?

Re: RX10-II ISO vs.Gain
 

Hey Cliff, are the ND filter options - 2, 4, 6 stops?

Re: RX10-II ISO vs.Gain
 

Only 1 internal.

I believe it's 3 stops.

I pack a 1 stop and 2 stop screw on. So between 1, 2 and 3? (or combination) That should be enough to get me at the shutter speeds I want or the depth of field I want.

Re: RX10-II ISO vs.Gain
 

Any chance you can post your videos Cliff? I'm curious too see how the rx10 ii performs at 1600-6400 ISO.