How come the Sony EX clips lack pink skin tones? at DVinfo.net

Les Wilson · July 22nd, 2010, 05:41 PM

I think I asked my question in the wrong forum. SHould have asked it in this Sony forum who know the EX camera. In the interest of not double posting, here's a link to where I posted examples of the lack of pink skin tones: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-xf...ml#post1551159

David C. Williams · July 22nd, 2010, 06:36 PM

It entirely depends on your settings strangely enough. You have a full colour matrix, gamma curves, detail, skin detail, on and on ad infinitum.

You can make it look like ANYTHING, but out of the box, Sony elected to set it neutral and record the maximum latitude of information for maximum flexibility in post. That's why that pic looks flat and contrastless compared to the other pic. Try grading both, and you'll see why.

Tim Kolb · July 22nd, 2010, 09:20 PM

Sony cameras have traditionally been cooler than other cameras...though I haven't noticed it in my EX...it used to be really obvious in the Betacams...

You can balance the Sony to look like that if you want...the Sony image looks more accurate to me in the side by side...but I don't know...maybe the mannequins just came in from a run and they're flushed.

:-)

Dean Sensui · July 23rd, 2010, 01:52 AM

I shoot the EX1 as though it were film: Fixed white balance, usually daylight. Then I'll fine tune in post with Apple's Color. It provides a lot of control and leaves open lots of options.

Leonard Levy · July 24th, 2010, 10:52 AM

"I shoot the EX1 as though it were film: Fixed white balance, usually daylight. Then I'll fine tune in post with Apple's Color. It provides a lot of control and leaves open lots of options."

But its not film, its video and it simply doesn't have near the latitude in post that film has. If its working for you fine, but its certainly not an approach I would recommend for video shooting.

I imagine you shoot a lot of exteriors though and preset daylight is often a good way to shoot that.

Dean Sensui · July 24th, 2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonard Levy

But its not film, its video and it simply doesn't have near the latitude in post that film has. If its working for you fine, but its certainly not an approach I would recommend for video shooting.

The EX1 has a great deal of latitude and never fails to amaze me. I can capture detail in bright cumulus clouds while also capturing tanned faces under the shade of baseball caps. I've even got shadow detail with the rising sun glinting off the water behind someone.

Much of what I do is under daylight-balanced sources only because there are fewer tungsten-lit situations. It seems more people are using daylight fluorescents, and outdoors fishermen's headlights are mostly daylight-balanced LEDs.

Of course if I do shoot under tungsten I'll use a 3200k preset.

July 22nd, 2010, 05:41 PM	#1
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	How come the Sony EX clips lack pink skin tones? I think I asked my question in the wrong forum. SHould have asked it in this Sony forum who know the EX camera. In the interest of not double posting, here's a link to where I posted examples of the lack of pink skin tones: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-xf...ml#post1551159

July 22nd, 2010, 06:36 PM	#2
David C. Williams Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: melb.vic.au Posts: 447	It entirely depends on your settings strangely enough. You have a full colour matrix, gamma curves, detail, skin detail, on and on ad infinitum. You can make it look like ANYTHING, but out of the box, Sony elected to set it neutral and record the maximum latitude of information for maximum flexibility in post. That's why that pic looks flat and contrastless compared to the other pic. Try grading both, and you'll see why. __________________ www.davidwilliams.com.au

July 22nd, 2010, 09:20 PM	#3
Tim Kolb Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Neenah, WI Posts: 547	Sony cameras have traditionally been cooler than other cameras...though I haven't noticed it in my EX...it used to be really obvious in the Betacams... You can balance the Sony to look like that if you want...the Sony image looks more accurate to me in the side by side...but I don't know...maybe the mannequins just came in from a run and they're flushed. :-) __________________ TimK Kolb Productions

July 23rd, 2010, 01:52 AM	#4
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	I shoot the EX1 as though it were film: Fixed white balance, usually daylight. Then I'll fine tune in post with Apple's Color. It provides a lot of control and leaves open lots of options. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

July 24th, 2010, 10:52 AM	#5
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	"I shoot the EX1 as though it were film: Fixed white balance, usually daylight. Then I'll fine tune in post with Apple's Color. It provides a lot of control and leaves open lots of options." But its not film, its video and it simply doesn't have near the latitude in post that film has. If its working for you fine, but its certainly not an approach I would recommend for video shooting. I imagine you shoot a lot of exteriors though and preset daylight is often a good way to shoot that.