Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Testing Alister Chapman's flat setting for the PMW-F3 to see how it hold up in Grading with Color.
I used an old Nikon 50mm f1.4 @ 2.8 with a Fader ND. Recorded to KiPro Mini ProRes HQ.
Shot is the old 7 Mile Bridge on my way back from Key West, FL.
You must see the before to really appreciate it.
Thanks to Alister Chapman for the Flat Setting.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Is it just me that thinks this doesn't look too good! Sorry, but that's just my opinion.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Overstaurated springs to mind, the sort of colouring you would see on a 1960 - 1970's postcard . I like the original better.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

The reason the original has the Allister Chapman's FLAT setting is to record a wider latitude and get detail where otherwise there would have been crushed or blown. The idea of the test is too see how it can handle grading. It is purposely over saturated too show it can handle grading extremely well.

Taste is depending on the environment where you were raised and reside mostly. For example Mark McCarthy has made comments that he likes the Slog before grading and Vincent Oliver likes the un graded version of this video better. Someone from the kind of weather they have in London would be used to seeing most of the time what someone like me on sunny Miami weather would call milky.
Somewhere in the middle would be 709, but London and Miami are two extremes as far as colors.

So now you know, if you are from London and you can't afford Slog you can always use Alister's Flat Setting without grading. Everyone else can use it and grade it to taste.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

We do get some sunshine in London, and our postcards are also oversaturated. Not sure what a Slog is, although I do slog away at work each day.

Here is my version of your shot, maybe I have lived in the dark for too long.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

As someone who lives in London and Miami... can't say I've seen the sea that colour in either place!!!

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

I agree Douglas, I shall always remain a fool.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

I must have touch a nerve with my London comment. I have lived up north in New England where the weather at this tome a year is also flat and milky compared to Miami. Right now in the hight of winter our temperature 75 degrees F and it will provably go up to 80. It just rained a few minutes ago.
Here is attached a picture that I just went outside and took.
By the way, I said I over saaturated for the grading test.
"The reason the original has the Allister Chapman's FLAT setting is to record a wider latitude and get detail where otherwise there would have been crushed or blown. The idea of the test is too see how it can handle grading. It is purposely over saturated too show it can handle grading extremely well."

Edit: By the way Paul the sky was actually gray without a Polarizer. There are 3 different places where the color was purposely altered, the sky and ocean violet, the piling on the bridge warmer and the grass greener.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

No nerves have been touched, we are just green with envy at all that sunshine in Miami.

I think we were just surprised at how much saturation pushing you applied, I don't think you would ever need to apply this much, unless you intend to include some Disney characters. However, you have shown that it is possible to go to an extreme and yet still be able to grade.

Can we Brits have a holiday with you out there in Miami?

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

I have never said I like S-LOG before grading! My work takes me all over the world so don't worry I can appreciate what certain things look like in certain environments! That clip just doesn't look good, and that opinion doesn't change where you live!

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Sorry, It was someone else.

Doesn't look good is a broad statement. What exactly is not good?

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Sure thing. We will show you some great hospitality from what some people call the closest city to the US. (because of the mixed cultures that lives here.)
Key West for those that don't know is the southern most place in the continental US and it is about 150 miles from Miami. I had one of those days where the advertising agencies drive you insane, so I grabbed my F3 and started driving south just to relax.
I bought the F3 for a feature I shot in October that was all shot inside, so I've never shot with it outside. On my way back I stopped at the old bridge on the video. I wasn't the only one there. As you can see there were locals fishing on the rocks and a whole bunch of tourist from all over the world taking pictures.
So if you are ever in Miami I'll drive you there.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Thanks Doug,

I will look you up when I am next in Miami. Remind me is it North or South of Washington ?

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Speaking of Key West, here's my take on the city with my F3.
No grading. No S-LOG. Just easy shooting with a properly setup camera.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Now Doug, why did you go and spoil my weekend here in cold, snowy damp London by showing us those fantastic scenes in Key West.

The colour shots are very clean, especially the night and low light shots.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

We are in the east coast of Florida about 1,100 miles south of Washington DC.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Just a bus ride away then :-)

Sorry for the English humour, I do know where Miami is, especially as we see the Hurricane reports on our news at least once a year.

ps. it is 3311 miles from Washington State to Florida State, or a very long bus ride.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Hehehe, I didn't say we have perfect weather all the time, just that it is very bright.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Ah... about 100 miles east of Dismal Key...

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Very nice video Doug, however it is 180' the opposite of this thread is about which is the ability of the F3 to handle grading.
Sometimes you either don't have the perfect conditions to get in camera what you want or as in the video bellow you want different look from what you recorded.
I believe that this camera is best suited for cinematography and finishing in post to get full advantage of custom settings and specially S-LOG. Sure you can use it for news reporting where you want to report, not create. I believe it is best used to create.
I think it was Vincent that made the comment about the saturated look of a postcard. There is a reason why postcards are saturated. Who would by a postcard that looked the same as what you see with your own two eyes or a snap shot that you took with your disposable camera.
Sure you can set your camera to certain look, but you can't change it later like you could when you use a profile like Alister Chapman, Abelcine Range or S-LOG.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

QUOTE: "Very nice video Doug, however it is 180' the opposite of this thread is about which is the ability of the F3 to handle grading."

My point is this: Why grade just for the sake of grading? If I can get better results without grading, why bother? In my opinion, your the video of the bridge is a poor choice as an example if your purpose is to demonstrate the F3's ability to handle grading. The final result looks like the original could have been from any video source, even VHS. Your test tells us nothing, except that you took a bland shot and made it worse.

Surely you can find a better example to show us? Perhaps a person indoors sitting against brightly lit window? And then grade it so it looks like a NICE finished product, rather than a cartoon. I think that would be a more useful example for us to view.

I think everyone's goal, including yours, is to produce an excellent finished product, so examples that show anything other than that aren't very educational. And if I can get an excellent finished product without grading, why bother? I have too much work already to do, without adding to my workload unnecessarily.

Believe me, I am a strong proponent of grading --- but I prefer to do it in the camera before any compression. I get a better image, I don't waste time grading every shot in post, I don't waste time rendering, and I don't create a bunch of needless extra files on my drives. And if I'm handing the footage off to a client, I don't have to be concerned that they won't grade it properly. Most clients have neither the time or interest in grading.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

I am going to answer your post privately.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Douglas,
Thank you for your private email. I'm glad to hear that my advice was helpful to you. Don't get discouraged, you're learning. Happy shooting!

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

Doug we have two things in common. The name and over 30 years in business and that is all.

I don't come to this forums to pretend I am the all knowing judge from heaven and to make comments to make people feel stupid.

I don't take over other people's threads. I open my own.

I strive for perfection at the expense that someone with short vision may want to embarrass me 'cause they only see the big picture, but the devil is in the detail. I can learn new thing even from a beginner and even from you 'cause I'm open to learning.

There is difference between constructive criticism and plain criticizing to make yourself feel you are someone. Stop criticizing if you can't take criticism.

Re: Test of Alister Chapman's Flat Profile in Color
 

If two posts is "taking over the thread" then I will try to use better judgement.
Good day.