How much to compensate zebras on MLUT

[Brian Mills]

So in watching Doug Jensen's excellent tutorial on using the FS7, he said something that blew me away.

At first, he said when using Cine IE mode, to put white at 60 IRE in zebras (I had heard that before).

But then he warned that if you apply a MLUT to the viewfinder, the zebras will then respond to the MLUT picture and not the true recorded signal (good to know!). So he said to compensate by changing the zebra target, but he did not say to what value!

So if I use the standard REC709 MLUT in the viewfinder, what should the new zebra value I expose for be?

How would I find out on my own if no one had that answer handy?

Thank you for your help!

[Doug Jensen]

Hi Brian,

Those are good questions. I originally intended to provide my recommended zebra settings for all of the built-in LUTs and Look Profiles in my FS7 Master Class (http://www.vortexmedia.com/DVD_FS7.html) so people wouldn't have to figure it out themselves. But unfortunately I didn't have time to set up the charts and scopes to accurately test them all -- so that part of the video got the ax.

However, here is a page (literally) taken from my F55 book (http://www.vortexmedia.com/FIELD_GUIDES.html) that covers this topic. I have no reason to believe that the numbers for the F55 and FS7 wouldn't be identical - but be aware that I have not actually tested these settings myself on the FS7. Nevertheless, I hope this answers your questions and I'd have no qualms about using these figures if I used MLUTs.

[Brian Mills]

Thanks for the response, Doug, and great job once again on your video.

Now, I assume the answer is yes but I have to ask: in the F55 book they are only labeled LUT 1-4/LOOK 1-4, etc, but in my FS7 I see sub names too. My LUT 1-4 is the same as a F55 LUT 1-4, right? I mean each number is in fact the same LUT on each camera (REC709, ARRI-LIKE, etc)?

Just checking....

Thanks!

[Doug Jensen]

Yes, the LUTS and LOOK PROFILES have exactly the same names and are in the same order as on the F55. That names on that chart make more sense if you have seen the previous pages that lead up to it in the book. If I decide to update the F55 book I'll probably put the full names in another column of the chart just to make it more clear.