Can somebody point me to that kind of footage? at DVinfo.net

Larry Secrest · November 19th, 2015, 09:19 AM

I currently use a canon XF305 and sometimes I play with my neighbor's BMPCC. I haven't had the time to become an expert at grading the BMC with the free version of Resolve. But I really can see the potential of all the Black Magic Cams. I've also watched many videos on Vimeo or Youtube and I must say these cams are producing beautiful images when graded properly.

So in the last month I've spent, or some might say wasted, a huge amount of time watching scores and scores of "films" shot on various BMC, A7s, NX1 and GH4.

Of course the quality of the A7s, NX1 and GH4.is more than enough to tell a story. But I simply can't fall in love with the quality of the image. The depth of the color from those three cams seems to be so shallow, washed out, hanging by a thread. I've compared the quality of series playing on Netflix, many of them, and I can see that some people, not even pros, who are shooting with BMC are able to come very close, if not right on it, to the quality I see in these series that are probably shot on RED or Alexa cams. I really see the BMCs, in the hands of skilled DP, as being in the same family as any RED cams or Alexa. But I simply can't find any footage from A7s, NX1 and GH4 that comes close to make me feel the same. I would love to be convinced to buy a GH4, This is such a much easier cam to use than a BMC but I simply can't?

Can somebody points me to a beautiful shot footage from any of those three cams? I don't seen to be able to find any.
Thanks
L.

Noa Put · November 19th, 2015, 09:29 AM

Quote:

I've compared the quality of series playing on Netflix, many of them, and I can see that some people, not even pros, who are shooting with BMC are able to come very close, if not right on it, to the quality I see in these series that are probably shot on RED or Alexa cams.

I find it's just the opposite, it's very hard to find footage from a bmc that looks good, the colors often looked washed out and weird and are nothing like what I would see in films shot on Alexa camera's.

Noa Put · November 19th, 2015, 09:36 AM

I like this one:

gh4

ad this one

gh3

Noa Put · November 19th, 2015, 09:50 AM

This one here, shot on a gh3

Larry Secrest · November 19th, 2015, 09:53 AM

Hum, funny! The first clip gives me exactly the same impression I was describing in my original post. The colors are there, but I don't feel the depth. I'm wondering if too many people know how to grade? To me the washed out feeling might be coming from the fact that, maybe, most people do not start by lowering the black level FIRST, before doing anything else. That's why, I think, the background always looks too bright?

I like the second clip better. I think the environment is better controlled. Amazingly it's shot with the GH3 from what I understand!

Larry Secrest · November 19th, 2015, 09:55 AM

After watching the third clip, I think my impression is right. I think all those clips have black level that are too high, I mean not black enough and it gives a shallow feeling to the whole frame and picture.

Noa Put · November 19th, 2015, 04:04 PM

To me it looks you already know the answer to your questions yet you keep on going about how wonderful black magic camera's are and how bad in comparison all the rest is in the same price range and you keep on asking for others to prove you wrong, at least, that is all I hear you say in other threads as well. If the BM camera's are so superior to you why not just buy one and start shooting with it?

Larry Secrest · November 21st, 2015, 02:14 PM

Hold on. I've located somebody with a GH4 with the last $ 100 upgrade for the S log or however you called it. Up to now I've never know how people had graded their stuff. I'm going to compare this very soon, shoot the exact same thing with both and will tell you soon.

November 19th, 2015, 09:19 AM	#1
Larry Secrest Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 404	Can somebody point me to that kind of footage? I currently use a canon XF305 and sometimes I play with my neighbor's BMPCC. I haven't had the time to become an expert at grading the BMC with the free version of Resolve. But I really can see the potential of all the Black Magic Cams. I've also watched many videos on Vimeo or Youtube and I must say these cams are producing beautiful images when graded properly. So in the last month I've spent, or some might say wasted, a huge amount of time watching scores and scores of "films" shot on various BMC, A7s, NX1 and GH4. Of course the quality of the A7s, NX1 and GH4.is more than enough to tell a story. But I simply can't fall in love with the quality of the image. The depth of the color from those three cams seems to be so shallow, washed out, hanging by a thread. I've compared the quality of series playing on Netflix, many of them, and I can see that some people, not even pros, who are shooting with BMC are able to come very close, if not right on it, to the quality I see in these series that are probably shot on RED or Alexa cams. I really see the BMCs, in the hands of skilled DP, as being in the same family as any RED cams or Alexa. But I simply can't find any footage from A7s, NX1 and GH4 that comes close to make me feel the same. I would love to be convinced to buy a GH4, This is such a much easier cam to use than a BMC but I simply can't? Can somebody points me to a beautiful shot footage from any of those three cams? I don't seen to be able to find any. Thanks L.

November 19th, 2015, 09:36 AM	#3
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: Can somebody point me to that kind of footage? I like this one: gh4 Without You on Vimeo ad this one gh3 Every Lost Breath on Vimeo

November 19th, 2015, 09:50 AM	#4
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: Can somebody point me to that kind of footage? This one here, shot on a gh3 Watchtower of Turkey on Vimeo

November 19th, 2015, 09:53 AM	#5
Larry Secrest Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 404	Re: Can somebody point me to that kind of footage? Hum, funny! The first clip gives me exactly the same impression I was describing in my original post. The colors are there, but I don't feel the depth. I'm wondering if too many people know how to grade? To me the washed out feeling might be coming from the fact that, maybe, most people do not start by lowering the black level FIRST, before doing anything else. That's why, I think, the background always looks too bright? I like the second clip better. I think the environment is better controlled. Amazingly it's shot with the GH3 from what I understand!

November 19th, 2015, 09:55 AM	#6
Larry Secrest Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 404	Re: Can somebody point me to that kind of footage? After watching the third clip, I think my impression is right. I think all those clips have black level that are too high, I mean not black enough and it gives a shallow feeling to the whole frame and picture.

November 19th, 2015, 04:04 PM	#7
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: Can somebody point me to that kind of footage? To me it looks you already know the answer to your questions yet you keep on going about how wonderful black magic camera's are and how bad in comparison all the rest is in the same price range and you keep on asking for others to prove you wrong, at least, that is all I hear you say in other threads as well. If the BM camera's are so superior to you why not just buy one and start shooting with it?

November 21st, 2015, 02:14 PM	#8
Larry Secrest Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 404	Re: Can somebody point me to that kind of footage? Hold on. I've located somebody with a GH4 with the last $ 100 upgrade for the S log or however you called it. Up to now I've never know how people had graded their stuff. I'm going to compare this very soon, shoot the exact same thing with both and will tell you soon.