Ok, so here's a little video clip I shot out in the backyard just to test SLOG2 on the new Sony RX10 MKII camera. Now before you beat this camera up about some of the noise found in the video, I left the 'Built in ND Filter' on and set the camera at ISO 2000. I didn't think this would be a problem, but there is quite a bit of noise over ISO 1600.
The better thing to do would be to turn the 'ND Filter' OFF and then keep the SLOG2 Base ISO at 800. On the A7s this wouldn't have been an issue. But yeah I screwed up, and at least I know to keep the ISO below 1600. Anyhow this was just a quick test to see if I can work with the color.
Camera moves were done with the RX10 MKII mounted to a CAME-TV MINI2 Gimbal. Yeah the CAME-MINI2 gimbal works great with the RX10, but I had to remove the front frame. I used the 120 fps setting edited to a 24p Timeline, and colored it with FCPX. It's still a learning process but with practice hopefully the results just get better.
What more to say about this camera? The RX10 MarkII throws in an amazing lens with a constant F/2.8 aperture, even an option to 'de-click the aperture' like expensive Cinema Lenses. Manual Focus, Focus Peaking, Zebra, Histogram, Built in ND Filter, 1080p up to 120fps (WITH AUDIO), Microphone input, Manual Audio, Headphone Output, 4K Internal Recording, WiFi, and SLOG2! That's not even scratching the surface of features. The Sony DSC-RX10 II in my opinion really puts Canon's latest XC10 to shame.
Sony RX10 Mark 2 28-200mm F/2.8 Zoom 4K Video HFR Slow Motion
Emm
Post author@R. Gomez - No LUT, just colored it a little manually for each clip.
R. Gomez
Great test, looks awesome !!
Just I wonder, if you used some LUT? to get those astonishing colours.
Thanks !!
Ken
@Emm Thanks! All the slow mo and moving shots are with the RX10 Mark II and SINGLE. Everything else is just with a 5D and 6D.
Emm
Post author@Ken - Nice. Is this with just the SINGLE and RX10 Mark II?
Ken
Thanks for the review! Just wanted to share that I used this setup (but with the CAME-SINGLE) to pull off a same day edit!
httpss://vimeo.com/137045687
I wasn't able to mess with the RX10 too much though because I had gotten it the day before this wedding. I didn't use SLOG2 and kept most of the settings pretty stock.
Overall, working with the RX10 was fairly simple!
Emm
Post author@Matt - I never used the first RX10, but this one will show a 'plug' icon next to the battery when it's connected to a USB Battery.
Marc E
Thanks for the review, Have you been able to use the zoom in real life... The Mark 1 had a ridiculous zoom speed, that was constant manually or electronically... Funny that none of the new reviews have mentioned that flaw unless it got fixed by Sony!
Matt
Does the battery charge like that on the original RX10, I had the idea of using a USB Battery pack, but whenever I tested plugging into mains and turning on it just went to USB mode?
Thanks
Southerndude
Thanks Emm! I'm now in the hunt for a Quick release plate for my gimbal.
Emm
Post author@Southerndude - Yes a USB cable to the camera should work fine. You just need to find a way to mount your USB battery up to the handles.
Emm
Post author@Southerndude - Sorry I don't know of a QR plate that is thin enough.
Southerndude
Emm: I have the AllSteady Pro 5 gimbal, pretty similar to the Came 7500. Mine has the same base for the camera mounting cage. What would be the best quick release mounting plate that is the lightest and easiest to use model number if you have it. Thanks
Southerndude
Emm: When I'm using my gimbal, it depends on what I'm shooting, I hate to keep turning it on and off while on the gimbal to conserve battery. I have been shooting in a small recording studio, and once I get the camera balanced, (you have to have the camera on for the lens too extend for proper balancing) It can go thru a battery pretty easy, I used the gimbal this past shoot for 3 hours, and had to change the RX10's battery and the gimbals battery. Would be cool if this external battery pack worked with the gimbal.
As always real good info Emm!
MB
Does the RX10 II have 50p and 25p recording modes? Cant seem to find this info.
Emm
Post author@Sourherndude - The batteries actually not bad so you don't have to keep it on the charger the entire time. I don't think you'll have a problem because you won't be using a gimble for several hours at a time. I'm just using this camera casually, so it's not like I have to run an entire day of production with it.
Southerndude
Emm: Wow, what a great Idea! Just curious, do you use the battery pack, and the 6' USB cord attached to the camera when it's on the gimbal? Would be great if you could, Then I would not have to remove and insert, and rebalance.
I have a Allsteady 5 similar to the Came 7500. I had it preset for a GH4 and it handles Both the RX10 and the M2 very well. Man, this new RX10 M2 is a lot of camera for the money. If this camera had half of the Sony's a7s Low light capabilities, This camera would be crazy good! I now have an RX-10 and the RX10 M2 I love keeping my sensor clean and not having to carry around 3 different lens's.
Noah
Awesome, thanks so much. That sounds like a better and more affordable option than buying batteries.
Emm
Post author@Noah - these batteries come in different sizes basically one like this. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BQ5KHJW/.
Whenever the cameras put back in the bag you can plug it in and it will recharge itself when you're not using it. but I also carry a 6 foot USB cable so that I can have the battery in my pocket or in my backpack while I'm still using the camera.
Noah
@emm sounds like a great setup. What external USB pack are you using?
Emm
Post author@Noah - I haven't purchased any new batteries the great thing is the camera can be powered via USB so I'm just using an external USB battery pack. My battery pack recharges the internal battery so I never have to swap it.
Noah
I just got mine yesterday and so far really liking it. Quick question on batteries emm. On B+H I purchased a $30 Watson NP-FW50 battery pack as a cheaper alternative to the $50 Sony. It worked fine but then had a scary moment when it got stuck when I tried to take it out and I had to pry it out. Now I'm scared to try it again. Any thoughts on this battery or any alternative cheaper batteries that would work on the RX10 II?
This one on Amazon even cheaper but now worried about using any non Sony batteries. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GB9SWEU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=OR7VND4GXUJ9&coliid=I1TIREUE1STQ9F&psc=1
Emm
Post author@jo - You should balance the system while turned on as the lens extends. You can zoom in and out just a little bit without having to rebalance.
jo
hello,
thank you very much for your wonderfull film.
i just asked myself, how is it with the zoomable lens.
when you zoom in and out, the size of the lens/camera also change, so it shifts its weight. do you have to rebalance the gimbal every time you change the focal lenght?
did you try this.
how is it with the came-tv single gimbal. is the camera to heavy? otherwise it would fit perfect together, what do you think? Maybe you would like to test ist.
greetings from
germany
Tim
Thanks Emm! Wow, I couldn't find that anywhere else on-line. Perfect!
Kaster
My first thoughts exactly Emm... I thought the Slog looked much different than a7s Slog.
Emm
Post author@Tim - Try Picture Profile 7. Then click towards the right to modify it. It should be SLOG.
Tim
How do you know that it's shooting in S-log gamma? I got mine and don't see that option anywhere in the menus. Is it just the default gamma for the camera, regardless of picture profile?
Steve
Emm, no 4k 24fps?
Ron
Does camera support using a external field monitor during recording? I purchased a Panasonic G7 and have found that during recording the field monitor is off. Anyone have experience with this issue....thanks!
Darren
Ya I agree with Augusto - I didn't see any noise either. But like you said, perhaps it's the compression.
And I was going to ask but it looks like you answered my question - were you using a LUT to start your color correction. I thought you did a good job with the colors.
It's kind of insane that you can get all these features in a $1300 camera. Makes me pretty pumped about what could be coming with the A7S II 🙂
art sanchez
Undersposing cine 4 by 1.3-1.7 stops and bring back the shadows in post is a good alternative too. With this method you could film in 200 ISO and still have a wide DR like in slog2
Emm
Post author@Augusto - I think YouTube further compressed the video so things got softer and mushy, but when editing I could clearly tell. Other shots i've done at 800 ISO looked way cleaner. I also tried starting with an Arri LUT and I think it's a better starting point. I will try to color again.
Emm
Post author@Digital Dub - If you see purple in a lens flare, that's the lens. Probably like the iPhone 6, the lens coating causes purple flares. Maybe i'm just not very good, but this SLOG2 doesn't feel like the SLOG in the A7s. It's certainly a very flat profile, but there's a lot more noise than the A7s. Could just be the sensor.
Augusto
I was expecting to see noise...
It's clean
Digital Dub
With the gamma curves in Slog2, I doubt you would want (or are even able to) shoot at such a low ISO as 800. The A7s native ISO is 3200 and FS700's is 2000. Even at their bases, Slog2 is noisy, which is compensated for by shooting 2 stops over and then bringing down shadows in post.
Also, in the sun shots, is that CA in the sun/leaves/flare, or is that just the grade? It looks as though the flare in the raw shot is a deep purple already, which is a shame since Slog2 does such an excellent job in protecting the highlights. With the ND filter, it is amazing when shooting a subject backlit by the sun.