X70-Useful Picture Profiles

The Sony X70 has great detail with its native 4K sensor, even shooting at Full HD (1080/1920), but it does not have any kind of Log or ‘flat picture profile’.

This is a shame as the camera's biggest weakness is that it highlights clip really quickly in an unattractive way. Any value over 95 IRE has little or no detail.

I find that PP3 from the presets has the flattest image with lower saturation, but you still have to protect your highlights when setting exposure. This is often not a problem because the camera has very low noise, particularly at ISOs of 0-9db.

I have experimented with PP3 and made a slightly softer profile called ‘Fred' profile. This increases the shadow detail info with a lower detail setting and less saturation, making it good for post work for a less ‘Video’ look, but you still have to look after your high lights.

I have found a profile online by a news shooter called Paul Anderegg. He films a lot of night work with bright light sources in shot , so he likes solid black and colours that pop and the footage that needs little or no grading. The beauty of his profile is that he has adjusted the knee and the toe setting of the curve to prevent the highlights from clipping over 100 IRE, they move up to the 100 line and curve gently to meet it giving a softer roll off.

Explanation of knee and toe

https://helpguide.sony.net/di/pp/v1/en/contents/TP0000909110.html

https://wolfcrow.com/understanding-video-camera-profile-or-preset-adjustments-and-settings-part-two/

Here are some colour charts shot using different PPs . The white on the chart is consistently set at 90 IRE by adjusting the stop (the different Gamma curves of the various PPs in the Sony affect the exposure) and the white sheet behind is allowed to clip, going over to 108 IRE which is the most that can be recorded by the Sony. In Premiere I have unticked the CLAMP SIGNAL box in Premiere which allows the signal to rise above 100 IRE.

PP off (standard)

See how the white exposes fully to 108 IRE but there will be no detail over 100 IRE at all. There is also little shadow detail to the right of the colour chart

PP3

This is a little more shadow detail and the 709 Gamma is a little more muted. Detail is down to -3 for a softer look. Highlights still cut at 108 IRE

Fred ‘Flat profile’

This adapted from PP3 with the 709 Gamma .There is more shadow detail here as I have increased the Black Gamma level (not the Black Level) to preserve more detail (+7) in the dark tones before before black is reached, and the colour is muted but the highlights still go to 108 IRE which means they will clip hard at 100.

Paul Anderegg news profile

Look at how the highlight curve bends towards 100 IRE and stops there. This gives a more gradual gradation in the white curtain behind.. This uses the Cinematone 2 Gamma which is quite punchy. The Cinematone Gammas are the only one has will give this soft roll off at 100 IRE

My Cinematone profile

I have used the Cinematone 1 Gamma as it is less vibrant than the Cinematone 2. This gives me a more gentle roll off in the highlights which only peak at 100 IRE rather than 108 . I have reduced the saturation and details by -3 to soften the image and increased the Black Gamma level to +7 (not the Black Level) to preserve more detail in the dark tones before black is reached. I intend to use this profile in dark situations with hot lights in shot like well lit gigs or anywhere with a lot of white and highlights.

This and my ‘Flat profile’ are available from me on an SD card if you want to give them a go.

X70-Useful Picture Profiles

PP off (standard)

PP3

Fred ‘Flat profile’

Paul Anderegg news profile

My Cinematone profile

Further reading: