Amira vs Weapon 2K ProRes 444

[jacob.schwarz]

So i had a client send me an Amira to shoot on tomorrow because they wanted the ease of a ProRes workflow. I told them that i would rather shoot on the Weapon and I can now deliver them 2K ProRes 4444 just like the Amira right out of the camera. They were totally down, but since the Weapon currently can't play back QuickTime files in Camera for Review we might still be shooting on Amira after all.

But a lot of people even Arri Rave about their color science and sensor, so shot some personal test to see whats up since i had time and both cameras on hand. I'm by NO means Phil but here is a side by side of both color comparison of the Weapon and Arima.


Setting for both Cameras:

Cooke S4 50mm t.5.6
5600k
800 ISO
2K ProRes 4444

Weapon - RedLogFilm / DragonColor 2 (STH OLPF)
Amira - Log-C

I imported both into Davinic Resolve and color matched them to the SpyderChecker chart from Cineon to Rec709.

Here are the results and before i tell you guys which is which i wonder what your best guess are. I'll post the actual ProRes clips tomorrow after my shoot.

 

[John Brennick]

Hey Jacob,

The image looks broken.

 

[jacob.schwarz]

Alright now you should be able to see the image. I keep posting on google drive and i can see it but i guess no one else can ... lol.

 

[Bob Gundu]

I thought weapon can record both QuickTime and R3D at the same time?

 

[Kyle Wullschleger]

Just guessing the Amira is on the right because of that slight built-in low-con look.

 

[Jacobo Martinez]

I like the right side, it's pretty hard without seeing skin tone.

 

[jacob.schwarz]

I thought weapon can record both QuickTime and R3D at the same time?

Yes it can, it can even do 4K ProRes and Raw at the same time. But for clients that just want to walk away with ProRes you can just record ProRes and nothing else. Its all about giving your client what they want at the end of the day.

 

[Nick Morrison]

My guess is Weapon on the right, Amira on the left.

 

[Anton Shavlik]

Resolve's color match gives somewhat variable results, could you show what they looked like right out of the camera?

I also think Dragon is left, Amira is right.

 

[John Brennick]

I'm going to agree with Nick that the Weapon is on the right and the Amira is on the left.

 

[Bill Totolo]

Thanks for providing this.
Dragon left/Amira right.

 

[Joan Poggio]

Dragon Left, livelier clearer colours and no green cast in black. Amira... Right...

 

[Mark Pedersen]

Overall, they look pretty damn close.

M

 

[BRANDON JAMESON]

Left is more color-true.
Not a fan of the green undertones in the gray-blacks on the right.

 

[Akin A]

FYI, Resolve's Color Match makes Dragon footage look bad at the moment. It hasn't been updated for RED settings yet.

 

[Brandon Kelly]

amira on the right.

 

[Michael Blieden]

FYI, Resolve's Color Match makes Dragon footage look bad at the moment. It hasn't been updated for RED settings yet.

I second this. I used Resolve color match last week with some Dragon footage and Colorchecker Passport. Made the actor's face look ruddy and unflattering, whereas uncorrected Dragon LLOLPF straight out of the camera at 5600 looked gorgeous.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

It's impossible to see any difference on images like that. Your eyes perception of color is influenced by everything around you, what colors and luminance you exposed them to right before and so on. If you want to do comparison images you need to shoot real things with highlights and shadows and a gamma curve so it isn't directly log-mode. Otherwise it's rather just a guessing game.

 

[Phil Holland]

It's impossible to see any difference on images like that. Your eyes perception of color is influenced by everything around you, what colors and luminance you exposed them to right before and so on. If you want to do comparison images you need to shoot real things with highlights and shadows and a gamma curve so it isn't directly log-mode. Otherwise it's rather just a guessing game.

Erm. Well you do need to do both, however, these charts are standards for a reason. If you can't "read" them and discern useful information you are likely not a colorist. Because that's perceptional and numerical which is not a "guessing game".

Also, Resolves color match function "should" work fine as we are dealing with a ProRes source. Resolve gets confused by R3Ds however.

 

[AndreeMarkefors]

Based on how you present it, I'd say Weapon left, Amira right.

Left looks a bit cleaner and more pure. Was the lighting even (quite a bit of sheen)?