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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Diffused OPLF?

Think it's better to stay a bit further from the sensor. Would be cool if somebody started to make some small nettings to put inside the mounts right behind the lens. The task of changing the OPLF is something I would not really like to hand over to a rental clients and such. Putting a frame with some sort of diffuser behind the lens would be far more easy. So thats what I would vote for. The "alexa Diffusion" however is something i think is quite easy to mimic in post if you start on a 5k frame and aim for a 2k / alexa resolution.
 
An interchangeable rear of lens system would be great - like the old Panaflexes.

One thing: For all this talk of how flexible and changable Raw footage apparently is, I have never seen Red footage not look like "Red" footage - with that zingy hardness. I think clients are more inclined towards the softer kinder look of the Alexa (as am I) but prefer the size, form factor, frame ratesetc of the Epic. I'm trying to find a way of handing in footage that has the softer look baked in - rather than tell people, it will look good "later, when post have finished making it pretty".

Changing filters on Set or on the Movi/steadi costs production time and isn't always practical on multi camera shoots under changing conditions - so I'm interested in a system that we can put in and forget about ideally.
 
I have to say, Dragon footage has looked so organic and compelling, I'd completely forget about the option of swapping out the OLPF.
 
Hi - there was some talk a while back about a diffused OPLF option similar to the Alexa's system. Are Red still looking at this?

Thanks,

James





There is no "Diffusion" in the ALEXA's OPLF.

This rumor was started as a way to explain why the ALEXA seems to "roll-off" highlights in a much smoother way than the EPIC.

There are however many ways to add nets to the back of lenses. This was almost common practice some 25 years ago. The Leica C's have threaded rear elements precisely for this purpose.

I have a feeling that the Dragon Sensor will please many RedUsers as there will be a noticeable improvement in highlight gradation. Perhaps the Dragon is just the same MX with a "diffusion filter" in front of the OLPF...
 
Well, of course some extra soft highlights and blooming is sweet, after all it was, among other things, what seduced a good bit of film shooters to use Alexa. Extra highlight room and sweet transition.
 
I don't agree that RED footage has a specific look, of course if shot straight 5600, 800 iso using red gamma 3 redcolor3 etc, then might get a "classic red look" but as the sensor is so deep and there is so many things that can be altered and knobs that can be turned so I find it quite easy to get just about any look. Alot off highlight protection gives you more of a alexa look.

So If you want a softer more diffused look straight out of camera I would shoot for high iso. Basically not to much key and low level all together without dipping to the sensor floor then when you bring up the iso to about 2000-3000 Then at least to my eye you get a diffused soft image.

Here is an example. It's shot midnight with a few small light bulbs and the TV in my living room as the only lights. It says 2500iso on the vimeo page but I think I was more in the 4000 range for the most part.

https://vimeo.com/56491052
 
The Alexa does indeed include a subtle low-con like filter into it's optical system, you can easily see it on practicals and other sources in frame.
To emulate the look on an Epic use a Schneider 1/16 HD Classics Soft.
 
The Alexa does indeed include a subtle low-con like filter into it's optical system, you can easily see it on practicals and other sources in frame.
To emulate the look in front of the lens on an Epic use a Schneider 1/16 HD Classics Soft.
 
The Alexa does indeed include a subtle low-con like filter into it's optical system, you can easily see it on practicals and other sources in frame.
To emulate the look in front of the lens on an Epic use a Schneider 1/16 HD Classics Soft.

True that. We were asked earlier this year to match Alexa footage with RED, and we did something similar: shot with Classic Soft 1/8 and it looked incredibly similar.
 
The Alexa does indeed include a subtle low-con like filter into it's optical system, you can easily see it on practicals and other sources in frame.
To emulate the look on an Epic use a Schneider 1/16 HD Classics Soft.


berenice-marlohe-as-eve-in-skyfall-007.jpg



Evan Grant, "The Authority" on how a 100 year-old German company builds it cameras.

A Schneider 1/16 HD Classic Soft is not the only thing that separates these two machines.
 
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There is no "Diffusion" in the ALEXA's OPLF.

This rumor was started as a way to explain why the ALEXA seems to "roll-off" highlights in a much smoother way than the EPIC. ...

Some time ago I believe on Cinematography.net an Arri representative confirmed that, he said something like "not sure why we would want a lo con in there". Whereever the look comes from, it is not done optically.
 
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