Epic Compression Test Results

[C.H.Haskell]

Thanks for sharing the test, conducting some of my own here in spain and when I get a internet connection I will share more. Best C

 

[Tim Bradley]

I am very interested what compression ratios people are choosing for their projects and why. For the moment I think I'll go with 8:1 until I can do some tests or hear more from others on their results at different compression ratios.

 

[Rob Ruffo]

That's the Burning Man spirit. Get rid of those rats sniffing around the professional's backs! Who are they anyways. I can't imagine that it would be in the interests of RED. They are opening their product to a larger market, and they'll be plenty of people who have good stories, skills and creativity to offer a more competitive marketplace of filmmakers, not just the ones who can afford $100K cameras. Let them come in! I can't wait.

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So we were talking about compression compromises. What do things look like at 13:1? We'd love to know. It also goes to compress to 18:1... why did RED add this kind of level of compression, what does it look like, and what can you do with it?

Generally speaking, noobs vastly overestimate the degree to which they are perceived as a threat to professionals. They are not. They can be very, very annoying though.

 

[Zeb B]

Generally speaking, noobs vastly overestimate the degree to which they are perceived as a threat to professionals. They are not. They can be very, very annoying though.

So did you figure out what Jeano was trying to say? Something about my "Burning Man spirit". This from a guy who is making a buck on selling a Burning Man product . . . those who know the BM principles will know the level of ὑποκρίτης there.

My point was to create an NDA private space where vested Owners could exchange notes and test results without fear of those posts being broadcast to the competition for negative marketing purposes in this very competitive and bare knuckle industry - dumb idea I guess.

 

[Will Keir]

+1, I'd like to see this. I think the same subject and motion with 5 or 6 different compressions would be great.

I'm unsure what I'll shoot at. I'll go 5k because you get more of the senor then 3k, so shallow DoF for a nice filmic look. I'd assume it's the same case on the epic as it was with the R1. At 3k, u don't use the full sensor.

Haha, well even "done right" is going to differ from person to person. Do you want downloadable 1080p prores files, or straight up R3Ds? Personally I feel like it would be rather useful to see what the extreme levels of compression do in a "final output" sort of scenario, but if you want to mess with RAW files I'm happy to post those instead. Just might need some help with a server if that's the case.

My plan would be to set up both an indoor lit scene and an outdoor high-detail natural light scene, with a model and subtle movement; record one take at each of the various levels of compression and share the results. Obviously compression works in all kinds of different ways; this isn't going to scratch the surface of all of the different ways one could shoot. Shooting extreme motion from a vehicle mount, for example, would probably really stress it compared to a locked-off shot. This "test" would be a more "normal" (if that exists) type of shot that might be applicable to narrative work.

Thoughts appreciated as I'll set this up for tomorrow.

 

[Will Keir]

Unfortunately the rain didn't show up as pronounced as I had hoped (this is why we do tests, right? Guess I needed a test for the test!)

Milk. Not sure what the milk to water ratio is or if it's 100% milk, but Hollywood has been using this technique to show rain for ages.

 

[Will Keir]

+1


...

Neither for me unfortunately. Thanks for uploading though! Would value someone giving a synopsis of the shot results, for us guys with viewing issues. Thanks!

 

[Will Keir]

So I think it's hard to talk about the compression as a solo thing, it very much tangle up with lights, lenses camera moves, post and everything else.

Yeah but just because compression is situational and variable based doesn't mean we shouldn't try to digest our knowledge, experience and test results and create a successful practice guide.

Every camera user doesn't need to test all of the compression rates. I'd much rather have you tell me 5k 8:1 works great for "normal" shots and use 5k 3:1 for vFXs work. We can use this as a rough guide and update the situational knowledge base.

A very important thread, thanks for all that post and contribute. Thanks for spending your time, so I don't have to spend mine. Round of beers to all footage testers. Cheers.

 

[Will Keir]

Can someone please relink the file?

 

[Will Keir]

Why did this thread die? We were just getting into underexposed/ambient lighting tests.