Epic-X Monochrome vs. Epic-Dragon

[BrendanLeahy]

With the announcement of the Scarlet-W Monochrome, I wanted to share my own (non-scientific) monochrome test to show why simply desaturating a color sensor just doesn't cut it. (Borrowing post formatting from the master Phil Holland)

Epic-X Monochrome
-5K WS
-4:1 compression
-36fps with 180º shutter
-ISO 800-f/2

Epic-Dragon
-6K WS-6:1 compression
-36fps with 180º shutter
-ISO 800-f/2
-STH OLPF

Why not shoot 5K WS on the Epic-Dragon?
I wanted to give the Epic-Dragon every advantage possible over the Epic-X Monochrome. 6K WS scaled down to 5K WS (as opposed to windowing in), plus better compression with Dragon tech should have both really helped the image quality on it.

Why 36fps?
I was shooting some slow-mo stuff and that was the rate I chose for my particular test run project.

Why 4200 kelvin on the Epic-Dragon?
Again, this was just a personal preference. I wanted to set the color temp to something that was pleasing to my eye.

What other variables should be taken into account?

• "Skin-tone + highlight" OLPF was used in the Epic-Dragon - I wanted to protect the highlights on the Dragon because the roll-off on the Monochrome is so smooth. It is rated cleanest at ISO 320, but I blackshaded for ISO 800.
• Epic-X Monochrome sensor is rated at ISO 2000, but I brought it down to ISO 800 (the lowest it can go) to meet the Dragon sensor
• Epic-X Monochrome is fixed at RedColor4 + 5600K. Only the gamma can be changed
• Epic-Dragon at DragonColor2/RedGamma4 + 4200K because that looked pleasing to me

 

[Nick Morrison]

This is awesome. Thanks!! Makes me very curious how good Scarltet-W Monochrome will be!

 

[Samir Patel]

Thanks Brendan, I've been leaning towards the monochrome scarlet-w.... and time to start eating pasta every day until shipped.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Yes! The Epic-X Monochrome still has the higher fps advantage, but I think 60fps should still be plenty at 5K for most shooters who snag the Scarlet-W Monochrome.

Agreed. But with the new lower noise floor and DR from DSMC2, I can't IMAGINE how good Monochrome Scarlet-W is going to be!

 

[Daniel Reed]

Don't forget the Epic-M Dragon Monochrome at 6K

 

[Stacey Spears]

Wish I had the money, and use/need, for a monochrome. It's simply stunning!

 

[Antony Newman]

I guess the lower noise floor of the DSMC2 would bring the Weapon's images closer.

Perhaps an interesting future comparison would be to compare the monochrome 4K UHD output created from 8K colour Weapon with the 5K Scarlet-W Mono.

The 5K mono would likely still have a finer luma resolution (Equivalent to a 8.5K colour sensor) - but that the signal to noise ratio of the Mono would require the 8K image to be bathed in (guess) 2.5 stops more light to have the same tonal 'density'.

AJ

 

[Erick Liu]

Bayer filters pull back on quality a bit though...

 

[David Bourla]

Why the different compressions?