Is RAW Monitor On Camera Really RAW?

[Russ Lasson]

Russ,

50 IRE seems awfully low for highlights...

-Thor

I agree, 50 IRE is low for highlights. But if it's supposed to be a dark scene or a scene where the DP wants the skin tones to be the brightest thing in the shot, and the DP sees that it's exposed at around 50-60 IRE, then that seems acceptable.

Again, this can be very misleading though as if you're monitoring in REDSpace, then those IRE levels will drop by as much as 40 IRE, going from 50-60 IRE down to 10-20 IRE.

Even if you're monitoring in RAW or REC709, the IRE will drop by about 20 IRE, taking 50-60 down to 30-40 IRE for those highlights.

Next time you stop by Universal Post, come see me and I'll show you some great examples of what DPs thought was acceptable, only to find out that they underexposed because they didn't really understand what they were seeing on the scope/image on the camera.

This thread is much less about how to expose properly and much more about the difference between how the camera actually is recording the R3D data verses how the camera monitors that data.

Understanding this will help regardless of how you've currently been exposing.

-Russ

 

[Gabriele Turchi]

Hi Guys

i would like to ask a couple of question:

1)Raw View mode:
Graeme said that RAW view is no color matrix or gain adjustment , only Rec709 Gamma Curve.

2)Rec709 view mode :
seems to Rec709 gamma curve + rec 709 colorspace (and than is up to you apply or not a gain (using ISO) ...Correct?

3)RedSpace view mode:
without change the Iso redspace show a different gamma response in the image so i assume that the REDSpace View Mode is : REDSpace color Space ; RedSpace Gamma (and than is up to use apply or not a gain correction)

Is this correct?
If this is correct i think it's confusing that all this three different viewing mode are under the settings "color"...I think it's confusing because RedSpace have different gamma curve so it's not only about color ...but as i said i might be wrong...


Also:
Why nobody have never asked for REDLog Gamma Curve or Pd985 etc...out of the camera ? I understand that those gamma curve (are they a log gamma curve right?) require a viewing Lut ...But i think that could be useful have that output fro film out preview(having that lut available)


Also :About Linear Light : I have understood that Linear light have gamma 1.0 and require a gamma Lut to be viewed correctly in a standard monitor situation that have gamma (non gamma 1.0), i am wondering :
If my intention for the project is to output in REC709 World , should i only apply the REC709 Linear gamma Curve or i can even go back to linear light and custom design my gamma curve ?

for what i have understood,
Basically apply a rec709 Gamma curve mean :In a 709 standard playback (such as Broadcast , Blu ray etc..(that have gamma 2.2)) your footage (tht has been recorde in liner light gamma 1.0) will look like this ...
But,
if my monitor is set up for 709 correct view (correct gamma , correct color space etc..), i should have the freedom to choos even liner light if i like it (for artistic reason)or different color space because what i am seeing is waht i will have in the end...

Is that correct?



Thanks


G

 

[Thor Wixom]

I agree, 50 IRE is low for highlights. But if it's supposed to be a dark scene or a scene where the DP wants the skin tones to be the brightest thing in the shot, and the DP sees that it's exposed at around 50-60 IRE, then that seems acceptable.

Again, this can be very misleading though as if you're monitoring in REDSpace, then those IRE levels will drop by as much as 40 IRE, going from 50-60 IRE down to 10-20 IRE.

Even if you're monitoring in RAW or REC709, the IRE will drop by about 20 IRE, taking 50-60 down to 30-40 IRE for those highlights.

Next time you stop by Universal Post, come see me and I'll show you some great examples of what DPs thought was acceptable, only to find out that they underexposed because they didn't really understand what they were seeing on the scope/image on the camera.

This thread is much less about how to expose properly and much more about the difference between how the camera actually is recording the R3D data verses how the camera monitors that data.

Understanding this will help regardless of how you've currently been exposing.

-Russ

Russ,

I understand better what you're talking about now. I can see how in specific situations, the "curve" on the gamma could throw everything off.

I guess for now, the best thing to do is make a "guess" based on experience, like we used to do with film.

-Thor