Nikon vs. Zeiss used on the same project

[fullyellowjacket]

We did a one week shoot to complete our film. Our second unit dp (who was very good!) used Nikon lenses, compared with the Zeiss standard primes we used on our first 30 day shoot. I was concerned all along that the footage was not going to match and it doesn't. The Zeiss footage is crisp with less contrast. The Nikon footage has more contrast and looks more like, well like pictures. Any advice? What can (if anything) be done to fix this in post?

Help!

 

[Joel Kaye]

was concerned all along that the footage was not going to match and it doesn't.

Have you had a good colorist try to match them? I'd be surprised if there's not another variable... like the grade or the aperture or the lighting or the locations etc. that was different as opposed to this glass vs. that glass.

 

[Evin Grant]

A color correction/digital intermediate pass should be fine. I' did 2nd unit photography for a feature film shot on 35mm using a Red One and Nikon still lenses, mostly the 17-35mm f2.8.

 

[Warren Kommers]

I have mostly had the opposite experience. I use Nikon sparingly when I'm traveling light(no anvil cases please) and usually doing the shoot by myself for fun thing. I've been surprised at how sharp they are in comparison to our S4's and Optimo.

UNLESS.......youre wide open(worlds of difference between f/1.3 and 2 on nikon 35mm,50mm) or your shooting 3k or 2k for fps. Then it definitely shows more.

Did he do either of these?

Either way.....once you have locked picture you should be able to bring the contrast and sharpness closer together. I would slightly dumb down the zeiss stuff around the nikon stuff and then gradually ramp back in the sharpness until the next second unit shot comes up. Or just leave them at half way of each other all the way through if the inter cutting between the two is frequent.

Contrast aside.....I've found the RED one to make the oldest lenses look sharp

 

[Evin Grant]

Also it's important to distinguish between acute sharpness and resolution.
My Cooke 10:1 MII is just not that sharp on acute lines but it can render magnificent detail in textures. It has very good resolution but not acuteness, this is also one of the reasons it looks so good on people.

 

[Shawn R]

Post some pics please.