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Sony's A7s turns night into day with ISO 409,600 (demo)

Michael Jarvis said:
Something strikes me a little funny about this example. Please correct me if I am wrong. Don't you think if this was truly a very dark scene, the fire would be throwing much more light around to the surrounding objects. Being that it is the "key light" in this situation...if it were very dark...his leg, the boat...the surrounding grass area, the logs, and more of the bucket would show more illumination from from that light source at higher ISOs. I could be completely wrong. On the other hand...if it were not that dark outside...it naturally would have the throw as it does here.

Whats your take?
Click to expand...

how do you know the fire was anything more than a few hot coals and a very faint flame?

it could have been almost out by that point
 
Looks like this was shot at dusk and underexposed, not shot at night.
If that is the case, the title may be misleading.
 
I agree. Shot at dusk or just about dark. Exposed to keep the small fire in check. They clamped the highs and pulled everything else up… Curves 101.

SONY marketing, deceptive? Isn't that like accusing the sky of being blue?
 
It's not Night Vision Goggles . . . silly guyz

Just a fuckin awesome little point 'n shoot that belongs in an adventure travelers' day-pack. You know what they say . . . the best form of contraception is the one you have with you ;-)
 
It's a damn expensive point & shoot at around $3,600! If only it at least did internal 4K 8 bit 4:2:0 and was $1,600 :)
 
deceptive or not, it'll still kick the living shit out of Red, Canon, BMC, Nikon and basically every other camera in high ISO. I've always wanted a 4K capable Nikon D3s. Now it's finally here with an E-mount no less :hurray:
 
Adam Johnson said:
It's a damn expensive point & shoot at around $3,600! If only it at least did internal 4K 8 bit 4:2:0 and was $1,600 :)
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The majority of people buying this camera are not doing so to shoot video with it. It's what Zeb says it is. Yes, it's on the pricey side, but given the size and specs, it's going to do well at this price point. Sony has some other cameras coming soon that will shoot 4K XAVC and are intended for that purpose, recording 4K onboard, and they will be priced similarly. Even paired with an external 4K recorder, this thing is still smaller than that Panny GH4 will be in many of it's 4K configurations. What I really don't get is that fat-ass bottom strap-on port base thing that Panasonic has for the GH4. We saw a lot of that crap in the late '80s to early '90s for broadcast cameras and it sucked then. Why bring it back now?

I'll wait until I get my hands on the A7s before I decide for sure… I know I'm saying that most won't record 4K on board and I wouldn't myself. But then again, I probably would if it had the ability and I know there will probably be an A8s in a year or so that will do just that. So it gives me pause every time I look at all the cameras on my shelves that I no longer shoot. Some of them not that old, but can't even give some of them away. I still have my Sony NEX-5, their entry into this small form factor, mirror less camera market. Nice camera, but video sucks as it's 1080i and not 1080p. Shutter skew not as bad as a 5D2 or 7D, but still bad. Excellent picture quality for stills though and with an APS-C sized sensor and the whole thing comparable to the more compact micro 4/3 cameras. I shelved the camera because it would frickin' overheat! Even shooting stills! Hopefully the A7s won't have such an issue. :)

Dunkan Wolf said:
deceptive or not, it'll still kick the living shit out of Red, Canon, BMC, Nikon and basically every other camera in high ISO. I've always wanted a 4K capable Nikon D3s. Now it's finally here with an E-mount no less :hurray:
Click to expand...

I'm inclined to agree with the exception of Red. You obviously haven't shot with Dragon yet. With Dragon, we have to dig real deep to find the bottom on that exposure curve. And I'm curious to know just how much post-processing NR is done as part of the decode process on the A7s. I'm betting the sensor or direct RAW data has no better s/nr db range, probably not as good.
 
Well, based on the fact that this stills camera has been announced at NAB and promoted everywhere with video recording functionalities :

http://www.sony.net/Products/di/en-us/products/vq5f/index.html?SR=hero:camera:A7s:ss


It seems like Sony is pretty confident in its motion imaging usage and market.
There's also the Slog2.

Combined with Atomos Shogun seems like a pretty powerful motion imaging package for $5500.
For lesser camera movements. And apart from ergonomics. :)
 
Whether or not it was "night" is irrelevant. The camera took a near black input image but still could boost it to well exposed without egregious artifacting. If you shot day for night with 3.0 ND and a F5.6 it would be equally impressive. I don't see any marketing deviousness in the slightest. The point is sound that at 400 ISO it's near black and at 400,000 ISO it's pretty decent. Could they have started with F1.2 and a 360* shutter an hour later after dusk? Sure. But that wouldn't have proven anything more than a similar starting exposure at dusk. 1/48th and F2.8 is a pretty "normal" exposure and at that "normal" exposure it looks pretty dark.
 
I disagree with the dusk theory. The lights off in the distance, boat lights? Lighthouse? would never have been that bright at dusk. I bought the A7r to replace my 5d2 for stills, it's a damn good little camera. Haven't bothered shooting video with it.
 
Zakaree Sandberg said:
how do you know the fire was anything more than a few hot coals and a very faint flame?

it could have been almost out by that point
Click to expand...

You are correct, I do not know. Just raising questions to provoke a conversation. Lots of good points here. I am also not saying this camera is bad at all. Still just learning about it. Would love to hear some more feedback from people who have had some first hand experience with it. Looks really interesting though I think I may pass and wait another year or so until an internal 4K recorder is an option. I do love the idea of a tiny camera to just keep with me at all times though.
 
:)


Okay...not that it really matters...and only for the sake of clarity and avoiding misconceptions...

Premises for the conclusion:

1) If a fire is burning in pitch darkness, even if a small one - yes it lights the environment, if in the pot then through that smoke, and yes the man standing to it and the fish should be lighted at least a tiny bit, which should be noticeable with footage pushed this much, with much higher contrast to the environment. Light from the fire pulsating through the smoke should affect at least the ground a few feet around it. The same way a single match can light a face from 10 inches and be recorded with significantly less sensitive cameras than this one.
Unless the environment is brighter.

My initial reaction was the same as Michael's and the scene felt unnatural for a lifted night shot.

2) Lights on the sea horizon can be visible (and recorded) at dusk, I've been enough times on similar sights in all times of day. Depends on how far are they.

3) Men preparing food or working outside usually don't do it in full darkness, if they do and in moonless night, they tend to behave much more carefully and work slower instinctively, feeling with fingers and watching their step.

4) That environment and sky do not look as shot at night.


:)


I think this should be a great camera regardless.
Not a contender for high end but it was not designed to be.
 
I have a deep burning feeling that RED should've came to this market with an a7s like camera, 4K, Full frame, Dragon like DR and 4096x2160 R3D recording on CFast cards or alike. all wrapped in that small and sturdy body running at a max 30p or 60p.. maybe revive the old Red mount Idea.. Killing Scarlet? well she is already dead.. and RED been always a pioneer..
 
Can't wait to put this bad boy on a baby Octo for vacation fun shoots
 
Jeff Kilgroe said:
I agree. Shot at dusk or just about dark. Exposed to keep the small fire in check. They clamped the highs and pulled everything else up… Curves 101.

SONY marketing, deceptive? Isn't that like accusing the sky of being blue?
Click to expand...

Yeeeeeeeeeep ! Classic Sony tricks.
 
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