Last month I did a little project for the Krohn Conservatory in Cincinnati. It was shot entirely in 4K, and you can download the 4K file from Vimeo to see the added detail 4K offers. I have found that my YouTube version actually streams 4K and does a nice job of it, if you are set up for it. Vimeo is not yet streaming 4K as far as I can tell.
With the exception of the GoPro aerial shots, this was shot entirely on the Sony PXW-FS7. Many of the mid-range shots used the Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS Lens, and it does a nice job. It also did some nice work on some closeups. I also used my workhorse Canon 24-105 f/4.0 with Metabones Speedbooster Ultra which opens the lens up to f/2.8. You can get very close with it also, as it has built-in macro capabilities.
The extreme closeups were all shot on the Canon EF 100mm Macro f/2.8. I used the Speedbooster Ultra by force of habit, as it gives you another full stop and more depth of field. Then I woke up and realized that the Metabones v.4 has a crop factor and lets you get even closer, so I used that on a lot of shots.
Now I will say this about glass. The Sony 28-135mm is f/4.0 and it is harder to get the shallow depth of field that I like. I am also used to using the Canon glass. Somehow I more at home with the Canon glass after looking through it for so many years.
I shot this all in Cine EI with S-Gamut3.Cine/SLog3. So far that is the only way I have shot this camera. I set zebra 2 at 61% which dials 18% grey in at 41% which is the proper exposure per Sony. I adjust aperture until I see the zebra begin to display anywhere there is white and exposure is set. I will use a white card if I have time to be precise. I highly recommend Doug Jensen’s course on the FS7.
Also if I have time, I shoot an X-Rite Macbeth Colorchecker card. You can read about the Macbeth Colorchecker here. I find it really helps out in color correction in post.
I use Denver Riddle’s Color Grading Central’s FCPX plugin Color Finale. I use it to apply a LUT and I am 90% there. I can use his color wheels and curves to dial the shots in easily. For your convenience I have uploaded the four standard Sony LUTs for the FS7 here for you to download.
Go to Vimeo and download the 4K version and watch on a big monitor or 4K TV to see just how incredible the images off the FS7 look.
Here is how I shot the @SonyProUSA FS7 macro closeups of butterflies and graded with @colorgrading Color Finale http://t.co/aNzCpM33TU