The Sony FS100 is a fantastic large sensor video camera for the money, but one of the chief criticisms is that its highlight roll-off is less than pleasant. If you're trying to squeeze as much dynamic range out of that camera as possible, your options are limited, as it does not provide any sort of log mode like its big brother the Sony F3. By utilizing scene files, we can make the most of the limited color space and dynamic range. Andy Shipsides, who is an essential resource for all things color profiles and crop factors, recently updated his custom scene files for the FS100.
Here's his description of the new profiles over at the AbelCine blog:
With the updated firmware on the FS100 many people have also been asking about new Scene Files for the camera. There was talk about the color or gamma modes changing with the new firmware, but from my testing and from what Sony has told us this is not the case. However, it was well worth re-examining our original files to come up with some new looks for you to try out on the camera.
Below is an example of what you can expect to gain in terms of dynamic range with the new AB_Range2 scene file:
Standard FS100 Profile - No Scene File
AB_Range2 Scene File
There are a total of six new scene files for the FS100, and all of them have very specific looks and purposes. If you want more dynamic range, you'll want the profile called AB_Range2, and if you're trying to match footage to Canon DSLRs, the High Contrast profile might do the trick. Below you will find examples the download links to the new 2.0 firmware for the FS100 (which is required), and all six of the new profiles. Scene files, color profiles, and picture styles, when used correctly, can make your life much easier in post, and when used incorrectly, and certainly make footage unrecoverable. It's important to know what they do before using them on a critical shoot, so that you know what to expect when it's time to color grade.
If you haven't used Andy's field of view calculator, you should check it out, because it's absolutely essential for trying to wrap your head around the constantly changing sensor sizes and crop factors. One lens focal length is chosen and the resulting field of view for two different cameras can be compared. It's updated on a regular basis, so you be sure to check back as new cameras are released.
