GEAR
SONY FX9 TEST
ABOVE Resolution of fine detail and colour reproduction is very impressive, with a wide dynamic range
Super 35 crop. Forthcoming free firmware upgrades will enable 180fps in FHD, and 120fps in 4K with a Super 35 crop when recorded externally. And at launch, QFHD 4K 3840x2160 recording is available while 17:9 C4K 4096x2160 will come in a free firmware upgrade soon. But until these upgrades come, the frame rates are pretty limited. While the FS7 and its little brother FS5 were lapped up by action sports filmmakers who loved the 180fps or 240fps capability, the FX9 is a tad disappointing in comparison. And if you use the camera’s S&Qmode for slow- or fast-motion capture, the camera loses all autofocus functions. One way around this is to change to 50p or 60p as your base setting, and slow it down inpost by half. Itmeans some menu digging. And any faster frame rates than that and you’re out of luck in terms of AF. The new sensor uses a Dual Base ISO system, which changes how the sensor gathers light and isn’t just like cranking up the gain. It not only changes sensitivity, but also the spread of dynamic range. If you use the low base ISO 800, there are the same number of stops of range above and below a mid-grey tone to capture highlights and shadows. When you switch to the higher base ISO of 4000 for lower light, there are just five stops above mid-grey and tens tops below to retain more shadow detail. The sensor responds
differently when used in each of the base ISO settings, even if the ISO you have physically set is the same. So, for example, if you set base ISO of 800, then the actual shooting ISO of 1600, the noise in the shadow areas is worse than if you set base ISO of 4000 and actual ISO of 2500. Essentially, set the low base ISO of 800 for bright conditions, and if you need to go over 1200 then switch to the highbase ISOof 4000. Compared to the FS7, which had a base ISO of 2000, the FX9 is leagues apart in terms of low noise. That’s thanks to the much newer full-frame sensor producing incredibly detailed, low- noise images. It’s even very good when you underexpose and then crank up the exposure in post. It’s a great sensor. However, the base ISO is different at different gamma settings. You can either try to remember these, or
switch the ISOmode to Gain instead. That way, you’ll know0dB is running at base ISO whatever gamma you choose. It’s a bit of an old-school videography way of thinking, rather than ISO,whichhasbeenthedomain of cinematographers shooting film, or stills shooters. And while you’re at it, if you change shutter speed to shutter angle and leave it at 180°, then the shutter speed will always be double the frame rate. Luckily, on the FX9, the shutter angle stays at 180° even if you change frame rates, unlike on the FS5, where if you change frame rates then shutter angle changes, which is a total pain. On the FX9, we left shutter angle at 180°, then, if you want to change it for creative effect, you can. Anything to avoid digging into the Sony menus – which have changed and been simplified, with many of the commonly used settings grouped together, but are still complicated. Like the FS7, when you start using the FX9, you are faced with two “The FX9 is leagues apart in terms of low noise, thanks to the much newer full-frame sensor”
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PRO MOVIEMAKER SUMMER 2020
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