e. gustavo petersen | cinematographer

I start a feature in a week and I knew we’d be shooting HD, but I wasn’t sure which camera I’d want to use.  To figure it out, I visited Alternative Rentals this morning to do a test on an Sony CineAlta F900 with a new software package they’re promoting and it’s called YedLog – named after the one of the inventors Steve Yedlin.  The software essentially bypasses the preamp and sets all the menu setting to a zero state.  What you end up with is a Log color space in 4:4:4 (F950) or 4:2:2 (F900).

It’s a fascinating possibility.  I’ve included my camera log for what we captured.  The test was a very simple over and under exposure test to see what what can be saved when conditions are really out of wack as well as what are the most pleasing settings.  In the coming month, I’ll be back to do it again this time with a model and if time permits and Alternative Rentals is agreeable to it, I’ll take the camera out of the prep room and into real locations both day and night.

I’ll be looking at the footage next week on a Avid Nitris and report back on what I find.

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