10 Sony Camera Hacks for Filmmakers!

[@TheFrenchGlow]

When Caleb makes a list of 10 "Hacks" you never knew existed for the camera you use everyday.🤣🤣

[@johnnybermudez]

Dude the spot focus link that shows the small spot is life changing... Love and as always thanks broski 👍🏽

[@chrisbrockhurst]

the spot metering tip is pure gold!!!

[@antony_reynolds]

Wow! This spot meter Hack is wow!

[@tvnathreviews]

Bought Sony a7iV day before yesterday and your video is right on queue. ❤

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

This is the best shameless plug I’ve ever seen!

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Ha! Thanks!

[@Matt.Gillard]

That Spot metering Hack was brilliant! Thank you!! I also add a Right sided Menu button and it makes life so much better!

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Great hacks. Thank you!

[@JamesKaudewitz]

Thanks for the good "hacks" @ DSLR Video Shooter ! One note to anyone using the Clear Image zoom hack: On the a7iv you will lose face/eye detect autofocus when this digital zoom is active (at least from my testing). AF still works, but not as effectively. Just fair warning

[@StraightUpEats]

Hi James, thanks for noting that! So with clear image zoom on, face/eye detect gets turned off. So does that mean as soon as you zoom out with clear image zoom, you get face/eye detect back? Or does the setting for clear image zoom need to be turned off completely within the menu to get f/e detect back?

[@caryljohnlestherducor9891]

Thanks for this, mate! A big help. I'm looking to buy the Sigma APSC trinity lenses again haha kidding. I just want the 16mm for my wide shots, thanks to the ClearImage Zoom hack.

[@Glen.Danielsen]

So invaluable. Thank you Caleb! 💛🙏🏼

[@LiveEasy]

Holy crap Caleb! This is one banger of a video.

[@ByteReview]

This was awesome. Thanks Caleb!

[@ShaneFoley]

incredible. Also, have other luts that have been raved about but I always exclusively use your Pike lut because I have found it to be the best in almost every situation. Thanks for the always thorough tutorials!

[@dslrvideoshooter]

That is so great to hear Shane! Thank you for the kind words!

[@richardnayfilms2812]

@@dslrvideoshooter Is it me or does the Slog3 Pike take away blue tones?

[@ShaneFoley]

@@richardnayfilms2812 I've never noticed it... but I'm also mostly focused on the skin tones.

[@thisiseric]

If only this video came out a week ago. I had 5 clients shoots this past week and like 5 of these tips directly address some of the struggles I was trying to work around! The spot meter indicator, in particular is really useful for me! Thanks so much for the great tips as always!

[@haseenmultimedia3103]

superb. this will save a lot of frustrations on my a6500. Many thanks

[@keith-knittel]

BIG fan of remapping the menu button to the right side of the camera! Never used the desktop app, have been using the phone app - but the desktop app with the wire looks much more stable and reliable to use. The mobile app is really convenient....when it works

[@b_cinematographer]

You should check out the Monitor + application sometime, it greatly extends the Sony camera's ability to control the camera over the phone. I have been using it with a7s3 for over a year.

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Have you tried Field Monitor? Amazing stuff!

[@b_cinematographer]

@@dslrvideoshooter hmmm no ;) i will test it and compere them

[@JochemtePas]

Instantly clicked the notification!

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Thanks man!!!

[@jondargy]

You have outdone yourself this time sir. Genius!!

[@terriplays1726]

Wow, these were some really useful tips. Chapeau!

[@TheFPSChannel]

Just a teaspoon of the wealth from your courses. 👏

[@Nathankinamorh]

OMG can't agree more with no.5 Caleb packs alot of information in his videos. Respect

[@markluinenburg5004]

Hi Caleb! Thanks for another great video (as a new A7IV owner). I've been following your videos for a while now and have learned a ton. With filmmaking videos, I can always tell within 10 seconds if I want to watch by the quality and attention to detail of the presentation - lighting, sound, grading, etc. - and yours always stand out as being stunning. Keep up the great work and much success to you.

[@bondgabebond4907]

When you watch these how to make videos, you notice the term used and I quote you, "With filmmaking videos, I can always tell." Wow, FILMMAKING VIDEOS. Just digest that for a while and then please tell me what kind of film you use. I quit using film for stills decades ago. I go full digital on digital memory cards. I do have tens of thousands of photos taken on FILM in the 70s-80s when I was in the Air Force. I took a break for about 15 years and when I decided to get back to using my Nikon F2A, I went to my local store. What??? No film? Now I am a happy owner of a Sony a6600 and A7R3. Sucks when film based cameras were overtaken by digital. Not complaining, but what a learning process using a camera with a thousand customization options. It's a brave new world and we use old terms like 'footage,' 'film,' and 'filming.' Only, we are now in the era of time for videos and digital for stills. I really liked the good old days of shooting Kodachrome and Kodak's different speed black and white film. Today people are so spoiled by motion control for those who don't know how to hold stead when we had no choice but to shoot accordingly, like selecting the right shutter speed to go with the lens attached, that being wide angel to telephoto.

[@markluinenburg5004]

@@bondgabebond4907 Yeah, 'filmmaking videos' does sound like a contradiction in terms, good point. I guess I still think of a film as a completed piece whether it was actually shot on film or digitally. Maybe it's just a nostalgia thing. That said, I don't miss the long hours in the darkroom with all the chemicals, but a really nice black and white darkroom print is a beautiful thing. Cheers.

[@Jbobonline]

The spot metering tip is cool, thanks Caleb!

[@NerdSyncProductions]

Hey Caleb! Great tips! As a new owner of an A7IV, I love your Sony LUTs. I did have one question, though. I am wondering if you can release a version of your Sony LUTs that only correct the color and exposure, not the gamma or contrast. A LUT that keeps the LOG image flat, but still adjust the colors and exposure correctly without converting to Rec709. This way, at the very end of the grade chain in Davinci Resolve, I can apply Resolve’s built-in color space transform to convert everything into Rec709, as that’s typically the way the program wants you to do it. If something like this is possible, I would gladly pay an upgrade charge for it. I love your products, courses, and LUTs, and I hope I can use your Sony LUTs the way that Resolve wants me to. I hope this makes sense. I just bought your Sony A7IV guide as well, and I can’t wait to dive into that!

[@Samiam-mu5ln]

Your asking for too much xD

[@dslrvideoshooter]

That is a great suggestion. Shouldn't be too much hassle. Just need to find some time to add it in a future update. Make sure you're subscribed to the LUT updates inside of the guide!

[@NerdSyncProductions]

@@dslrvideoshooter Thank you so much! You’re the best!

[@skymakai]

The XLR-K3M and Spot Metering hacks are brilliant!

[@pieissogoodman]

I would absolutely buy the 8-bit Sony Luts! That would be so helpful. Love your videos BTW!

[@masterjaxmedia]

That scratch track tip is amazing! Thanks a bunch🙌

[@isaiahhatcher5984]

Just bought a A7IV and an A7III and these tips are great!

[@Carboxylated]

going to try the ITU709 hack. thanks man

[@andrewsaraceni]

Great tips! The focus spot meter hack is a really clever idea (I too was always annoyed by the lack of a visual indicator for spot focus).

[@sneakingelephant]

omg, I would looove to see the LUT for the 8bit camera. I'm on A7C so that would be a lifesaver for me to have as a good baseline

[@MarkMorrow]

Appreciate you man. Just saved me a BUNCH of time. 💸

[@vi-dor]

Thank you so much for your hacks! I'm kind of old school and really interesting on still using my A7S (mark I) with the LUT you talk about, do you have it maybe already?

[@TwoOneSe7en]

Good stuff Caleb. 🤜🤛

[@petereinhardt]

Talk about a great ad for your guide haha. Im pretty smart with my Sony but I definitely didn’t think of using clear image zoom to get the most out of the aps-c lenses I use. The spot metering tip is much appreciated as well.

[@ensolutionstudios2556]

Caleb! Have you tried out the Canon R5C yet? Lets see a video review of it... I just came from Sony A7Siii and couldn't be happier.

[@elijahmodnar1]

the bluetooth remote with tally light is a must

[@MrTechTok]

Is it just me or whenever I open Caleb video , fulltime filmmaker ad starts playing and I think I clicked on the wrong channel. So trippy.

[@2010kevinsmith]

Well done, sir. You just blew my mind! 😱

[@Mrthenitoman]

How do you attach the plate on top of the K3m ?

[@JobGreg]

Thanks Caleb, Just awesome hacks. Didnt know most. Will the clear zoom function work for Sony E 10-20mm f/4 PZ G Lens

[@GlassfilmWeddings]

SONY ON TOP!!!!

[@phoe___]

Legend! thank you!

[@chi.marvine]

Need that a7sii luts and how to's!

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Soon!

[@IceComputerTech]

Can you please do a A7R ii guide? I know it’s a super old camera but it was my first camera and has been my main work horse but I was so uneducated on it before, I feel like im not getting full potential from it

my favorite setting on my a7sii was slog 3 but in the manual settigns choose black levels to wide and lowered it. Imo it was slightly better than slog 2 with a nicer rolloff and it was not as noisy as slog normally would be

[@earlgreybeard]

Hi Caleb. May I ask about hack 10 please? I have a couple of a6400s plus your A6x00 course. So I am all set up for S-Log2 and Rec709-Matrix to get the best colour. But now I am looking at getting getting an FX30 as my main camera (plus your course, of course) which shoots 10-Bit and where you recommend using S-Log3. In a multi-cam shoot, would these settings work well together in terms of colour matching please?

[@jamieandrei]

I used the K3M audio hack this week.. killer feat.. saved my bacon.. 🥓

[@BarefootMediaTV]

So #8, spot metering exposure... I can shoot slog3, and touch the persons face to make sure they are 1.7-2 stops over/correctly exposed?! So much easier than judging the whole shots exposure when you have bright or dark backgrounds.

[@jon112media]

Yoooo the safety track trick is perfeeeect! Would i be able to do the same thing on the fx30 handle?

[@VastCNC]

They're hard to get ahold of right now, but you would complete me if you did a guide like this for the zve10

[@DokoGaTV]

Thank you SO much for all the great info, all the time. Just bought the guide and look forward to more of your awesome breakdowns! Haven't had a chance to go through the guide completely, hoping there's some info about recording 4 channels of audio on the A7iv + K3M (found this to be somewhat confusing on other tutorials). Mahalo Caleb!

[@divil2273]

More sony hacks please!

[@TP-Fotografie]

Wow!!! Great hacks. Love especially the spot metering hack.

[@MiroAcronymity]

If I use clear image zoom for the Sigma 16mm F1.4, will there be less noise than with the APS-C mode? I have noticed that the latter ads a lot of noise. If so, I can put off buying the Sony 20mm F1.8 for a good while :)

[@larsbutnotleast1535]

i also have the sigme 30mm 1.4f on a canon fullframe. and i realy like the vignette though. it´s very subtile and i feel it gives the image some character.

[@ChrisLeeX]

Time to play around with clear zoom 🏎

[@nickcagol]

Nice hacks man! Does the ‘Sony A7 IV Video Guide’ include all the LUTs from the ‘Sony A7S III LUT Pack’ or not?

[@jonathanthomas3548]

Hey Caleb, still waiting for the Sony-8-Bit-LUTs you promised (for my a6500) - will they be available soon? Cheers, a big fan of yours :)

[@dorinxtg]

Hey Caleb, thanks for the tips! One thing though - you're talking about the 6XXX camera models and how a user should shoot in S-log2 or other modes. The problem, as I see it, is there isn't (as much as I know) a full "walkthrough" of what settings to use, which LUT is recommended, and how to color grade it on the computer. Perhaps you could create (and sell?) such a guide? I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who wants to learn how to do it.

[@SoundzAlive1]

You could use a portable recorder like a Zoom or Tascam and match the audio tracks up in post. I don't have a problem as I use a Atomos recorder via HDMI with 4 audio lines in. André in Sydney

[@Leecohen]

If using aps-c lenses on a full-frame like A7siii, will OSS still work in the lens? B/c that would be a great deal!

[@Mr10chang]

Thank you for the great tips

[@JIMMY_NEMESIS]

wait I didnt get it Tip#10 is only to shoot 10bitscolor? saw a lot of Tips and Tricks but no hacks... 🤔🙄🤓🧐 was waiting for a MagicLantern stuff level stuff hack of the UI or menu or ML unlocking some settings and raw power

[@ImagesByLyricsPhotography]

Wow I love your information 👍🏽👍🏽

[@dwaltons]

Love your vids.

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Thank you David!

[@vintagelensrental5078]

Pretty good on A7III 8bit slog woks to use standard slog2 with phantom luts and expose for skin tones...no problem using this even though it is 8bit

[@kendufner9733]

Thanks for the menu button remapping hack. The location of the menu button has been my biggest frustration with my new/used Sony. It was driving me crazy! I actually looked for a way to remap another button but for some reason didn't find it. Thanks for pointing this out!

[@A.DJC.PRODUCTION]

How did you remap it?

[@kendufner9733]

@@A.DJC.PRODUCTION I remapped it to the C1 button on top of my a9ii. C1 is white balance by default, but I don't use that a lot so it was the best candidate for remapping.

[@A.DJC.PRODUCTION]

@@kendufner9733 I understand that, but I can’t find “remap” in my A7 IV settings. Also, I don’t know we’re to find “Menu” to add to my C1 button.

[@seanhdr4k629]

So useful ☺️

[@Branding4Lawyers]

GREAT content, as usual! Q: Are you an Adobe or Apple edit guy?

[@reaperxtk]

i just bought your luts, everything is excelllent but can you fix the reds because the lips looks weird

[@nikilragav]

Caleb, is there a way to record using your LUT straight in camera?

[@fshirata]

Has someone used the new Sony 10-20 F4 PZ on full frame ? I’d like to know if it performs similar to the older 10-18 F4 OSS

[@Jimmy_Maurice]

So what do you put in the CST node on DaVinci Resolve for "Input Color Space" ? Thank you.

[@Goldmouthperspective]

Thaaaaank you, bro! 🙏🏿

[@ignaskarlonas4783]

Sorry for beeing a pixel peeper, but there's a lot of artifacts/noise? in 4k around Caleb in talking head shot - way more then usual. Was this rendered in lower bitrate or was this shot on really high iso ?🤔

[@AlfaMedtech]

Does the spot metering trick works with A7C or A7III?

[@VRKtaka]

@6:49 : how is spot metering related to focus? Isnt it exposure stuff?

[@joe.mccord]

Bravo!

[@rMr.big13]

Hey, the false color lut has to be used on a ninja v or some external monitor correct?

[@re-member]

@DSLR Video Shooter I can't find the LUT for the 8bit systems on your website. Is it going to be released yet?

[@stevetimko1461]

Great video. Any way to connect five Sony cameras on one computer like Panasonic allows? Specifically to see the image.

[@sheldonnorton9035]

Hi Caleb, Do you ever use webcam recording software and record directly into you laptop? If so which do you recommend?

[@AlexKovshovik]

Are you also working on the video guide for Sony A1? Or would a lot of the stuff from Sony A7 IV apply to Sony A1?

[@Thefrontrowfilm]

Following...

[@nmonye01]

Great video

[@michaelm6522]

As a new owner of an FX3, would the A7S III guide be relevant, or should I be waiting for an FX3 guide? Keep up the great content!

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Absolutely. 99% camera coverage!

[@A.DJC.PRODUCTION]

How did you change the menus button? I don’t know we’re to go.

[@vireakcambodia5172]

Hi If I purchase XT-3 course, it'll work well with XT-4 or not?

[@FrankDiNardi]

Damn that audio is good

[@therealdante]

Great video. Bit of a warning on „10-bit no matter what“ though. Make sure the rest of your workflow can handle it. Tons of small KZbinrs might use the free version of DaVinci Resolve and you don‘t really want to come to the realisation - like me - that it doesn‘t support it and you have a bunch of recordings from your shiny new camera you can‘t use until you upgrade.

[@jv_drones]

Hey love your videos. can you create a video on good budget full frame lenses for the sony a7 lineup? please. there are so many to choose from, thanks.

[@JamesSpurin]

Absolutely amazing, thanks Caleb! Could you please add the Sony A1 to your camera guide to do list. I’d very much appreciate your expertise in learning this effectively. By the way, I tried your sample LUT using this and it works beautifully. Am going to get the full set. Guessing that your efforts from the A7S3 also apply to this.

[@RadpropagandaOrg]

yeah include A1 please

[@JamesSpurin]

@@RadpropagandaOrg spoke to Caleb last night on the live stream, unfortunately, no plans at present to make a A1 guide. I might just get one of the other cameras as I think there’s probably cross over. By the way, the LUT pack should work 👍

[@RadpropagandaOrg]

@@JamesSpurin thx. Too bad. A1 is such a powerfull Video tool, but not many using it

[@JamesSpurin]

@@RadpropagandaOrg yep, Caleb was very kind in his response, you can see it on yesterdays live stream catch up. He said the A7 IV is the main recommendation over the A1 if you don’t need 8K and generally, this will be a more popular camera. Given the effort involved in making the course and the trade off with sales, it’s understandable. I lucked out and managed to pick mine up for ridiculously cheap (price of an A7S iii) I’ll probably go for the A7 IV guide and try to relate it accordingly

[@AlynWallace]

The aperture rating of a crop sensor lens does not equate when used on a full-frame sensor. So no you're not getting a 20mm f/1.4 or 35mm f/1.4. They'd be a bit less than f/2

[@DMDphotography]

It's exactly as labeled in terms of light needed for exposure. The only thing crop does is change the background blur IF you are keeping the framing identical. If you shoot from the same distance and accept the different framing then even the blur will be the same.

[@omotivationnation987]

What do you think or sony colours vs canon colours

[@PetrosofSparta]

Literally just made a video today about how turning active stabilisation on in the A7IV eliminates almost all vignetting.

[@EpicWishProductions]

Where do you buy your gear from? BnH? Amazon? Local stores? If I’m going to spend thousands on gear I’d like to know who’s good with deliveries and returns. Making sure the gear is packed and handled well.

[@selfiecinema2251]

Hi, what camera were you recording with?

[@HeresMo]

I also use apec mode with clear image zoom. Cames in clutch when you have a prime lens on.

[@jason9139]

Why do you do this when you can just crop in post? Am I missing something?

[@HeresMo]

@@jason9139 less loss of quality

[@Sidsaraiya]

This was awesome. I need to check out your video on ‘colour’. Is it possible to match the image quality of a A73 with FX3 if I was using the a73 as a B-cam, or is that impossible?

[@jakedavid2523]

interested as well

[@TechnoBabble]

You can match the look (colours, contrast, etc.) in post but you will never match the image quality of the A73 to the A7S III/FX3, it just has better colours and more dynamic range.

[@Sidsaraiya]

@@TechnoBabble awesome 👍🏽