Default Canon C400 Sharpness... Too Sharp for Cinematic Jobs?

[@BigFlavorFilms]

After watching a few of your videos I really appreciate your no bullsh*t approach. No stupid intros or theme music. Just an honest hands-on approach. Keep it up. We will be watching and learning with you. We got our C400 last week and itching to do more with it too.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@BigFlavorFilms thanks man. My goals are to learn and network. You’ve got some really nice work. I subbed and will look forward to your experiences with the c400. So far it’s a great camera. It’s just been some learning for me dealing with raw footage and grading it.

[@BigFlavorFilms]

@@AlexanderJawfox Thank you! Looking forward to more on your channel! ~Brian

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@BigFlavorFilms nice to meet ya Brian.

[@CringePanda]

That's super easy to fix, my dad fixed this on the C70 and other cameras by using a PL adapter and getting vintage lenses. You should see the footage with a Helios 44-2 on there!

[@Sxrojas]

Man I cannot wait to see the comparison between the FX6 and C400 that's one that i've been really waiting to see!! Thank you for the incredible work that you're doing, the footage looked really grainy at those higher iso but that's why im curious to see it compared to the FX6 in low light

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@Sxrojas thank you, I just got his footage today. After I finish up some work for a client I’m gonna make that video. I’ll have it out soon. I’m also probably messing up some of the shots with the luts I used. I’ll address that as well.

[@brunoshoes864]

The two shots on the C70 at 2:17-2:19 are stunning. I would pick them every time over the following C400 montage you did. That said, I think you can match and experiment to get the same look. I am getting my C400 this wednesday, but after seeing this I am going to stick to my C70 (was planning on selling it)

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@brunoshoes864 thanks. I wonder if I just hit the right lighting there but I agree those shots are more cinematic than some of the c400.

[@brunoshoes864]

@@AlexanderJawfox that light and highlight rolloff on her face are spot on

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@brunoshoes864 thank you! The sun was just right with the clouds at certain points.

[@hawaiifreespeechnews]

Keep in mind that he is very experienced with the C70 and any new camera needs a year of use before you can dial it in

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@hawaiifreespeechnews there’s definitely a learning curve. But hopefully I can master it soon 🎥

[@Carsonous]

I love how raw this video is

[@andrewthomascliftonvisuals]

I appreciate this. Footage looks just fine, it feels a BIT sharp but there are so many ways to mitigate that now in post. I appreciate you learning and sharing the vibes with us :)

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@andrewthomascliftonvisuals thanks Andrew. I agree it was too sharp for my liking but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. More a preference. I’ll try messing with the settings and using a pro mist.

[@avdpost]

@@AlexanderJawfox It does feel more "detailed" to me than the C70/C300 sensor, but I think that's the 6k sensor being downscaled to 4K etc, etc. But it doesn't feel ike false detail, like the extra sharpness on some other cameras. I think a bit of film grain in post of a promist would look great on some projects, but the good thing is that good detail can always have it's edge taken off if you need to, but you can't get extra detail out of a sensor that's lacks it from the start. I would rather soften with softer lenses or filters vs feel lacking in detail when I need it.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@avdpost well said. I agree, you have options with the details.

[@MODESTYXO205]

What's your take on the FX3 or the Canon R5 Mark 2 for making short films and docs and for a traveling camera? If you had to choose between the two, what would you choose? Keep up the great work

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@MODESTYXO205 hey thank ya. I’ve used both and both are great. But I’d go canon as a personal preference. The r5 will offer you better autofocus, higher frame rates and if you really wanted it 8k. Not to mention some great still photography.

[@yousifwleed1935]

The lighting i guess is just marvelous as well as the camera colors, well done and thanks for sharing

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@yousifwleed1935 thank you! I am going to upload a new video today because I messed up the post processing and I can explain that learning experience.

[@yousifwleed1935]

@@AlexanderJawfox as an owner of sony ecosystem i think this one is just fantastic especially those triple iso’s, cant wait for the next video😇😇

[@hawaiifreespeechnews]

You’re cutting edge and in front of the line with this new camera and these tests and we thank you greatly for your efforts 🙌🏽 I’m convinced that the 24-105 2.8 is all you’ll ever need. The footage looks great and the idea that this camera is more run and gunable then the Komodo-X makes it a very strong candidate

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@hawaiifreespeechnews thanks man! I’m glad they are helping. It’s definitely a one person run and gun kind of camera with most of the features you’d find on a crew based camera.

[@mark12345697]

Some of the shots look really nice but very inconsistent in terms of colorgrade and exposure. Not sure how much pre-production you spent for the shortlist and location. another thing that's thrown around quite often in the KZbin creator space is the buzzword cinematic. Its not the sensor the creates the look its literally the contrast between light and dark (volumetric) that makes the image interesting.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@mark12345697 thanks. I planned the location, but no shot list. For the client they just needed, 20-30 seconds of slow motion shots of the dress and model which we achieved in golden hour. The inconsistency, was intentional as we continued filming into blue hour for shots I wanted to get, mainly testing out the base iso of 12800. The word cinematic is one I hear on KZbin often, but even more so it’s a word I hear from clients who want a certain look. There are 100s of elements that go into a cinematic look, I understand, I was just referring to the camera sensor for this particular video to get your opinion.

[@TJIzzy]

Glad to see more C400 content coming out. Looks like you had it pushed magenta in your grade. CRAW by default puts the sharpness to +10, turn that back to zero. You can also do a resolve node where you do a "cinematic blur" mask, where it can naturally remove some of that digital sharpening. I generally shoot with a pro mist on 6-8k sensors.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@TJIzzy ohh good to know. Thanks for that tip. Can you adjust the sharpness when it’s in raw? Ill be using that pro mist in the future. I just wanted to see what it was like with no additional variables such as lighting or filters.

[@TJIzzy]

@@AlexanderJawfox Yeah, in the Canon RAW tab where you adjust color balance, ISO etc, it will default to +10 sharpness, turn that to zero. To clarify: it is done in post, like resolve

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@TJIzzy oh I see. I don’t have that option in fcpx. I’m teaching my self resolve. (Slowly)

[@TJIzzy]

@@AlexanderJawfox Resolve is pretty easy, I learned it in a few days. Just do a project & google how do to things you can’t figure out. Should be good after a couple projects.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@TJIzzy I appreciate all the info 🎥🎬 I’ll do that.

[@uptonfilms95]

That 85mm 1.2 creates beautiful images! Can you add subtitles for the lenses used on the video and not just the photos next time?

[@imagesbyrina]

Fantastic work - this is the content we all want. Footage and photos look great! As others suggested you can soften with filters, lenses or in post-production if you want a "less digital" image. But you can only sharpen soft footage so much without it looking garbage, so I rather have a sharp sensor to start! Especially for what I shoot (birds), I prefer the sharp look! I've been loving the image coming out of my C400.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@imagesbyrina thank you. Yeah that makes sense. I subbed. I’m looking forward to seeing what you get 🎥

[@kylekaiser9525]

Which video can we see where you are using that camera to shoot birds and what lens are you going to use with it?

[@scottievee330]

Good work bud. I just shot a Monster Truck car smash at a local dealership. High sun mid day. I am so blown away with the C400. Crushed on every level... except that screen. Texas sun. No good. At one point with all the dust and sun I could barely see the screen. BUT, when I got home I was so freakin happy with the results. I was able to follow the action in spite of the screen. As soon as another 3rd party drops a usbc monitor that is compatible, I am on it. This camera is a over achiever. Best decision I've made in a long time. I'm sure the C80 is right there. Next on the menu.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@scottievee330 I had to turn up my screen brightness all the way to see it in the direct sunlight. That screen gets pretty bright. Sounds like an awesome gig you got! 🎥

[@scottievee330]

@@AlexanderJawfox Yeah, Happy kids, trucks and Canon. Good day any day. I'll upload a video soon.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@scottievee330 I’ll sub and follow along 🎥

[@avdpost]

@@AlexanderJawfox When you say brightness do you mean luminance? My understanding is that the luminance setting is the monitor's backlight, and +6 should work much better in daylight. Brightness on the other hand will shift your white point too much and should only be used for slight calibration if needed.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@avdpost that’s correct. Luminance will make your screen brighter, the other option will adjust the exposure of your image.

[@JoshMiles]

Wow, I checked this one out to see your thoughts on the c400, but LOVE your still shots with the 85mm! I'd love to see a video talking about your post process, or even just a before/after! I've got a c80 on the way, so would be curious to see that in the mix in the future.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@JoshMiles congrats on the c80. That’s gonna be a great camera I bet. And I’d love to make that video. I’ll plan for it!

[@chrisle1557]

Great job, beautiful video and color tone.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@chrisle1557 thank you. I feel like I could do better but I appreciate the love!

[@MrJayclas]

Nah, this is a new age. I think this is totally acceptable for cinema. More and more films are looking this prestine. Looks great!

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@MrJayclas yeah I don’t wanna be able to adapt with the times 🎥

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@MrJayclas *I don’t wanna get stuck in old ways of thinking, want to adapt and innovate

[@spikeboydell]

Nice work Alexander. Liked, subscribed and greetings from Sydney.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@spikeboydell thank ya. Hello from Virginia, USA. I just checked out some of your work and subbed as well.

[@CyclopsJoeVideos]

Looks Awesome

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@CyclopsJoeVideos thank you! 🎥

[@NYCIndieFilmmakerSujewa]

Looks great. Will work well for fiction features. There's no one level of sharpness required for fiction features - it's a matter of choice for the filmmaker. I've made fiction features using 1" sensor camcorders - works fine for theatrical screenings, critics, audiences.

[@carlosq00]

Nice work, and great video. Thanks for sharing!

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@carlosq00 thanks Carlos. You have some amazing work.

[@bluechipstudios]

Well done and thanx for sharing. The C80 looks with the canon lenses too contrasty and sharp, it’s not a disadvantage to have a sharp sensor, maybe you try to soften it with filters or in post.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@bluechipstudios thank ya. That’s what I’m going to try next. I’ll use a pro mist filter.

[@Tws5515]

That c400 looks incredible. I don’t have that same kind of experienced eye that everyone else has, but if you were to tell me this was shot on something three or times the price, I wouldn’t be able to tell.

[@frankbregulla564]

Looks like FX6 to me, too harsh. Even 2k Blackmagic feels more organic.

[@davidp158]

I think the footage looks fine. If you want a softer look with your current lens package, try some Black Mist filters. I have always liked Canon color, and think you have a great kit there. I see this was shot at Pocahontas State Park. I walk and bike there, as it’s less than 15min from my home.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@davidp158 I’m gonna do a video on that next with a pro mist I think. nice! It’s about a 35 min drive from my place. I love going there.

[@tjh__]

Looks good to me, thanks for sharing. I don't think a detailed starting point is a bad thing at all. Feels like eventually all cameras will have tons or resolution, so it's a look people will adjust to if they haven't already. I also think the sharper sensor compared to the C70 will work better with vintage lenses as that combo at times looks a bit mushy to me.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@tjh__ thanks man. It’ll be a camera that hopefully last me 5 maybe even 10 years. My original r5 is already almost 5 years old. And yeah I’ll be interested to use some different kinds of pl mount glass on the camera.

[@tjh__]

@@AlexanderJawfox For sure. It's a nice feeling to have a camera that you feel like will do the job for a long while. I can't see clients ever complaining about the images this camera will put out, so you can really lock in and get comfortable with it. If you get the chance to, it would be cool to see some filtration tested out on here. Soft FX might work as it will knock back the detail without introducing lots of blooming like a promist.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@tjh__ I’ll order some filters to try out. I do already have a pro mist filter that I used yesterday, I haven’t edited the footage yet.

[@sa.t.2507]

As a person working with Arri I can say that it also easily looks too sharp or digital. What you do is to always run a 1/8 diffusion on all lenses, such as black pro mist. It makes all the difference.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@sa.t.2507 oh nice! And yeah I actually have one of those. I’ll probably use it more often on the c400.

[@sa.t.2507]

@@AlexanderJawfox sure thing, although don’t forget that masters such as Roger Deakins only strives after the cleanest and sharpest image possible. He’s notorious for never using any kind of filters and wants a sharp and neutral image. So there’s nothing wrong in that.

[@mandovision8]

Great video Alex! I'm looking into upgrading to a C400.

[@sprocketslip4564]

I think all the shots look amazing. The story and the beauty of the Artis and of course the subject with beautiful lighting conditions is on point . Of course, I’m not taking a telescope or a Electron microscope “ it’s no nonsense, pixel peeping “, To a movie theater or either KZbin when I’m watching something

[@contentchemistry]

There were some absolutely stunning shots… and a few that imo fell apart (I’m assuming the high base ISO shots). I’m sure I’d be in the same boat getting a feel for the new camera. Regardless you’re doing great work giving the community eyes on it. Oh and killer photos btw

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@contentchemistry thank you! Yeah there were some I wasn’t happy with. I had a light with me but was determined not to use it.

[@Thomas_Beswick]

Thanks for making the video! Looks great. For the sharpness, there is a slider in the raw panel, footage usually looks way better at zero. Also, I think a sharp sensor is nice, but if used with digital lenses, it will be too crisp for skin. I'd say that using softer glass or filters could help a lot, but it all depends on what you want. You could also try softening in post and then reintroducing grain. Hope that helps, there's no right or wrong answer really.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@Thomas_Beswickthank you. And what editing software are you referring to? I do wanna save up and rent a nice lens for a project sometime soon. In the meantime I may use a filter as you mentioned. 1/4 black mist.

[@Thomas_Beswick]

@@AlexanderJawfox You can get a lot more out of the RAW with Davinci. Premiere seems to offer less sliders.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@Thomas_Beswick that’s why I think I need to get out of fcpx. More features for raw footage.

[@Thomas_Beswick]

@@AlexanderJawfoxyeah, id say especially as its free, its definitely worth the switch. Id say a good method to switch by first doing test videos and edits in davinci, anything more personal. Once your up to speed, then switch to work projects. The advancements in AI are incredible in ters of tracking, text and audio tools. Id highly recommend making the switch. There will be growing pains, but just know that you wont be getting the most out of the raw unless you switch.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@Thomas_Beswick thanks for the insight. It’s like learning a new language for me haha. I’ll give it a go. I do have the free version already. I may motivate myself by buying it so I can start taking advantage of the full quality renders, 10bit etc.

[@CaseyPreston]

Nice test. I just picked up the C400 and don't have a ton of times for comparisons yet so it is nice to see some others. The only shot that stood out was the very last in the sequence. The amount of noise and macro blocking looked quite a bit different than the other shots and it was strange to see from oversampled RAW footage. Was there anything different about that shot?

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@CaseyPreston thank ya. I am actually re editing this whole sequence because the wrong type of LUT was applied. I’m going to upload a new video today. That last shot still is giving me some issues. That was the last shot of the project too. The sun had long set so o was at ISO 12800 and made a point not to use any lighting. The shot is barely useable but goes to show that you can crank the iso on this thing.

[@matt.banton]

Looks awesome, nice work :) if you have a sharper sensor, can you just use some vintage or anamorphic lenses when you want that cinematic look? I know you loose autofocus but those type of lenses will soften up the image and give it more character.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@matt.banton definitely, I’d love to try out some nice cinema lens or even anamorphic. The talking head scene of me was on the canon RF cine 50mm. Another person brought up a good point of using a pro mist filter to give a softer less digital look.

[@Voiceimitator]

Thanks for the video! Knee jerk reaction -- photos looked amazing, and better than the video. Which isn't anything to do with how you operate it -- love your shots. Just that the image of stills is Canon's still is so much better than their video, and I don't even know why. It's partly a resolution thing. Could it be a colour bit depth thing? One comparison I'd like to see is 8K raw on an r5 vs 6K on C400.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@Voiceimitator thank ya! I’ve been interested in that as well. 8k on the r5 recording to the atamos vs the c400. My guess is less noise on the c400 but I can definitely do a comparison. And I wish the photos looked like the video. The photos on a 45mp vs 19 on the c400 plus many other technical factors I’m sure. I feel like that’s crossing into the $20-30k range for cinema cameras like that? But hopefully a matter of time before that gap lessens.

[@artstories5828]

​@@AlexanderJawfox I did a little bit of poking around. I think the stats of the r5c photos are: claimed dynamic range of 15 stops; 14-bit colour depth; resolution of 8,256 pixels X 5,504 pixels. Something like that. Whereas the C400 is going to be something like 12-13 stops of dynamic range, 12-bit colour depth, 6,144 x 3,456 pixels. So, photos handily beat the C400 in all categories on paper. Which is not to say the C400 isn't "cinematic". I mean, plenty of people have shot films on iPhones, right? 28 Years Later, Tangerine, Steven Soderbergh. The C400 is plenty good enough to make a movie on. In comparison, the Alexa 35 has (I think): claimed 17-stop dynamic range and resolution of 4608 x 3164. About colour depth, Google says, "The ARRI ALEXA 35 camera processes images in 18-bit linear space and records them as 13-bit log ARRIRAW." Conclusion: photo > video, at least for the time being, but it's amazing that the Alexa 35 probably exceeds the dynamic range of stills.

[@VFXRefugee]

Some wonderful images. Can't judge sharpness too well on the cheapy 1080 screen I'm on right now, but loved the look you got. Have you played with sharpness setting in custom profiles? I've been turning it way down on the C70 with some of my more clinical lenses and liking the result. Sometimes I'll bring back a bit in Raw tab of Davinci if I need to. Thanks for the look at this great new camera.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@VFXRefugee that’s a good point, I should of mentioned. It’s all the default settings in terms of contrast and sharpness. I’ll definitely mess around with that. You adjust sharpness and contrast on your c70?

[@VFXRefugee]

@@AlexanderJawfox Yeah I got bored one day and decided to go in and mess with coring to see if it changed any of the issues I was getting with moire on shirts and also weird effects I was getting around edges of my eyeglasses. But in the end having sharpness to lowest setting and bringing up in post to taste was where I saw a difference. Still not sure I understand coring, lol.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@VFXRefugee that’s a new term I’ll have to look up. Coring. Thanks. I’ll be interested to mess with the in camera settings for all that.

[@chsthewall]

Nope, looks amazing 👌🏽

[@mikewinburn]

Spectacular work! Subbed. Try to get your hands on a C80?

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@mikewinburn thank you. I appreciate it! And I’m trying 😅🎥

[@jacy123]

I tried the R5 C and did not like it much. Went back. The C400 footage looks at least 8% better than the R5 C. I wasn’t terribly impressed with the dynamic range of the R5 C.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@jacy123 one thing that stood out to me was the dynamic range on this camera. It was better than I expected for a camera with autofocus this good.

[@jacy123]

@@AlexanderJawfox yeah the footage looks strikingly good with those difficult backlit shots!

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@jacy123 thank ya. And I was impressed not needing some sort of bounce to get a usable shot in that setting.

[@jacy123]

@@AlexanderJawfox I was honestly wondering if you guys had one but it was completely natural light? That’s fantastic

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@jacy123 yeah! We made a point not to add or modify light in any way for this project.

[@alexdevito]

I am looking forward to film the polar lights in realtime with the c400. Do you think to film the aurora is possible? I didn't test it on my sony fx6 before it got stolen and now I am thinking to switch back to the canon world.

[@loommovies]

Beautiful! What is that song?🙏🏻

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@loommovies is called tomorrow is another day on epidemic sound

[@loommovies]

@@AlexanderJawfox thanks! You know maybe the artists name?

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@loommovies I’m away from my computer to see but Jo Wanderi I wanna say. I may of butchered the spelling.

[@ryanpallotta5]

This looks just as good as an ALexa. Not too sharp . Can you do a side by side with fx6?

[@martinekwall4671]

Great footage, I got carried away. Looks like it was done in Scandinavia where I’m from. The photos are stunning! I have the R5 so I know how fantastic it is as a photo camera.I don’t have yet any of the C cameras. Not to criticize but I was hoping that the footage would be a bit closer to the R5 photos, are you using CST in Resolve or are you using the canon Luts? I find working with CST and in time line color space in Arri log 4 gives better DR and skin tone, a better starting point than Canon Luts. Or are the cameras actually not able to come close the R5 photos? I’m just curious and on a hunt for cine camera with a similar look. --- After having looked at one more time I saw some clips not graded and I see the potential. I think it definitely looks cinematic, maybe your grade at times caused a color shift. For me it’s not too sharp, one can use filter, less sharpening in camera, post work. That you guys did all this work for us to see in real world examples is just fantastic. I appreciate to see some clips ungraded as well.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@martinekwall4671 thanks for the insight and the critique. I’m using fcpx for my editing software, and I used some custom LUTs ( Phantom LUTs) one called Tungsten. www.joelfamularo.com/colour The R5 stills offer more than 2x the megapixel amd dynamic range than that of the video from the c400. I wish it could match that quality but then again it would probably be a $25k camera. But I will say the autofocus and dynamic range is still great considering all the c400 offers.

[@martinekwall4671]

@@AlexanderJawfox I have heard of the Phantom Luts before and I guess if not working in Resolve this is a good solution. Ok, thanks for that info on the C400. I think it looks great. Fantastic camera for that price.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@martinekwall4671 thanks again!

[@arthuro1140]

Will you be testing the r5ii in video side later ?

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@arthuro1140 I didn’t do much video with it on this project for a proper review but I can do that here soon 📸

[@arthuro1140]

@@AlexanderJawfox yeah that would be great! Im sûre the r5ii delivers a good image even compared to the c80

[@MegaMaster04]

I would like to see a comparison between Red Komodo x vs cannon C400🤠.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@MegaMaster04 my buddy has a red Komodo but the regular version

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@MegaMaster04 I can try to find one

[@MegaMaster04]

@@AlexanderJawfox That would be awesome 👏. Thank you ,Good video though.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@MegaMaster04 thank you!

[@TheodoreReid-o7f]

Add filters? Use a softer glass?

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@TheodoreReid-o7f I’m going to try my pro mist filter next.

[@eriksmith2271]

Did you have an issue with the files only showing as audio from the C400? Just brought in my first footage and even after updating pro video formats etc. the files are still audio only. Thanks

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@eriksmith2271 I do yes. It’s frustrating. But only my xfavc files. The raw files are good. I am using fcpx.

[@eriksmith2271]

@@AlexanderJawfox Firmware! After updating the files open fine. Firmware notes don't mention anything about file type changes but it worked.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@eriksmith2271 firmware on IOS? or fcpx specifically? I tried looking for update.

[@eriksmith2271]

@@AlexanderJawfox sorry I wasn’t specific. The canon firmware update solved the xfavc file issue on Mac.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@eriksmith2271 I’ll look that up, thanks.

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

Thanks for the footage samples. The only opinion that matters is yours and the client who’s paying you.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@MichaelWynneCAS well said! And thank you!

[@avdpost]

What is your colour pipeline for the C400 footage in FCPX? I feel there are some issues with clamping or clipping the shadows, but it could also just be the low light footage that is suffering a little when capturing in raw. Skin tones feel they are pushing too magenta on some shots too. I think at the end of the day some more time in colour for tests like these can help a lot, especially with matching during the time of day lighting shifts. The phantom luts you are using, are they for Clog2, or do you need to process to rec709 before using the lut?

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@avdpost yeah I need some more time with coloring. The kits can be for log 2 or 3. I’m using them just like I’d use them on my c70 for c log 3. However now that I am filming in raw I notice the gamut is registering as clog 2 in fcpx in the metadata even though I was at clog 3 in my cameras cp settings. Normally I turn off my default LUT in fcpx. Then I apply one of the phantom LUTs which account for the 709 conversion as well. (Or so they say). I leave the LUT at 100% and make some adjustments to color and exposure curves.

[@avdpost]

@@AlexanderJawfox Ahh I see, I would highly recommend to start shooting Clog2 overall. Clog2 has many more stops of dynamic range. When shooting raw, you can pick how you interpret the log curve after the fact, so it's more of a metadata choice. However, you may monitor and expose differently, so monitoring at clog2 presets is still a better call. If the raw is coming into FCPX a clog 2 using a clog3 transform log lut will likely clamp down the exposure in the wrong places and really hurt your image. When you make your adjustments to colour, are you doing it before the phantom lut transform or after? In FCPX is a top down, order, the bottom being last. It's really important to do the log transform at 100% last in the chain, or at the bottom. And use a separate colour wheels effect above it. That way you are doing the exposure adjustments to the log footage before clamping it down to rec709. I can gladly walk your through it if you need a hand. I feel you are really close to a better looking image with some small tweaks.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@avdpost I really appreciate all this advice. And yeah I’ve did it wrong there then. I would apply adjustments after I applied the LUT. I’d appreciate a walkthrough!

[@avdpost]

@@AlexanderJawfox Sent you an email, feel free to reach out if you want a hand.

[@avdpost]

@@AlexanderJawfox Ive tried to reply to the message a few times, but hasn't been saving... Super weird, sent you an email to lend a hand if you want some support. (okay neat this one worked, super weird), anyway hit me up on email if you want a hand.

[@codythep]

Looks plenty good for me 😍 You said that was all shot handheld? Was it in 60 or 120? I’d be doing a lot more candid style run and gun and I rock ibis HARD with both lens and digital on my r6. So I just would need some reassurance that I’d be okay without it if I upgraded to the C80

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@codythep thank you. I did most of the project in 60fps filming in the canon raw hq. I did not use the electronic IS the camera offers. I wanted to see what it was like without using it. Plus there is a slight crop factor when using it but that matters less on a full frame 6k sensor. I did very little stabilizing in post. I think you’d be good, I will say the mirrorless does spoil us with good IS and ibis. The c70 I did shoot hand held often, I was just more conscious of my movements.

[@Felix19622]

Good day, you promised to compare the Canon C70 and Canon C400 cameras, will there be a video? and preferably in 4K XF-AVC quality.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@Felix19622hey I plan too however the xfavc is still not working on my Mac. iOS and fcpx need to fix this issue. (Hopefully soon)

[@VideoCameron]

something's not right here, you're correct to question the footage. The colours look odd and it looks like it's added sharpness in-camera. What conversion lut did you apply? Guessing you shot 10bit 422 CLOG2?

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@VideoCameron no added sharpness happened but I did try out some luts I used commonly with my c70 rather than the canon conversion LUT. I was in 12 bit canon raw hq clog 3.

[@Wynn85040]

I'd rather have a Camera that's naturally sharp because you can always make it softer with filters. However, you can't make a soft camera look better by adding sharpening.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@Wynn85040 that’s a good point

[@andersistbesser]

There is no such thing like being too sharp for a camera in my opinion. The footage looks great

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@andersistbesser thanks! I wonder if the digital era is going to change the meaning of cinematic?

[@andersistbesser]

@@AlexanderJawfox of course it does. Movies , music , djing photos. In all of those arts there are always people who try.to preserve the old way of doing things even if it does not make sense anymore but times move on. I am a photographer/videographer and pro dj as well and i notice the same pattern everywere. In djing they even tell you which brand of dj gear you have.to use to be a "real" dj.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@andersistbesser yup! the industry has a way of trying to keep people in tradition It seems. I feel like there’s going to be a lot of change especially in the cinema world soon. That’s interesting to hear on the DJ side of things as well.

[@JS_Leger]

Yes, some cameras apply too much digital sharpness, like the iPhone, GoPro,etc. However, there's no such thing as too much detail;s we tend to confuse these terms

[@SNAPAVELI]

Think it looks great!

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@SNAPAVELI thanks Josh. We gotta try the gfx with it sometime 🎥

[@SNAPAVELI]

@@AlexanderJawfox yes soon!!

[@talkintome181]

Its great video, but not cinematic. Did you grade in Resolve?

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@talkintome181 I used fcpx. I’m still teaching myself resolve (slowly)

[@Niiich3]

Which lens was in the r5ii

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@Niiich3 that was an 85mm 1.2 from canon

[@Niiich3]

@ thx

[@bluekarel]

Close ups are are great but there is lack of something special "cinematic / magical" in wide angle shots, too clinical (too perfect, "sigma art photobash look") for me. Thanks for posting stuff like this, great job!

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@bluekarel thank you for the feedback. That makes sense. The one wide shot of the water took me out of the zone when I watched the video. It’s very crisp.

[@frankbregulla564]

Looks like FX6 to me

[@brockacostafilms891]

As someone who shoots all Canon and is considering a C80/C400 this footage doesn't look all that great. Lot's of noise and the colors are very off :/

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@brockacostafilms891 I messed up when I tried out the same luts I normally use on my c70. I just uploaded a new video addressing the mistake if you care to see the differences in quality of footage.

[@kashifswaynerobinson]

Feels like R5c Footage.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@kashifswaynerobinson I’ve never used the R5C. Are you saying it’s sharp? I know the DR is way better on the C400 than the R5 and R5ii I used on this shoot.

[@kashifswaynerobinson]

@@AlexanderJawfox The dynamic range is way better than the R5 and R5II. It's almost as sharp as the R5C, footage feels extremely similar to R5C, I work with that camera a lot. For me that's a good thing since I like the down sample 8K. C400 is a great low light camera it seems. I feel like the C70 Sensor would have less noise in this situation though, I'm thinking that would have to do with the DGO sensor in it.. The video is great.

[@avx111]

​@@kashifswaynerobinsonI'm growing my business and currently run a R5C as my main cam. This is good for me too, a couple R5Cs and a C400 make more sense than getting a C80 now.

[@kashifswaynerobinson]

@@avx111 think I’m gonna pick up a c70 and an R5II

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@kashifswaynerobinson I will say the c70 did have less noise. I wish I had more knowledge on the r5c. Is the autofocus pretty good on it like the r5?

[@avx111]

nonsense, the fake nostalgia look is a dying trend. I want texture and volume for viewing in a large screen.

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@avx111 that’s a good point!

[@Roman.the.explorer]

There is a place outthere for every type of look

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@Roman.the.explorer that’s what I love about the world of cameras

[@itscinemasam]

I feel that way too. I think we are moving more towards the split toning of certain film looks but without the halation and exaggerated bloom

[@brmoogma]

Agree100%

[@brmoogma]

not too sharp at all....For me "cinematic" does not mean to imitate old Film stock. And its better to remove sharpness in post, than to add one when needed.....

[@chakk0]

Have to say that the footage confuses me a bit. It looks like every shot, every angle has a different whitebalance, different tint, different look etc. Think iam missing some continuity in story and look

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@chakk0 it was all on the same WB. There’s no story, just a variety of shots in different lighting conditions (day, golden and blue hour) at different base iso which is accounting for the difference in look. While there was a small deliverable on this project I had a lot of flexibility.

[@chakk0]

@@AlexanderJawfox the model is sometimes yellow, blueish, magenta, desaturated, warm, cold...it's pretty hard to watch tbh

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@chakk0 It was a learning experience. Turns out I was using a phantom LUT for clog 3 when I should have been using it for clog 2. I’m gonna post the corrected version. I appreciate all the feedback.

[@csound55]

Fairly easy to dial back sharpness in camera or post

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@csound55 yup just showing what it’s like out of the box in default settings 🎥

[@robertomachado7581]

Thanks for the video! Great info! I'm wondering how the C400 behaves on a gymbal, as well as how its autofocus holds up. Please consider putting out some videos on that! Thanks again! Great channel, btw; agree with BigFlavorFilms below, no bull approach highly appreciated!

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@robertomachado7581 thanks for the kind comment. I have my c70 now on the gimbal and have yet to try the c400 on it. But that could make a good topic for sure. I’ll try it out.

[@JPFILMZ]

No

[@lnz971]

c400 is kind of crap tbh

[@AlexanderJawfox]

@@lnz971 what makes you say that?