SONY CINEALTA PMW F3 CAN SAVE FILM?

[@bobtronic73]

Xavier, love the atmosphere in this one. The look reminds me somehow of old Soviet movies, dunno why :)

[@xavierdegreeves]

Always appreciate you man. Old Soviet is exactly the vibe I was going for. Very deep textures snd grungy in a way. You spotted correctly my friend.

[@bobtronic73]

@@xavierdegreeves Awesome. Digging that vibe.

[@darwi8785]

Hey Xavier I stumbled upon your video I seen how passionate you are about this camera .. I really love the way this camera works I needed help getting ahold of one ! 😊

[@xavierdegreeves]

Hey there, the f3 is a beautiful camera in so many ways. I hope you find one soon.

[@puepole]

The camera that Sony followed the F3 with in their Cinealta line is the FS700. There is a feature film on KZbin called Violent (2014) that was shot on that camera. I wonder what you think about the FS700.

[@xavierdegreeves]

Hello, I currently own 8 Sony fs700 and in it’s Time I always had many live concerts that rented them out as they looked lovely in controlled staged environments for broadcast. However, that violent film looks great from the trailer. The fs700 simply just “came out” after the F3, but it didn’t come in the same line or had any relation to the f3 in any way as an upgrade or replacement. Both cameras are very different target markets and completely different price brackets so it isn’t fair for me to compare specs and color science. $6,000 for the fs700 vs $16,000 for the f3 However, the fs700 is a true workhorse of a camera and obviously as you proved can make some beautiful cinematic content. Thanks for sharing this.

[@BaltasarThomas]

Hi Xavier, loving all the footage you're putting out. Love the sounddesign as well, great job. I'm reading in the comments and descriptions that you're convinced on the F3 to achieve a film look out of the box, but I was wondering how you feel about the F5, from the point of view of someone who's willing to put in grading work (I'm fairly capable in Resolve). Looking at both of these cameras, apart from the look perhaps, the F5 has a lot going for it. Please do let me know what you think!

[@xavierdegreeves]

Hey there. Appreciate the comment. Ok so I get this question a lot about the F5 I also own a few of them. What I can tell you about the camera is that it isn’t a 4k version of the F3 at all. I know it seems that way with the F being in the title but it’s a whole different kind of work horse. If you are looking for some great 4k HD footage I believe the f5 is underrated. When it comes to making movies that achieves a film look you certainly will have to work with it in post to render anything that the f3 can output aesthetically. They’re totally different systems. I would use an F5 for doc work or a modern day TV show since these shows today don’t focus on a film look anymore. U could make a movie with it as long as you like the look of the movies today which are shot on the new Alexa35, red, or Sony Venice, if you love those cameras you will love the F5. The F3 isn’t better than the F5 it’s just that the f3 really looks like an image designed for movies with an incredible ability to suspend any viewers disbelief. The F5 doesn’t have this ability no matter the setting. Happy shooting and great luck. Thanks again.

[@BaltasarThomas]

@@xavierdegreeves Thanks for taking the time to elaborate! I shoot 16mm as well and I'm always on the lookout for a digital cam that can get me close to those results and I don't mind putting in some work grading it, I don't care about the 4K on the F5 by the way, there are other advantages I see (framerates, internal codecs, ergonomics, optional raw, decent evf), anyway since you own F5's as well, have you been able to get the film result you're after by putting in more work into the grade? Because if it's just a matter of doing some thorough testing and establishing a decent node structure for resolve, I don't mind doing that. Thanks!

[@xavierdegreeves]

@@BaltasarThomas you’re very welcome indeed. For me it comes down to the starting point, it’s the negative that makes me want to use the camera in the first place. The negative inspires my grade so therefore I’ll grade it because of the sheer beauty of the negative. When shooting with the F5 or any other digital sensor (besides the f3 and F35) It always requires so much work to get to a sweet spot. You can certainly add a beautiful grade to the F5, you can add all the film emulation in the world it always renders as a film look on top of digital that’s the best way I can describe it. The only other camera I’ve seen that can achieve an accurate film look while really getting busy in the color suite is the Alexa classic. That camera can take grading for film emulation like a boss. The F3 just gets you there quicker is all hence why I choose it over the Alexa. And even if you did manage to get the f5 to look like true film the amount of Processing power it would take in resolve to render per frame would Be mind boggling. We talking node structures that are over loaded with plugins and I can’t see why anyone would spend that kind of money to build a machine capable of true film emulation alone. Id opt to just shoot on a camera that gives me film and then grading can be a normal process like any other film. So to directly answer your question, In my opinion I do not feel the F5 can create an authentic film look because the textural separation just isn’t there in the sensor. Even what I shot here I truly believe it can’t be achieved with the F5. It can come close to film since you’re skilled but it will always be visibly different even to untrained eyes. Hopes this gives you some insight. Much love.

[@BaltasarThomas]

@@xavierdegreeves Thanks for your thoughts. "it’s the negative that makes me want to use the camera in the first place. The negative inspires my grade so therefore I’ll grade it because of the sheer beauty of the negative" this is a lovely insight. The excitement of film coming back from the lab and seeing that magic, is truely inspiring indeed, it can really fuel your energy to create. I can understand why you love this camera, if it gives you something close to that excitement. I might try to get my hands on both of them and do some comparisons, it's the only way I can get a good sense of it.

[@xavierdegreeves]

@@BaltasarThomas oh absolutely and please keep me informed, always love when others experiment and make magic. You will enjoy them so Wish you the best of luck.

[@IgnacioGamez-f1q]

Beautiful Xavier just beautiful

[@xavierdegreeves]

Many thanks!

[@keyladelcarmenhernandez7877]

Simply FANTASTIC

[@xavierdegreeves]

Appreciate

[@ArielAlberto.62]

The body of this camera looks like early 2000’s prosumer cams. I think it’s what made it easy to bypass I’m not sure, but glad it happened because now we get to explore this secret gem 🤫

[@xavierdegreeves]

It is oddly shaped isn’t it? But it’s no prosumer anything really. Looks are super deceiving on this camera. Glad we get to have fun with such an amazing system .

[@rafaelmoraguzman2490]

Nothing short of amazing

[@xavierdegreeves]

Much appreciated in every way.

[@alexamickey]

just gorgeous! curious your thoughts on F5/F55? Do they achieve the same thing as F3 or did they lose this quality with newer sensors?

[@xavierdegreeves]

Hey you caught me right while I’m online :) and thanks so much. For your words. ok so the f5 or f55 is not at all like the f3. I own both of those systems (very nice indeed) they just don’t look like authentic film in any way. A lot of people thought the f5 and f55 was an upgraded f3 but it truly truly isn’t.

[@alexamickey]

@@xavierdegreeves Lucky timing :) wow! thank you for sharing. I have been really considering the f55 but I really prefer the filmic look. you have really opened my mind. thank you. I can't wait to follow more of your videos!

[@xavierdegreeves]

@alexamickey absolutely , and if film is what you want, the F3 will truly blow your mind. It can literally shoot in any style imaginable. If you get your hands on one, keep me posted. Brings me great joy to see others using this camera. Happy filmmaking.

[@alexamickey]

@@xavierdegreeves looking around for one now! what are some lenses that you like to use with yours?

[@alexamickey]

@@xavierdegreeves I got my hands on an F3! Having fun so far. Any tips for a newbie?

[@MotionPictureTrips]

These mini films from the F3 are truly fantastic. I agree that movies today don't look like film at all. Almost all look like soap opera shot with an iphone. At one point I was looking at getting a modern DLSR and tried some footage to see if I could get the film look out of it, nope. It's good to know that's easier to get the film grade on the F3 than the ARRi. Plus, Alexa's are still going for tens of thousands $$. Now if I could only figure out how to mount an F3 on the handlebar of my bike I'd be golden 😆

[@EduardoArias_FF]

Can the f5 create this look too? Beautiful work Xavier

[@xavierdegreeves]

Honestly, I own 2 F5’s mainly because I figured it would Be a 4k version of the f3, but I was very mistaken. The F5 however is an amazing camera system it just isn’t the F3 in anyway. Same with the F55.

[@cattorresny]

Most beautiful Xavier

[@xavierdegreeves]

Much appreciated

[@joshuahartwell9224]

Hello! Fantastic! Are your shooting in SLOG?

[@xavierdegreeves]

Hey man appreciate it. Yes slog all the way my friend.

[@DanielGarcia-fr5dr]

Your videos convinced me to get both the f3 and f35. Btw anymore content with the f35?

[@xavierdegreeves]

I’m glad to hear it.. oh much much more is coming. The f35 is a beast and the images are world class.

[@ytmark7184]

which grain? This looks beautiful and rich

[@xavierdegreeves]

Thanks mate, this was the grain built right into resolve.

[@KiaNooriComedy]

Do you use a different lens for everything you upload?

[@xavierdegreeves]

Hey there , I most certainly do but mainly for the content on this channel I use the sigma 18-35 cine version a lot.

[@louiewithapen]

absolutely beautiful!

[@xavierdegreeves]

Always appreciate the love bro.

[@CristinaMendez-op3hz]

If I were to get this camera do you feel the lack of 4k would be an issue with paid client work?

[@xavierdegreeves]

Absolutely not. I do paid work with my old CINEALTA cameras all the time. I guess it will depend on each project. But so far projects that requested 4k deliveries I’ve used this camera regardless and upscaled the footage on output to 4k. I believe if you like my work then it’s my choice on cameras always.

[@robertpaterson5477]

Can you make it look like Brian De Palma movies like Carlito's Way and Mission Impossible? That's the film look i want.

[@xavierdegreeves]

The F3 can achieve that without a doubt. Those films looks beautiful. The F3 was designed to replicate these masterpieces.

[@glamorous4eva]

you saved my life

[@xavierdegreeves]

Oh yea? Thats totally awesome. What made you say this?

[@glamorous4eva]

@@xavierdegreeves you convinced me on this camera instantly after a year of thinking about it

[@xavierdegreeves]

@glamorous4eva so happy to hear it. The F3 is magical, and the more exploration I do with it I find nothing on the market comprable in regard to film image quality and replication. I hope you use it well, and that you express all of your creative truths with it. Best of luck to you on your journey.

[@JohnathanStoneJuicevideoss]

Just one tutorial bro…

[@xavierdegreeves]

Actually it might be the very next thing I post. Long time coming man.

[@JohnathanStoneJuicevideoss]

@@xavierdegreeves awesome!!!!

[@santiagobarrera7189]

GREAT WORK… but Alexa can’t really be that bad c’mon

[@xavierdegreeves]

Thanks mate, but I never said Alexa was a bad camera it isn’t it’s a great camera. The thing I’ve found with Alexa is, it doesn’t look like film right out of the box. In fact, no setting inside of the camera menu is capable of creating anything that looks even close to film. In post is where you’ll have to create your entire film look and even then the F3 still wins in color science and textural separation. Without these things it’s very hard to have a proper film emulation that can convince anyone it was shot on film.

[@JohnathanStoneJuicevideoss]

The way I see it, Alexa truly is all the hype right now but that doesn’t make it the best. I’ve see so many examples of Alexa but never have I seen a movie shot with it that blows my mind. The thing I dislike most about all Alexa’s mi is the classic is the ugly highlight roll off of the sensor. It’s supposedly has more dynamic range above the heavens but it doesn’t render nicely especially in rec709

[@danielmejia2170]

CLAY WATERS

[@xavierdegreeves]

Haha funny you spotted her

[@Liv_Leonel]

4:4:4 or 4:2:2

[@xavierdegreeves]

4:2:2 on the black magic video assist first gen.

[@林木-h8b]

@xavierdegreeves Wouldn't a subsequent model work?