I started with a practical test of shooting a talking head in controlled lighting. Most of my clients want me to shoot for a person talking on camera in controlled lighting, so I thought that was a good place to start. Ran through each BRAW compression, from constant quality to constant bitrate. I added up to 1.5 to 2 stops of global exposure in Resolve, and the results were….. I couldn’t tell a difference. But watch the video above to see if you can. I think in controlled lighting, the compressions you choose are not going to make THAT much of a difference. In future videos, I’m going to try to shoot in less-than-ideal, uncontrolled lighting where you have to apply noise reduction, apply more color and exposure adjustments, etc to see if there is more of a difference in shooting the higher bitrate BRAW. When it comes to shooting people who are.. maybe not as experienced on camera, it’s easy to have to shoot multiple takes or have the director explain how to better phrase a response for use in the final edit. Storage can be a big problem if you’re shooting a lesser-compressed version of BRAW, especially with multiple cameras rolling at once. But when shooting talking heads in controlled lighting for long periods, 12:1 or q5 is just fine for my needs. Side note: Learning new cameras comes with so many tests!
If you are shooting in situations where there will be visible noise that is where you see a difference. You need a high bitrate to render noise properly. But I would say if its online content it will likely never be noticed as the viewing screens aren't big enough to see that fine detail. RUclips generally kills all fine detail like noise. I would say in most situations the highest compression is just fine.
Agree! That is the next test I'm going to do - shooting in uncontrolled lighting where I'll have to use more noise reduction and make more exposure/color adjustments.
I've been using S or S-I since it's easier to edit. HS is more compressed, but I've had problems editing it, which were just annoying enough to not want to use it
Great information for this Sony loser. LOL. Seriously, thanks for all the great information. This is extremely helpful. I love my FX3 and FX6, but am looking at the Pyxis 6K as a possible next camera. Thanks again.
Sony losers! 🤝🤝 Haha. I forgot how much testing went into a new camera system - been enjoying the Pyxis so far but still not sure I’d sell the fx3 or fx6 for it. I might sell the fx30 and keep the Pyxis though
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I started with a practical test of shooting a talking head in controlled lighting.
Most of my clients want me to shoot for a person talking on camera in controlled lighting, so I thought that was a good place to start.
Ran through each BRAW compression, from constant quality to constant bitrate. I added up to 1.5 to 2 stops of global exposure in Resolve, and the results were….. I couldn’t tell a difference. But watch the video above to see if you can.
I think in controlled lighting, the compressions you choose are not going to make THAT much of a difference.
In future videos, I’m going to try to shoot in less-than-ideal, uncontrolled lighting where you have to apply noise reduction, apply more color and exposure adjustments, etc to see if there is more of a difference in shooting the higher bitrate BRAW.
When it comes to shooting people who are.. maybe not as experienced on camera, it’s easy to have to shoot multiple takes or have the director explain how to better phrase a response for use in the final edit. Storage can be a big problem if you’re shooting a lesser-compressed version of BRAW, especially with multiple cameras rolling at once.
But when shooting talking heads in controlled lighting for long periods, 12:1 or q5 is just fine for my needs.
Side note: Learning new cameras comes with so many tests!
braw is a very powerful codec, easy to grade, easy to scrub in timeline. also blackmagic’s color science is ❤
I've noticed that the compression settings once above a certain threshold only affect the temporal artifacts - like those from fast movements.
Ooh man, I have not tested that out. What compression do you use when filming moving objects?
This was a great test! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks! Been enjoying the Pyxis - it’s come with a ton of testing though ha
If you are shooting in situations where there will be visible noise that is where you see a difference. You need a high bitrate to render noise properly. But I would say if its online content it will likely never be noticed as the viewing screens aren't big enough to see that fine detail. RUclips generally kills all fine detail like noise.
I would say in most situations the highest compression is just fine.
Agree! That is the next test I'm going to do - shooting in uncontrolled lighting where I'll have to use more noise reduction and make more exposure/color adjustments.
Why XAVC S AND NOT HS?
I've been using S or S-I since it's easier to edit. HS is more compressed, but I've had problems editing it, which were just annoying enough to not want to use it
FX6 and FX9 and possibly FX3 is getting BRAW through Blackmagic Video Assist
Will be interesting to test the Prores RAW vs BRAW
Hard to say on RUclips
Most of my content these days ends up on youtube or vimeo, so this was another good test I guess
Great information for this Sony loser. LOL. Seriously, thanks for all the great information. This is extremely helpful. I love my FX3 and FX6, but am looking at the Pyxis 6K as a possible next camera. Thanks again.
Sony losers! 🤝🤝
Haha. I forgot how much testing went into a new camera system - been enjoying the Pyxis so far but still not sure I’d sell the fx3 or fx6 for it. I might sell the fx30 and keep the Pyxis though