Listening to Victor Ha from FUJIFILM in our interview recorded right here, there was one thing talked about that basically struck me – there may be this new sensor and picture processor within the X-H2S that permits studying the sensor knowledge at 14-bit for as much as 30 frames per second. A brand new F-Log2 profile is added to accommodate the brand new sensor capabilities. This can be a distinctive function for a client digital camera that may actually enable a lot larger dynamic vary values. Therefore, I used to be fairly curious to run the brand new FUJIFILM X-H2S by our lab check procedures. Curious too? Then learn on…
To date, all the buyer digital camera sensors that I’m conscious of enable the upper body price recordings required for transferring photos solely at 12 bit sensor readout modes. 14 bit sensor readout modes have been reserved for high-end cinema cameras just like the ARRI ALEXA, for instance. Now, FUJIFILM brings this function right into a client hybrid stills / video digital camera, the X-H2S. Plus, inside 10 bit 4:2:2 ProRes HQ recording. Wow.
And, FUJIFILM declare as much as 4x larger sensor readout speeds. Time to torture check this new digital camera in our lab!
Rolling Shutter
Utilizing our strobe gentle, which creates the sequence of black and white bars (associated to the readout nature of CMOS sensors), we’re getting the primary end in UHD 25 frames per second: 9.7ms (much less is best).
This can be a good end result, contemplating the 14-bit readout of the sensor! For 3:2 6.2K open gate mode, we’re getting 11.5ms. Fairly apparently, and in keeping with FUJIFILM’s statements that for larger frames per second the sensor readout mode adjustments to 12bit, we’re getting 5.3ms at UHD 60fps. In UHD 120fps, the readout mode adjustments once more, a slight crop is utilized (1.29x) and we get 3.9ms.
Dynamic Vary
Now it will get attention-grabbing. In case you are not conscious of how we check the dynamic vary, please take a look right here.
Let me shortly summarize why we have now 3 methods to evaluate the dynamic vary of a digital camera:
- The waveform plot of the Xyla 21 chart at native sensor decision on a timeline with that decision: this offers a visible indication of what number of stops might be recognized above the noise flooring. Additionally, it exhibits the code worth distribution of the stops. Fairly often, the decrease stops are very shut collectively when it comes to code worth, therefore when you underexpose and lift the shadows later in submit (i.e. increasing the shadow stops), you’ll not have sufficient code values between the stops and the result’s ugly banding (lack of advantageous shade transitions between the stops).
- IMATEST: IMATEST will calculate the sign to noise ratio for every cease. That could be a purely mathematical calculation and is useful to determine, how “clear” every of the stops is. Cameras that use numerous inside noise discount naturally fare higher than others with much less noise discount. There is no such thing as a technique to account for that in a significant manner, because the noise footprint of each digital camera / sensor is completely different. Therefore, there may be additionally no “customary” noise discount which you could apply in submit to check cameras. That’s why we at CineD at all times flip off the noise discount – as beneficial by IMATEST.
- Latitude: publicity latitude is the potential of a digital camera to retain colours and element when over- or underexposed. Our CineD studio scene is the true world check (in a managed atmosphere) of how far a digital camera might be pushed. The fantastic thing about this check is that it clearly reveals what number of stops are usable in our fastidiously composed customary scene, because the playfield will get equalized – and, it’s revealed if a digital camera is “dishonest” by utilizing extreme inside noise discount. Simply to say it: some other actual world scene with a distinct distribution of lights and shadows would present a distinct end result. Irrespective of how a lot inside / or submit noise discount is used, cameras that present a stable 12 stops at a signal-to-noise ratio of two sometimes have 8 stops of latitude in our scene. Cameras, just like the ARRI ALEXA, that present 2 stops extra at SNR = 2 even have two stops extra latitude. Cameras that attempt to obtain one thing near 12 stops at SNR = 2 by utilizing heavy inside noise discount solely present 7 stops of latitude.
So, this trinity of exams could be very revealing and helps to determine if the mix of sensor readout, sign processing, and codec permits to push publicity round over a wide variety.
FUJIFILM X-H2S at ISO1250:
Utilizing ProRes HQ, the brand new F-Log2 profile with a local ISO of 1250 and the native sensor decision of 6240×4160 open gate 3:2 mode, turning “noise discount” to -4 and interframe NR “OFF”, we get the next waveform plot:
13 stops might be recognized above the noise flooring. The noise flooring seems relatively clear, which hints at extra in-camera noise discount even if we tried to show it down so far as doable.
There’s a stable code worth distinction between the eleventh and twelfth cease, in addition to from the twelfth to the thirteenth cease in F-Log2. This implies: when you underexpose your pictures and that you must push up these decrease stops (and successfully develop them), you might be much less prone to run in to issues like banding and lack of shade transitions.
IMATEST calculates the next:
IMATEST exhibits 11.9 stops at a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of two and 13.4 stops at SNR = 1 (on a 6.2K timeline). That could be a superb end result for a client APS-C sensor (The ARRI ALEXA basic confirmed 13.8 at SNR = 2 and 14.8 at SNR =1, to offer you our present benchmark)!
Additionally, when you take a look at the center graph above the blue “13.4” line, there are nonetheless about 2 extra stops recognized. That’s really a bit higher than the BMPCC 6K, not a lot for SNR = 2, however the SNR = 1 worth is half a cease higher (additionally measured in 6K, check right here). In comparison with that, the Canon C70 (lab check right here) trumps each with 12.8 stops at SNR = 2 and 14.2 stops at SNR = 1 for XF-AVC Intra C-Log2 (12.3 at SNR = 2 and 14 at SNR = 1 for CRAW).
Simply to offer you this extra knowledge level: scaled to 3840×2160 UHD, I get 12.2 stops at SNR = 2 and 13.6 stops at SNR = 1.
Latitude
As described earlier, latitude is the potential of a digital camera to retain colours and particulars when over / underexposed and pushed again to a base reference stage.
For our CineD studio exams, the bottom publicity stage refers to a waveform worth of round 60% on the brow of my expensive colleague Johnnie. The digital camera was once more in 6.2K ProRes HQ F-Log2 open gate mode at ISO1250 (noise discount at -4 and interframe NR “OFF”):
For base publicity, we uncovered a bit beneath 60% to permit for 4 stops of overexposure with out clipping the pink channel on Johnnie’s brow, then introduced again to base publicity:
Now, let’s successively underexpose the scene by closing the iris of the lens to T8.0, after which halfen the shutter worth.
At 3 stops beneath base publicity, pushed-back noise begins to kick in:
The noise could be very advantageous, very natural wanting. No want for noise discount, in my view. Bear in mind, we’re already at 7 stops of publicity latitude. Different cameras survive this level solely by making use of noise discount in submit.
The 4 stops underexposed, pushed again picture seems like this:
Noise is now very dominant inside the picture, however nonetheless very advantageous, natural wanting. We’re at 8 stops of publicity latitude! Noise discount in DaVinci Resolve simply removes any extreme noise:
We’re already at 8 stops of publicity latitude. Now, the massive query is, can we push it one cease extra, to 9 stops of publicity latitude?
Let’s take a look:
Heavy chroma and luma noise is now current within the picture, not so advantageous any extra. When utilizing noise discount in DaVinci Resolve, we get this:
This nonetheless seems surprisingly good, really! Nonetheless, the background shade modified to gray as a substitute of olive, and the shadow aspect of Johnnie’s face is rendered pinkish as a substitute of orange – which I don’t like. However, there aren’t any massive blotches of chroma noise or horizontal or vertical traces. Even the transferring picture nonetheless seems fairly okay.
Decide for your self, however that is near acceptable, and we’re at 9 stops of publicity latitude. Please take a look at different cameras just like the Canon C70 (check right here), full-frame cameras just like the Sony A1 (check right here), or the current Sony VENICE 2 (check right here) – the FUJIFILM X-H2S undoubtedly trumps the C70 and even the Sony A1, whereas the 5 stops underexposed picture seems virtually pretty much as good as with the VENICE 2 in 4K ProRes HQ – and we’re speaking a couple of full-size cinema digital camera right here.
If we evaluate the 5 stops underexposed picture with the chief of the pack, the ARRI ALEXA Mini LF (lab check right here) it turns into clear, nonetheless, that it can’t compete – the 5 stops beneath picture of the Mini LF undoubtedly seems significantly better, really even the 6 stops underexposed picture does. And, the Mini LF has one cease extra within the highlights as properly, resulting in 10 stops of publicity latitude.
So, a stable 8 stops with extra wiggle room in direction of 9 stops – that’s fairly spectacular and is definitely higher than many of the current full body client cameras. Good job, FUJIFILM!
Abstract
The FUJIFILM X-H2S fares rather well for a client digital camera in our lab check, particularly when contemplating that it’s an APS-C digital camera, not full body. The rolling shutter efficiency is excellent, the dynamic vary outcomes are spectacular, as is the latitude check. It turns into clear from these outcomes that the 14-bit sensor readout undoubtedly is a part of this good efficiency.
So, you would really say it’s a BMPCC 6K on steroids with a ton of extra options like IBIS and the entire different benefits of a real hybrid digital camera, together with a smaller type issue.
Hyperlink: FUJIFILM
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