matching F and H

[Edward Chick]

Abel Cine tech has a scene file converter for converting “F” series files to “H” or vice versa. I beleive it’s available in PC or mac versions. Mine is Mac.

edward chick

[Chris Bell]

I have that software. It’s not a 1 for 1 thing. The F and H see color different. I am looking to see if anyone has scene files that will match F and H cameras.

Chris Bell

[John Sharaf]

Chris,

I’m not so sure you’re correct in your assertion that the two models “see color differently” as I have had gear success in matching my F and H in a traditional manner, with DSC Chroma du Monde chart and a HDSDI waveform/vectorscope as viewed on an HD master monitor.

JS

[Chris Bell]

If I load my H scene file into my F, the two cameras are not matched. They must be matched up independently. I am looking to see if anyone can share F and H files which will give me a solid match. I don’t have a scope.

John, have anything you could share?

Chris

[John Sharaf]

Loading scene files alone will not match cameras! Matching cameras is an engineering procedure requiring a chart, test set and an engineer. Even with digital processing cameras are still analog devices and start off with different “baselines”. Loading files may get you close, but it is really the skill of an engineer, controller or technician that makes the best match.

JS

[Bruce Greene]

Recently I rented a 2nd “H” body for a project and went to prep the 2 cameras to match. I set up the DSC chart and set both cameras to preset white balance and turned the matrix and color correction off. Much to my surprise, the cameras matched really well on the waveform/vectorscope. When I loaded my saved matrix/color correction settings from one camera to the other, they continued to match.

While I don’t know if all Varicams are so consistantly aligned, the idea, in this case is not so crazy I think. I have no idea if an “H” body will match an “F” body though…

Of course, the only way to see how close the match is is to aim all the cameras at the test chart and observe the result on the scope.

If you have no scope, then the best alternative I think is to start by entering the same set up by hand in each camera, put them side by side, aim and switch the monitor back and forth and see if the match is acceptable by eye.

Often, I think, the most difficult part of matching is to get the exposure on each camera to look perceptually consistant even though each camera is looking at the subject from a different angle. This is where having an engineer compare the cameras live on the set really makes a big difference. Perhaps the best match, might not be a match at all?

-bruce

Varicam/Steadicam Owner
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.brucealangreene.com

[Mariusz Cichon]

Hi,

There is no scene files that will match 2 different cameras perfectly. Saying that I will also add that 2 Varicams H or F models if they will have the same values in scene files they will almost match. They are ussualy very, very close and most probably you won’t see difference with your eyes.
Version H of this camera has cleaner image in low light though.
To make it ideal you need vectoscope and waveform and most important engineer.
Scene file converter from AbelCine will edit, create or convert scene files from F to H or vice versa on Mac. Panasonic released converter for PC so when I worked at Abel I saw opportunity to help people using macs (most of us) and with my friend we made this software. It is free software and AbelCine can email it to you.

Mariusz