softdistortion's blog
Top Reasons this cam is special for vfx
Minimal "jello-cam"
Sony is a world leader in semiconductor image sensors and a leader in the fundamentals of CMOS technology. While CMOS sensors have many strengths, they can be susceptible to "jello-cam," a type of geometric distortion experienced with moving subjects. Jello-cam occurs because CMOS uses a rolling shutter where each row of pixels is exposed slightly after the row above.
Jello-cam at work. Right-to-left subject motion causes the train's verticals to tilt, even while the foreground fence is unaffected. Sony Exmor CMOS technology minimizes this effect.
The operating principle of a rolling shutter CMOS image sensor.
Sony sought to minimize "jello-cam" by speeding up the readout process. Conventional CMOS sensors use only a handful of digital-to-analog converters, creating a traffic jam that slows down the readout process. Sony's ExmorTM CMOS design supplies each column of pixels with its own, dedicated converter. The sensor has literally hundreds of converters, reducing rolling shutter to a minimum.
No line skipping; minimal aliasing
Professional photographers are finding out that if your camera is optimized for stills, it's compromised for moving pictures. That's why Sony built the NEX-FS100U around an all-new sensor, specifically dedicated to the demands of motion imaging. In fact, this is the same image sensor that is helping our PMW-F3 earn such rave reviews.
For optimum moving pictures, the NEX-FS100U does not resort to line skipping, the concept of which is illustrated here.
A DSLR may have over 14 million pixels, but it may skip most of those pixels in order to capture HD video. This may have a pernicious side-effect: aliasing. DSLR shots can look good... until aliasing rears its ugly head. Repeating, lined patterns in clothing, buildings or household objects like venetian blinds can generate crazy patterns, absent in the original scene. What's worse, these patterns can move, distracting audiences from your story and your message. Because the NEX-FS100U incorporates an image sensor designed from the ground up for moving pictures, the Sony camera minimizes these distortions.
Even highly-regarded, professional-grade DSLRs can incur aliasing when shooting video. (Actual, unretouched video still.)
HDMI Output with Embedded Time code for 4:2:2 Uncompressed digital output. For extra convenience when using external recorders, the NEX-FS100 provides an HDMI Output with Embedded Time code and pull down markers Signal Output al Output.
USER Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):
While DSLRs are rife with workarounds and compromises, the NEX-FS100U is built from the ground up for moving pictures. And it shows. You get the benefits of DSLR shooting--including luscious depth of focus control and compatibility with a world of 35mm SLR, DSLR & specialty lenses--while minimizing the dreaded aliasing, the infamous "jello-cam" and the notorious overheating that can affect DSLRs. If you really want to shoot digital motion pictures, use a real digital motion picture camera. The Sony FS100U.
After owning a FX1, Z7U, EX1, 5D & 7D, I thought to myself, well here comes another product to get my hopes up then destroy them. However, I like to give every product an opportunity to prove itself, so I started doing my research. After investigating, I decided to rent this unit to give a try. I wasn't expecting too much at first, but I must say after shooting with it and reviewing the footage, I was speechless. This is the one I was waiting for all along!After I returned the rental, I sold ALL my equipment to buy this unit and the necessary gear.
I will start off by saying I would not put this product in the same category as a DSLR, not sure why it's marketed as such. This video camera blows away any product on the market under [$], whether it is a dslr "with video" or camcorder.Image Quality & Clarity:The image quality & clarity "with a zeiss lens" is comparable to the 5D. The colors are spot on with the FS1, unlike the EX1 "blacks were greenish, What is that about?" The clarity is much better than the FX1 or Z7U, which appeared grainy in comparison.
Quite simply the FS1 image quality is stunning and the colors are beautiful. Being able to added zeiss lenses and provide short focal distances is amazing.Video Movement:Again, not sure why the FS1 is marketing to the DSLR market. This product doesn't have any jello effects, stuttering, moire, ailasing, or any such performance problems. It behaves like an excellent camcorder should.
I recorder everything in 1920x1080-60p. The movement is amazing. The slow mo effects are breathtaking, using either quick/slow function or slowing it down to 40% in post.Sound:Sound quality is excellent with the mic. It also has the ability to reduce the wind effect just like prosumer camcorders. Buttons & Screen:The buttons are well thought out, some are programmable, again everything you would expect on a camcorder.
I love the LCD screen on the top "the side position was getting old"! Having the screen bright with red peaking is the bomb.Playback & Editing:The avchd codec files play perfectly on the PS3 without any need for conversion. Editing is a breeze with Vegas Pro. I don't even have to convert the files, they play and editing very smoothly. Unlike the 5D & 7D mov files "those had to be converted". All I do is copy the stream folder from my SD card to the PC and I am ready to edit.
http://vimeo.com/21372344
Found this neat little player for audio files. It does playlists and is a pretty simple way to add audio/video to most sites/blogs.
Yahoo Media Player < Click the little popout arrow on the bottom left of the page to see it in action.
Here's the blurb on what it does:
lay related audio and video without leaving the page. Just look for the play buttons and click to play.
- Plays mp3 and video links along with a variety of other file formats
- Turns any page into a playlist
- Easy to add to your blog with one line of code
- New player seek controls
I was gonna try to use shadowbox in ZB4 to block this out and hoping to get something amazing to happen..but alas, ZB4 still requires you to have some good model skills...! So, after a few tries and still not yet getting my head around the shadows required to form anything beyond a disc or some deranged, mangled mesh...I went back to Modo and blocked out with primitives. How cool! ;p
I think I maybe figured out how to use the bend tool in Modo pretty good. Check that track out.
..did one tread cloned it and then bent it into shape aroud the guide wheels...need to make a tut for this while I still remember how bend tool does it's stuff...to be honest, not ituitive to me, a big circle, a handle and a small center circle. In my usual style, I ignore the manual and start going at the controls till it does something that looks right.
So here is where I have the legs.
Need to work out the proportions of the parts in this leg. The ref looks more compact and cooler. Still, happy for my first FULL model attempt in years. :)
Forums are getting kind of tired after all these years, but then you find one that revives the excitment you used to get from visiting. Which is exactly what happens when I visit CGFEEDBACK.com
Combine Tobin's idea of doing a hardsurface model tour in ZB and MAYA with the mini challenge they are having at the CGfeedback forums and I can't resist feeling fired up and distracted...again...
So far I have orthos of the leg done. Only 2 weeks left to do the whole thing...this has the makings of an epic FAIL! ;p
Here's the ref I'd like to use>
The challenge they're having is focused on characters, so the gal is probably what I should be working on...but for hard surface and limited time...I think I have enough to do with the bot. Might add a real person to pose with the CG bot if I manage the first step.
