In this lesson we’ll focus on just one picture profile – Cine1 – against four color spaces:
- Cinema (the one Sony wants you to use with it)
- Matrix 709 (Rec. 709)
- Pro (Rec. 709)
- S-Gamut (for S-Log2, but let’s see for ourselves!)
Cinema Color Space
Here’s what Cine1 looks like, in the Cinema color space (In this order: -4, -2, 0, +2, +4, click to enlarge):
What do you see?
Matrix Color Space
Here’s what Cine1 looks like, in the Matrix color space (In this order: -4, -2, 0, +2, +4, click to enlarge):
What do you see?
Pro Color Space
Here’s what Cine1 looks like, in the Pro color space (In this order: -4, -2, 0, +2, +4, click to enlarge):
What do you see?
S-Gamut Color Space
Here’s what Cine1 looks like, in the S-Gamut color space (In this order: -4, -2, 0, +2, +4, click to enlarge):
Who wins? Look for these things:
- Which has better texture in the underexposed regions?
- Which looks better when clipped either way? Is there a good roll-off at either end?
- Which as more dynamic range?
- Which has better skin patches?
- Which has a better look overall?
Try to at least answer the above before reading the next. Otherwise I’ll be putting words in your head. Here’s a tip: Study each exposure point against the others. E.g., study all -2s together, then 0s together, and so on.
What I think
This one’s tough. I prefer the look of the Cinema color space because the colors are the most pleasing, especially the skin tones. Otherwise there’s hardly anything to differentiate them.
One note though, the highlights have more detail in Pro and Matrix color spaces, though I feel it could be because I might have slightly overexposed it. We’ll know if this is the case when we compare the remaining Cine profiles.
Here’s the official wording from Sony:
Softens the contrast in dark parts and emphasizes gradation in bright parts to produce a relaxed color movie
Click on the link below to the next lesson or head over to the main menu (above). If you need help with something, feel free to send me an email. I’ll try to get back to you as soon as possible.
