Updates to the a7S II Guide

This page contains all the updates, corrections, additions and changes to the guide from its inception. I’m going to sort it date-wise, with the latest being on top. This way, you can check back to see what has changed. Bookmark this page and check back regularly! July 20th 2019 Here’s a new cage option for … Read more

Firmware Updates

This page contains an up-to-date list of all the firmware updates released by Sony for the a7S II. I’m going to sort it date-wise, with the latest being on top. To check the firmware version of your camera, go to Menu F6 > Version. Important! I won’t take any responsibility for this. People have been … Read more

How to create dailies and work with LUTs using Catalyst Browse

Sony Catalyst Browse is a free software available for Macs and PCs. First, here’s my quick review (version 1.0.2 – software has been updated since then so some conclusions might not be pertinent any more): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSXLGQJ96Bs Important: Sony’s free Catalyst Browse software product is currently not capable of batch transcoding of XAVC-S. It can only transcode … Read more

What is the HDMI Lock and How do you use it?

You get a free HDMI lock with your a7R II and a7S II camera, and in my experience, it’s as good as any other lock. Here’s what it does and how you use it: Download Video Takeaways The HDMI lock protects your HDMI cable from accidentally coming out during a shot. It somewhat protects your … Read more

Understanding the Zebra

One of the most useful tools present in the Sony a7R II and a7SII for video exposure is the Zebra. Here’s how to use it: Note to a7S II users: The customizable Zebras C1 and C2 have a separate lesson. Download Video Takeaways If you’re coming from a photography background, stop using the histogram for video. … Read more

Understanding the Histogram

In this lesson I quickly explain what a histogram is and how to read it on the Sony a7R II/a7S II. We’ll also check how it behaves when over/under exposing, and whether we can trust it for RAW shooting: Download Video Takeaways Important things to know about the histogram: It’s 8-bit, or 256 shades of … Read more