Leica SL 4K mirrorless camera tested by Tim Arasheban and Cinoflex2 min read
Reading Time: 2 minutesTim Arasheben is a camera operator who has a lot of experience using DSLRs for TV, feature and commercial work. He also runs T M Camera Solutions, the makers of the Cinoflex range of support gear and rigs
He and Director Randall Einhorn devised the plan to shoot the FX TV series “Wilfred” using DSLRs. The sitcom, which ran for four seasons, was shot on cameras like the Nikon D800 and Canon 5D mkIII. Tim’s been in the Union for fifteen years and worked his way up the ranks as camera technician and 1st AC on several well known Hollywood movies. Who better, then, to put the new Leica SL 4K mirrorless camera through its paces at the test bench.
The new Leica and its video quality have been an unknown quantity until now ““ the camera was launched just a couple of weeks ago. The camera records 4K (DCI and UHD) 8-bit internally in a Super35 crop, but can output 10-bit via HDMI to an external recorder. It can also shoot full-frame in HD (the frame is cropped top and bottom to 16×9), which is super-sampled from the full available pixels. CW Sonderoptic, who build Leica’s cine lenses, took a pre-production version of the camera to Panavision this week to give Tim the chance to test it out. I spoke to him at length about his findings.
The test chart setup was in 5600K artificial lighting. The camera was set in S35 mode at 4K in 24P, 1/50th of second shutter speed and Leica’s own L-Log gamma. ISO was 800 and the output was 4:2:2 10-bit to a Convergent Design Odyssey 7Q recorder. It was rigged on the Cinoflex XLT Camera System. (Note: CW Sonderoptic say that the version of L-LOG that Tim tested is still being tweaked so additional performance should be expected by the time of delivery)
via: News Shooter
Image Credit: Tim Arasheban
