Kinefinity 4k thoughts

[Robert]

Hi all,

 

My first post here. I have been a long red epic mx user and it is an exceptional camera but I am thinking ahead and Kinefinity is looking the way to go. The vibe and excitement around this camera so reminds me of the early excitement around the Red One which I bought. Red however has gone in another direction. I love the independent filmmaker culture and I think that kinefinity fits very well into that culture.

I am just trying to decide between the different iterations – 4k terra, 6k mavo or full frame. Of course, the price difference is pretty considerable and I would love just to be able to purchase the 4k terra but am worried that I might find it deficient in some way. Who knows without using them all? I might have an opportunity in about a month or so to try one out in Melbourne ( I live in Australia).

I have to say that just subjectively speaking the nicest footage I have seen has come from the 4k. The colours just seem outstanding. out it. It has a 16mm film look about it. But to be honest I am put off by the relatively small sensor size. This could be just ignorance on my part.

I know Raafi owns both and has kindly given me his impressions of both. Is anyone use the 4k terra with the kinefinity speedbooster? What is the crop factor with the speedbooster? How does the speedbooster affect the image quality?

 

Any thoughts would be most welcome. In particular, if you could disabuse me of my irrational prejudice agains the small sensor size I would be very happy.

 

Cheers.

 

Rob Castiglione

[Gualbert]

I have seen your post in the Facebook group. Honestly no idea why you are so hooked up on sensor size, it has no impact whatsoever on image quality (or anything else for that matter). The crop factor is around 1.8 without the KineEnhancer and around 1.3 with the KineEnhancer. Take a look at this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkzquChpm-8 supposedly was shot on the Terra 4K. If you are a RED user I have to say the Terra 4K is definitely nothing like RED so keep that in mind, it is a different camera with its own personality and style. Having used both the Terra 4K and Mavo LF, I have no issues recommending both, but it depends on what you do and what you are trying to use them for. My advice is since you will have the opportunity to use one in person please bring your own SSD and fill it up, try all things and then you will have plenty of footage you shot yourself to experiment with. Cheers!

[Robert]

Thanks Gualbert.

I shoot everything from drama, music videos to documentary work so I need something versatile. The slow motion capabilities of the Terra are important as are the low light capabilities. Dynamic range is also really important to me.  Based on the specifications, the dynamic range slightly exceeds that of the Epic X sensor which i think is about 13.5 stops.

From what I have seen of the footage, you are right. The whole look and feel of the footage is quite different from Red. Terra 4K colours look good to me. Thanks for the link.

1.3 crop with the kineEnhancer is about the same as my epic I think so at least I will know what to expect with the lenses that I normally use.

I think that you are right. I wont feel comfortable until I actually have an opportunity to do some shooting.

Cheers,

 

Rob

 

 

[raafi]

Hi Robert – like Gualbert, I’ve shot on both the Terra 4K and the Mavo LF and can recommend both. The Terra’s super power is the high frame rates and full frame on the LF yields a lovely image. I think concerns about sensor size can be a bit overblown. However, if you’re looking for that shallow “moving photograph” look then the only way to get it is with a large sensor. The color science on both cameras is strong and they intercut well.

 

My launch film for the LF should go live within a week and you’ll see how well the two work together. Good luck with your decision.

[Robert]

Hi Raafi

I really look forward to seeing the film. People are hungry out there for well shot Kinefinity LF footage! Ok, we are getting to the heart of the matter now. In your experience, would you say that the only significant difference between the two is the DOF issue and that both sensors render colour in essentially the same way?

 

Rob

[raafi]

Yes I would say the color rendering is very similar on the two cameras. Not identical, though. You can’t use the Mavo LUT on the Terra footage and get the exact same result. However, the KineNeut4k LUT and the KineNeutM LUT (which is designed for the Mavo series) makes the two cameras match on the timeline. The LF has about a stop more dynamic range so there are moments when both cameras are shooting the same subject that their differences are apparent. And, of course, the LF has the 5120 ISO for its second of the dual native ISOs while the higher second native of the Terra is 3200. The question I ask myself, though, is whether the LF is three times more valuable of a camera than the Terra. And the answer to that comes down to how much you value full frame and that extra stop. The 6k vs 4K resolution isn’t as important to me as I often shoot the LF in 4K mode.

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