Sony Fs7 Owners Manual

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D. Preparing the camera and shooting
ISO can be a little more confusing. ISO is used to 
determine the correct exposure for a camera when using 
an external light meter. As different gamma curves require 
slightly different exposure levels the optimum ISO (native 
sensitivity) will vary depending on the gamma curve used.
STD Gamma curves = 800 ISO = 0dB
Hypergamma HG1, HG2, HG3, HG4 = 800 ISO = 0dB
Hypergamma HG7, HG8 = 1600 ISO = 0dB
S-Log2 and S-Log3 = 2000 ISO = 0dB
If you double the ISO, for example going from 800 ISO to 
1600 ISO this is the same as adding 6dB of gain. So if you 
are using STD gamma and the camera is set to 1600 ISO 
that is the same as STD gamma at +6dB gain.
I recommend that to avoid confusion when in custom 
mode you should use dB gain rather than ISO. 
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D. Preparing the camera and shooting
D3.2 To select the use of gain or ISO 
(MENU: Camera – ISO/Gain/EI – Mode). 
Manual gain control is then done via the gain switch on 
the side of the camera body the gain or ISO level assigned 
to each of the 3 switch positions can be set in: 
(MENU: Camera – ISO/Gain/EI – ISO/Gain) etc.
To enable/disable automatic gain control press the  
Gain button on the camera body.
If using the Cine EI mode please see the section on 
“Exposure Index”. 
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D. Preparing the camera and shooting
D4. White Balance (Custom Mode) 
Setting the white balance correctly ensures that white 
objects in the scene appear white and that the overall 
color response of the camera is true to life. There are 
several ways of setting the white balance.
Pressing the white balance button on the camera will 
toggle between automatic white balance (ATW) and  
the white balance function selected by the white  
balance switch.
ATW: The camera can determine the correct white balance 
automatically by continuously analyzing the scene being 
shot and adjusting the white balance while you shoot. 
This function is called ATW – Auto Tracing White Balance. 
Generally this works well but under some situations you 
may occasionally see a shift in colors while shooting.
With the white balance switch you can chose between 
PRESET white balance and MEMORY A and MEMORY B 
white balance. 
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D. Preparing the camera and shooting
D4 .1  Preset
The white balance can be fixed to a set value. When the 
white balance switch is set to PRESET the preset value 
is used. To change the preset value go (MENU: Paint – 
Preset White) and select the desired color temperature.
D4.2 Memory Mode A and B
There are two memories in the camera that will remember 
the white value for a white target. To set the white balance 
correctly aim the camera at a white target such as a piece 
of white paper that is under the same lighting as the rest 
of the scene. Expose correctly and then press the WB SET 
button on the front of the camera. This will store the white 
balance in the memory selected by the switch.
D5.  White Balance (Cine El Mode) 
When shooting using the Cine EI mode a white balance 
preset is selected using the white balance switch. Only 3 
possible settings can be chosen, (Preset) 3200K, (A) 4300K, 
(B) 5500K. Choose the option closest to the scene you are 
shooting. Preset white balance is used to preserve the 
full dynamic range of the camera, fine tuning of the white 
balance would be done in post production as part of the 
normal grading process. 
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D. Preparing the camera and shooting
D6. Exposure, Zebras, Waveform and Histogram
Exposure is controlled through a combination of shutter 
speed, gain/ISO, iris aperture and ND filter. The camera 
includes a number of tools for measuring exposure.
D6 .1  Zebras
Zebras are commonly used to measure the brightness of 
either skin tones or highlights. Zebra 1 is designed to be 
used for skin tones. (MENU: VF – Zebra). For STD gammas 
the default level of 70% works well in most cases, a small 
amount of zebras appearing across a face. However for 
the Hypergammas the zebra level should be reduced to 
60% for good results.
Zebra1 at 70% on skin tones with STD gamma (note how darker faces 
may not always show zebras at 70%). 
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D. Preparing the camera and shooting
In (MENU: VF – Zebra - Select) you can choose whether to 
show zebra 1, zebra 2 or both in the viewfinder. The zebras 
can be turned on and off via the push button on the side 
of the viewfinder or with (MENU: VF – Zebra – Setting).
In Cine EI when a MLUT is enabled for the Viewfinder the  zebras measure the exposure levels of the MLUT as seen on the viewfinders LCD screen, not the S-Log2 or S-Log3 recording level. 
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D. Preparing the camera and shooting
D6.2 Waveform Vectorscope and Histogram
These are selected via  (MENU: VF  – Video Signal Monitor).
Waveform: The waveform display measures the 
brightness of the recorded image and displays the 
brightness levels on a vertical scale that goes from 0% 
or black at the lower dotted line at the bottom to 109% 
(clipping point) at the top. There are additional dotted 
reference lines at 25, 50 75 and 100%. The left side of the 
waveform meter represents the left side of the image 
being recorded while the right side of the waveform meter 
is the right side of the image.
The Waveform Monitor and the levels indicated 
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D. Preparing the camera and shooting
Vector: This is a vectorscope which is used to measure the 
color levels and color hue of what is being shot. In most 
cases it is not necessary to use the vectorscope.
Histogram: The histogram displays the exposure 
brightness on a horizontal scale where black is at the 
left and 109% (clipping point) is on the right. The vertical 
height of the indicated level represents the amount of the 
image that is exposed at that brightness. 
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D. Preparing the camera and shooting
Video Signal Monitor Source: When shooting in the   
Cine EI mode it is possible to select whether the video 
signal monitor displays the levels of the recorded signal 
or the level of any LUT being used. Please refer to the 
Cine EI section of this guide to better understand which to 
use. The selected source signal is indicated just above the 
signal monitor. 
(MENU: VF – Video Signal Monitor – Source).
The histogram 
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D. Preparing the camera and shooting
D7.  Aper ture/Iris
D 7.1  In Custom Mode the iris of an electronically controlled 
lens can be controlled automatically or manually. In the 
Cine EI mode only manual operation is possible.
In Custom mode pressing assignable button 2 (iris) 
toggles between manual and automatic control. When 
manual control is selected the Iris Push Auto button can 
be used to momentarily set the iris automatically. When 
using auto iris it is possible to include an offset to the 
exposure to brighten or darken the image, for example to 
brighten a backlit scene via 
(MENU: Camera – Auto Exposure – Level).
D7. 2  Custom and Cine EI modes 
The iris can be opened and closed using the iris control 
wheel on the side of the camera or by assigning iris 
control to the assignable dial on the handgrip 
(MENU: System – Assignable Dial).  
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