Sony Fs7 Owners Manual

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F.  Detailed guide to the Cine El Mode
F1. Using the Cine El Mode
The Cine EI mode is quite different to custom mode and 
the way a conventional video camera works. In most 
cases when used correctly the Cine EI mode will result in 
superior images to custom mode.
When using the Cine EI mode first you must choose the 
Color Space and log curve that you wish to use.
Recommendation: For most applications S-Gamut3.cine/
Slog3 works very well. 
(MENU: System – Base Settings – Color Space).  
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F.  Detailed guide to the Cine El Mode
F 1.1  Colorspace and S-Log2/S-Log3
In the Cine EI mode you have the ability to select one of 3 
different color spaces and two different S-Log curves.  
S-Gamut: The original Sony wide range color gamut. 
Allows a wider than normal color range to be recorded 
giving greater post production flexibility.  Works in 
conjunction with S-log2.
S-Gamut3: Revised wide range color gamut that provides 
a similar color range to S-Gamut but with a color response 
that is normally easier to grade than S-Gamut. Works with 
S-Log3. 
S-Gamut3.cine: Revised wide range color gamut with 
improved color response. Not quite as wide as S-Gamut or 
S-Gamut3 but still wider than can be reproduced by most 
of todays TV and cinema displays.  The slightly reduced 
range makes this the easiest of the S-Gamuts to grade. 
S-Gamut3.cine is recommended for most production 
types. Works with S-log3. 
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F.  Detailed guide to the Cine El Mode
S-Log2: Sony’s second generation 14 stop log gamma 
curve. Excellent dynamic range, using the cameras full 
recording range. Can sometimes be tricky to grade well 
without the use of LUT’s. This is the same curve as used in 
Sony A7s.
S-Log3: 3
rd generation 14 stop log curve very similar to the 
“Cineon” standard used for digital film prints. Also very 
similar to Arri’s LogC. Easy to grade (especially when used 
with S-Gamut3.cine). Note that the peak recording level is 
only 92%, the video levels never go above this in order to 
match the Cineon and Arri curves. 
Recommendation: Use S-Gamut3.cine and S-log3 unless 
there are good reasons to use a different combination. 
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F.  Detailed guide to the Cine El Mode
F1.2 Exposing via an MLUT, suggested settings
Recommendation: Enable MLUT’s for SDI2, HDMI and 
Viewfinder. Ensure that the MLUT is OFF for SDI1 & Internal 
Rec. (MENU: Video – Monitor LUT). 
Recommendation: Use LUT Category – LUT, LUT Select – 
P1:709(800). (MENU: Video – Monitor LUT).
Recommendation: Set the Exposure Index switch settings 
as follows: 
(MENU: Camera – ISO/Gain/EI).
Exposure Index 2000, Exposure Index 800, 
Exposure Index 640.
Set the L/M/H gain/EI switch to M (800EI) for general 
purpose shooting. Use H (2000EI) for very bright, high key 
scenes with few shadows. Use L (640EI) for scenes with 
few highlights where shadow information is important.
Expose by looking at the viewfinder image with the 
MLUT applied. For the 709(800) MLUT use conventional 
exposure levels, for example Zebra 1 at 70% for skin tones. 
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F.  Detailed guide to the Cine El Mode
MLUT operation is limited to ON or OFF for all outputs and 
internal recording in each of the following situations: The 
HDMI output is set to 4K/UHD. S&Q Motion is enabled. 
Lens distortion compensation is set to AUTO 
(MENU: System – Lens – Distortion Comp)  
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F.  Detailed guide to the Cine El Mode
F1.3 The Video Signal Monitor can be used to measure 
either the MLUT level or the Internal Recording level.  
I recommend measuring and monitoring the MLUT level 
for the correct operation of the Cine EI mode 
(MENU: VF – Video Signal Monitor – Source – SDI2) 
Note that if the SDI output is disabled, selecting the source 
as SDI2 will still allow you to monitor the MLUT levels as 
seen in the viewfinder. The Video Signal Monitor source is 
indicated just above the Video Signal Monitor.
The viewfinder image with the 709(800) MLUT applied, correctly 
exposed. Note the indications for what is being recorded and what is 
being measured by the Video Signal Monitor. 
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F.  Detailed guide to the Cine El Mode
F1.4 In the Cine EI mode the way you expose your footage 
is different to custom mode. In order to obtain the 
cameras full dynamic range the camera must record at it’s 
native ISO of 2000. 
In addition the exposure levels used by log gamma 
curves are different to conventional gammas and the log 
image will look flat and washed out when viewed on a 
conventional monitor. 
To make exposure and focusing easier you can  apply 
a MLUT (Monitor Look Up Table) to the viewfinder and/
or monitor to convert from the flat, dull looking S-Log2/3 
image to a more normal looking image with more contrast 
and better color. Then set your exposure by looking at the 
image with the LUT applied rather than trying to expose 
by looking at the S-Log recording. 
When the LUT is correctly exposed, so too is the S-Log2 or 
S-Log3 recording. For exposure the built in 709(800) LUT is 
very good as this uses conventional video levels and it is 
normally very obvious when the exposure is right. When 
an MLUT or LUT is being used the cameras zebra function 
measures the MLUT/LUT output. So if you wish to use 
zebra’s for exposure assessment (when viewing via a LUT) 
you should set and use the zebra function exactly as you 
would for normal gamma curves.  
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F.  Detailed guide to the Cine El Mode
F1.5 One issue with most LUT’s is that the LUT cannot 
show you your full recording range. There is however a 
simple way to check the full range of the recordings by 
using a function called “High/Low Key”.
Before you can use this function you must first assign 
it to one of the cameras assignable buttons. I suggest 
assigning it to button  the “Iris” button as this button 
has no effect in the Cine EI mode.
MENU: System – Assignable Button -  - High/Low Key
Once assigned to a button, one press of the button will 
show the “High” exposure range allowing you to view how 
the highlights within the scene are being recorded. This is 
an easy way to check for any highlight clipping issues. The 
second press of the button will show the low key or darker 
parts of the scene allowing you to see how well the camera 
is seeing in to the deepest shadows. The third press of the 
buttons returns to view to the LUT’s normal range. 
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F.  Detailed guide to the Cine El Mode
The viewfinder image with 
709(800) MLUT applied. Looking at 
this image you may be concerned 
that the brightest highlights will 
be recorded too bright. Using the 
Hi Low Key function you can check 
the highlight and shadow areas of 
the image recorded image.After the first press of the Hi Low 
Key assigned button the MLUT is 
darkened to allow you to check 
for clipping in the brighter parts 
of the image. As you can see 
the highlights in the image are 
not clipped so will be recorded 
without clipping by the wide 
range S-Log2 or S-Log3 recording.
Pressing the Hi Low Key button again brightens the MLUT image so you 
can check the darker parts of the recording range. 
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F.  Detailed guide to the Cine El Mode
This is the 709(800) MLUT 
viewfinder image when exposed 
correctly at 2000 EI.This is the brightness of the S-Log3 
recording when the EI is set to 
2000 EI and the 709(800) MLUT is 
exposed correctly.
F1.6 Changing the exposure index (EI)
Changing the exposure index (by using the L/M/H switch) 
changes the brightness of the LUT/MLUT. It has no direct 
effect on the recordings, the camera continues to record at 
it’s native 2000ISO.
However when you decrease the EI, for example selecting 
an EI of 800 (the default L setting) the images seen via the 
LUT become darker, the equivalent of changing the LUT’s 
ISO to 800. In response to this darker image you would 
now adjust the exposure by opening the aperture to 
restore the LUT’d image back to a normal brightness. 
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