Well I’m just going to leave this Sony FS5 Vs Samsung NX1 camera comparison test here in the corner, and if it’s still here when I return so be it.
Sony FS5 vs Samsung NX1 in 4K and 1080p from Tim Shoebridge on Vimeo.
** Please DOWNLOAD this video in order to see a proper comparison **
This is a quick test to show the difference in image quality between the Samsung NX1 and the Sony FS5. Both cameras can record UHD 4K internally so I thought it would be a good test to compare that 4K footage when down-sampled to 1080p. So this test is actually two tests in one: You get to compare camera to camera and you also get to compare downsampled 4K versus the native 1080p that the cameras can shoot.
The subject of this test is incredibly boring so my apologies for that. It is actually a print that I have on the wall in my office. It's stuck with blu-tac and clearly isn't level but it's a good test of a static subject to compare image quality and inherent details. The print is A3 sized and was two metres away from the cameras when shot. Lighting was provided by a constant source LED.
Both cameras were fitted with the exact same lens: a Samyang 35mm f/1.5 cine lens, Nikon fit.
The NX1 was shot with its flattest profile at 1600 ISO, 1/50th shutter speed and aperture set to f/5.6.
The Sony FS5 was shot in SLOG3 (picture profile #8) at 3200 ISO, 1/50th shutter speed and the same f/5.6 aperture.
The footage was edited in the latest 2015 version of Premiere Pro which has native support for the Samsung NX1's h265 codec video files. No post-processing was performed on those file at all. Everything, including exposure, white balance and contrast curve is exactly as was shot.
The Sony FS5 SLOG3 footage needed post-processing in order to bring it to a similar colour and overall contrast to the NX1 footage. However processing was kept to a minimum and no sharpening was applied.
The difference in field of view between cameras is very unfortunate but was non intentional on my part. Both cameras have APS-C sensors but they must use different portions of their sensors from which to generate video footage.
Regardless of field-of-view difference, I think the results speak for themselves. The NX1 out-shines the FS5 in every way. And the FS5 footage is extremely similar in native 1080p compared to downsampled 4K UHD, at least to my eye.You really need to download the original file for this video to see the comparison properly.
Here, have some bonus videos…
Sony FS5 Clear Image Zoom from Tim Shoebridge on Vimeo.
** Please DOWNLOAD this video in order to see a proper comparison **
I have read a lot about how good Sony's Clear Image Zoom technonolgy is. I have even read a blogger state that there is some incredibly clever database of "everyday objects" which Sony's software uses to identify objects in an image so that they can be enlarged intelligently. Well, whatever you think about that idea, Sony do claim that their advanced technology results in minimal image loss.
Here's my little test. I used a 24-70mm Sony Zeiss zoom lens. I set the zoom to 35mm focal length and shot some footage with 2x Clear Image Zoom in effect. I then cancelled that "digital" zoom, adjusted the lens to 70mm focal length, and then shot more footage. I critically refocussed between shots to ensure that the lens was focussed optimally each time.
The 24-70mm lens is sharper at 35mm than it is at 70mm. This is evidenced by all the lens reviews I have seen on the internet. So there is no way that the results shown in this test video can be the result of a variation in image quality of the zoom lens itself. If anything, the 70mm shots should be softer than the 35mm ones.
However, the results really do speak for themselves.
Samsung NX1 4K Low Light Test from Tim Shoebridge on Vimeo.
A quick test of the Samsung NX1's low-light capabilities. Filmed at Trafalgar Square in London. Shot in 4K and then downsampled to 1080p for this video. Graded using Deluts.
Thanks to Tim Shoebridge for the video.