Can you increase EOS 6D Mark II video dynamic range?

shutterhappens said:

Is there any way to increase the video dynamic range of 6D Mark II? Perhaps, by using a different colorspace than the default, whatever it is?

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A studio with perfect lighting can optimize the dynamic range.

shutterhappens said:

I don't see a setting for video colorspace. If it is not settable, is there a 3rd party firmware that allows this?

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RAW

I found my own answer.

Turns out I was using the default automatic picture style. Switching to neutral style and setting the contrast to -4 should help a little.

Downloading a free cinestyle helps even more.

There's a paid c-log style that may be even better but I will play with cinestyle first.

I wish somebody would tell me earlier.

Yeah, even though the answer to your question is "no, not really", you didn't get a proper response at all.

While there's no real way to just be able to get more dynamic range out of the sensor, you've found the best two options: decreasing the contrast in camera, and using a third party profile like the cinestyle one. You'll probably find that those two approaches are pretty equal in terms of dynamic range at the end of the day, but cinestyle probably uses a more pleasing gamma curve and will look more "cinematic".

The log profile add on that you mentioned is almost certainly a big waste of time. There's no extra dynamic range that they can really pull from, so they seem to end up just pulling up the shadows and pulling down the highlights and LOOKING like log - but as soon as you start to grade it, it's very clear that you'd get the same image from the standard profile.

shutterhappens said:

Is there any way to increase the video dynamic range of 6D Mark II? Perhaps, by using a different colorspace than the default, whatever it is?

I don't see a setting for video colorspace. If it is not settable, is there a 3rd party firmware that allows this?

Click to expand...

Cinestyle and that's it.

Putting DR aside, the huge advantage with Canon video is the very pleasing skin tones you get by doing next to nothing when recording video. Just be sure to expose correctly.

What are you shooting, out of curiosity?

EduPortas said:

What are you shooting, out of curiosity?

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Two-person interviews. Usually indoors but sometimes have window view or shot on a patio. Outdoor background are very bright (lighted by the sun) and my video lights are not bright enough to match the sun.

Solutions are to dim the sun, or get more powerful lights, or increase dynamic range of my camera. The last one is the cheapest and easiest so I'm trying that first.

shutterhappens said:

shutterhappens said:

What are you shooting, out of curiosity?

Click to expand...

Two-person interviews. Usually indoors but sometimes have window view or shot on a patio. Outdoor background are very bright (lighted by the sun) and my video lights are not bright enough to match the sun.

Solutions are to dim the sun, or get more powerful lights, or increase dynamic range of my camera. The last one is the cheapest and easiest so I'm trying that first.

Click to expand...

May I suggest you expose for the outdoor areas and use your lights to brighten the people's faces?

It's either that or buying a camera with 15 stops of DR and a log profile for video due to the brutal contrast you're working with. That will be expensive.