CML/CMIRCAMERAANDLENSTESTSREPORTFORFACULTYOFACE,UWEFLAXTON&SPARKE

{PAGE}

CML/CMIRTestsoverview

InternalreportforUWE,Dec2016

DrSarahSparke,ProfessorTerryFlaxton,RWA,FRSAThisisabriefreportforFacultyofArts,CreativeIndustriesandEducation(ACE)atUniversityoftheWestofEngland,concerningasetofindustry-facingCML/CMIRcameraandlenstestsrunbetween2014-2016byProfessorTerryFlaxton(DirectorCMIR,ACE,UWE),DrSarahSparke(CMIR,ACE,UWE)andVisitingProfessorGeoffBoyle(CinematographersMailingList,CML,UWEACE).AtthispointintimetherehavebeenfourcollaborativetestsbetweenCMLandCMIR.Threeofthesewerecameratests.ThisreportisacommentontheoverallthrustengenderedintheCML/CMIRcollaboration–butinthisinstanceisspecificallyorientedtowardsthefourthoftheseteststhatwasforlenses.Thereportspeaksabouttheoverallconceptionoftheteststhroughthespecificofanexaminationoflenses.ThesecollaborationswereinitiallyintendedtopromotetheideaofImmersiveLearningEnvironments(ILE).ImmersiveLearningEnvironmentsweredefinedbyfocusedeventsthataskedalllevelsofonespecificdiscipline(fromstudenttoprofessorandtraineetoprofessional)tojointogetherinresearch.Bylate2014thislaterdevelopedintoAdvancedInnovationLaboratories(AIE)whichassembledpeoplefromdifferentdisciplines–andthiseventuallyincludedthegeneralist(intheformoftheaudienceitself,whenbeingtaughttoseedepthinanHDRlabattheArnolfiniin2014).Thetestscarriedonandeventuallythelenstestswhichthisreportspeaksaboutoccurred.

“Icantestifytoanystudentwhoiswillingtobeproactiveandgetstuckin,thattheseevents

willallowtheirknowledgeofcinematographyandthewaytheindustryworkstoincreasemorethaniteverwouldhaveiftheyweretosimplyusethefacilitiesavailabletothemwithin

thecourse.”(Source:JackHayter,UWEalumnusandtraineeCinematographer.Seep.7)

What&Why:TheCML/CMIRtestswerearesponsetoindustrypractitioners’growingneedforcomparableinformationaboutkeyprofessionalcameraequipmentinthefaceoftherapiddevelopmentsindigitalcapturetechnologies.Thetestsaredesignedtoprovideneutral,reproducibledata(primarilyimages)onsomeofthenewcamerasbeinglaunched,alongsidedataforsomeoftheestablishedindustryfavourites.Thetestresultsareusedbypractitionerstohelpintheirselectionoftherighttoolforthejob.ThetestshavebeenanintegralpartofCMIRactivitysinceitsinceptionin2013.Theyproducesignificantinformationfortheindustry(andthoseabouttojoinit),importantprofile-raisingforCMIR,UWE,andareextraordinarylearningopportunitiesforUWEstudents.ThetestswouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthecloseprofessionalrelationshipbetweenGeoffBoyle,theProductionworkofSarahSparkeandCMIRDirectorProfTerryFlaxton.GeoffBoyleisacinematographer,highlyrespectedtechnicalcommentatorandfounderoftheindustryforumCinematographersMailingList.HejoinedforceswithCMIRin2013asaVisitingProfessor.ThekeycollaborativeareasofresearchwehaveengagedinaretheHDR(highdynamicrange)labs&talks2014,CineFest:BristolInternationalFestivalofCinematography2015and2016,andthecameraandlenstests2014-2016.Thisreportfocusesonthetestscarriedouttodate.

CML/CMIRCAMERAANDLENSTESTSREPORTFORFACULTYOFACE,UWEFLAXTON&SPARKE

{PAGE}

Where:EachofthetestshasbeencarriedoutontheUWEBowerAshtoncampus,atweekends,acrossbothdays,withset-upontheFridayafternoon/eveningwherepossible.Theitemstobetested,plusotherrequisitessuchasappropriatecamerasforthelenstests&specificlighting,aredeliveredbycouriersasclosetotheFridayaspossible,andreturnedimmediatelyafterthetests.

How:Aswiththetestsrunby“Which?”ondomesticappliances,theCML/CMIRtestsaredesignedtoreplicatereal-lifeusage&testagainstreal-lifecriteria,providinganalternativetothemanufacturers’lab-testtechstatements.Forexample,asGeoffstatesbelow:

*“Thescenebrightnessrangeis7stops,sotakingthat7andaddingtheplusandminusvalueswillgiveustheusablefilmingrange.ThisisverydifferenttothevaluesproducedbyaXylachartwhichasfarasIamconcernedisonlygoodformanufacturersPRblurbsandhasnouseinrealfilmingsituations.”(addedemphasis)

(Source:GeoffBoyle,writingintheJanuary2015testresultspageoftheCMLsite,{ HYPERLINK "http://www.cinematography.net/cml-uwe-2015.html" },accessed20thOct2015)

FortheCML/CMIRtestsweusemodels,particularprops,specially-commissioned(aswellasthestandard)testcharts,tracking,roboticsandspecificlightingincontrolledenvironmentsinordertotestthecamerasandlensesinwayscinematographerswanttoseethemtested.

Bywhom:DirecotrofCMIR,ProfessorTerryFlaxton(CMIR,UWE)Director:VisitingprofessorGeoffBoyle(CML),Producer:DrSarahSparke(CMIR,UWE),Techmanager:DaveNeal(MediaCentre,UWE).Others:professionals,students,staff.Seebelowforcasestudy.Flaxton,SparkeandBoylehaveaparticularlyusefulblendofscientific/technicalknowledge,andknowledgeoftheaestheticandpracticalneedsofpractitioners,whichisnecessarytodesignmeaningfultests.Theyalsohavetheproduction/administrativeskillsand-importantly–thecontactstocollatetheprofessionalequipmentrequired1,spaceandpeopleneededfortheteststohappen,andtheinterestinfacilitatingdeepKEbetweenindustryandstudents.

TESTSCAMERASInFeb2014wetested9cameras:ARRIAlexa,CanonC500,KineRAWS35,REDDragon,SinaCAMRAW,SonyFS700,F5andF55,andtheVisionResearchFlex4k(positionedasahigh-speedcamera). InJanuary2015wetested9cameras:ARRIAmira&Alexa,BlackmagicPocket,BlackmagicUrsa,DigitalBolex,CanonC500,SonyF65,PanasonicVaricamPLandHS,REDDragonLowLightand

1Thiscannotbeoverstated–theequipmenttestedisexpensive,insomecasesrare–forexamplewetestedprototypesbeforerelease,andold,lusted-afterlensesaswellasthecurrentreleases.Tohavelocatedandpersuadedownerstolendthiskit,andatno/lowcost,isasubstantialcoup.Otherexternally-sourcedkitisalsorequiredtorunthetestsegforthelenstestsweneededtwoappropriatecameras,track,motor,specificlights,stands,charts,etc.UWEkitisusedwherepossible,butthistendstobeonlyfortheperipherals.

CML/CMIRCAMERAANDLENSTESTSREPORTFORFACULTYOFACE,UWEFLAXTON&SPARKE

{PAGE}

Skin(iewithDSMC®LowLightOptimizedOLPF(opticallow-passfilter),andDSMCSkinTone-HighlightOLPF). Oct2015wetestedasetof‘affordable’–iesub-$20k-cameras,alongsidesomemoreexpensivecamerasforcomparison:thenewly-released(Sept2015)CanonC300II,ARRIAmira,SonyPMW-F55withfirmwareupdateofPMW-F55V6.01,,JVC4k(GY-LS300CHE),Kinefinity’sKineMAX6k(releasedsummer2014),DigitalBolex,IO’scompact4kSDIKITUK-PL,aclassicPro8Super8(asmallhandheldfilmcamera),theAJACIONwithnewfirmware,andaPanasonic4k,theAG-DVX200. Forthenexttest(Jan2016)wehadinitiallyexpectedtobelookingatthehigherendofthecameramarket.However,wehadtheopportunitytorunanextraordinarylenstest:

LENSES InJanuary2016werananextraordinarylenstestcoveringbetween£2-3moflenses,rangingfrom

classiclensesthatareconsideredprice-less,(lenseswhicharetreatedaffectionatelyas‘heroes’byprofessional/knowledgeablecinematographers),tonewlyreleased‘affordable’lenses.Thistestrequiredtwolocations(onedarkandonelightcontrolledtestenvironment),twoteams,two

cameras/set-ups,andfastaccurateworktogetalllensestestedinbothlocations,inthetimeavailable.

Forthoseunfamiliarwithlenses,thisisalisttosendtinglesdownthespine:itcontainslenseswhicharehighlyrespectedbyanycinematographer/cameraoperatorworkinginaprofessionalcapacityin

thefieldsoftelevisionandfilm,includingblockbusterHollywoodfeaturefilm.Thelensesweregreetedwithawebythetestcrews,andhandling-rightswereonlygrantedto4keypeople.

EFMounts:

CanonCN35mm,85mm,15-47mm,30-105mm,17-120mm

RokinonCine35mm,85mm

ZeissOtus85mm,

ZeissMilvus21mm,85mm

ZeissCP.218mm,35mm,85mm

ZeissCZ.215-30mm

PanavisionPrimo17mm,35mm,75mm

SchneiderXenon35mm,75m

PLMounts

CookeS418mm,35mm,75mm,15-40mm

Cooke5i18mm,35mm,75mm

CML/CMIRCAMERAANDLENSTESTSREPORTFORFACULTYOFACE,UWEFLAXTON&SPARKE

{PAGE}

CookeTLS18mm,32mm,75mm

CookeAna35mm,75mm

LeicaSummilux18mm,35mm,75mm

LeicaSummicron18mm,35mm,75mm

IlluminaCoated18mm,35mm,85mm

IlluminaUn-coated18mm,35mm,75mm

SchneiderXenar18mm,35mm,75mm

FujinonHK14.5-45mm

FujinonZK14-35mm,19-90mm

ArriAlura15.5-45mm,30-80mm

AngenieuxOptimo15-40mm,28-76mm

VantageHawkVlite35mm,80mm

VantageHawkFlare35mm,80mm

VantageHawk1.324mm,55mm

CML/CMIRCAMERAANDLENSTESTSREPORTFORFACULTYOFACE,UWEFLAXTON&SPARKE

{PAGE}

Casestudy:Jan2015CML/CMIRCameratestsPEOPLETheCML/CMIRtestsbringtogethermanypeoplefromindustryandacademia,creatinganimmersivelearningopportunityforbothstudentsandprofessionals.

Figure{SEQFigure\*ARABIC}:SomeoftheJan2015CML/CMIRcameratestcrew,DrSaraSparkecrouchingdownatfront,GeoffBoyle,tall,toimmediateleftofwhitehairedmodel

Theseincludekeypersonnelwhomakethetestshappen:ProfessorTerryFlaxton,DirectorCMIR),GeoffBoylefromCML(testDirector),DrSarahSparkeatCMIR,UWE(testProducer),DaveNealatUWEMediaCentreand–essentially–thecameramanufacturersandkitsupplierssuchas24-7Drama(VisualImpact),VMI,Films@59andLCA.

Aswellasthiscoregroup,therearealwaysothersinvolved,interestedinthecamerasandinthetestsasamuchdeeperKEopportunity.ForexamplefortheJan2015over30peoplewereinvolvedinthetests.TheseincludedprofessionalcameramenGreggSmith,DannyGagattandMariYamamura,andDITJoshCallis-Smith.Inaddition,forthistestwehadanAJAengineer/designerwhocamewiththeir‘hotoffthepress’camerafromCalifornia,andanotherfromPanasonicwhocamewithaprototypecamerafromJapan,accompaniedbytheirEuropeanMarketingManager.

Becausesomeoftheequipmentthatwassenttoustotestwassonewandexclusivewehadtosignnon-disclosurecontractstoagreetonotsharedetailsoftheequipmentwithexternalsources.ThefactthatthesemanufacturerswantedtheirequipmenttobeincludedinthesetestsdemonstrateshowhighlyregardedtheCML/CMIRtestsareheldbytheprofessionalfilmmakingequipmentindustry.

Otherprofessionalsalsoattended,drawnbytheideaofthisopportunitytoseeanddiscussthecamerasandthetests.TheseincludedUWEstaff,AssistantCameraoperators,CameraOperatorsandafamousDirectorofPhotography.

CML/CMIRCAMERAANDLENSTESTSREPORTFORFACULTYOFACE,UWEFLAXTON&SPARKE

{PAGE}

BENEFITTOUWESTUDENTS

Fortheundergraduateandpostgraduatestudentstheattendanceofalloftheseprofessionalsreinforcedtheimportanceofthetests,andtheopportunitytoobservetheprofessionalsdemonstratingwhatwascapableoftheequipmentisaneducationnotmatchedinanyotherclassroomcontext.Thiscloseproximitytoworld-classprofessionalsandequipmentisasuperbopportunityforthemtolearnmoreaboutcameras,lensesandprofessionalbehavioursandconcerns,whichisvitallyimportantexperienceseldommatchedinanyotherarena.

Thestudentswereabletoseewhattheprofessionalsweredoingwithandsayingaboutthevariouscameras,andtoobservehowtheyinteractedwitheachother.Thisculturalaspectofprofessionalbehavioursisanimportantelementoftheimmersivelearningenvironment.Involvementinthetestsenrichesthestudents’technicalknowledge,enhancingtheirabilitytounderstandandcritiqueothertechnicalinformation.

Duetotheneedforaprofessional,accurate,speedyworkflow,andforissuesofconfidentiality,studentsareaskedtoapplytoparticipate,andareselectedthrougharigorousprocess.Studentswhoareselectedandengagewiththetestsgainahugeamountnotjustintheknowledgeacquired,butalsodemonstrateandreportthatthetestsprovideahugeboosttotheirenthusiasm,confidence,energytolearn,andworkopportunities.Toillustratethis,hereissomeofthefeedbackfromtwostudents:SergejsBozoks,andJackHayter.

EXAMPLESOFSTUDENTFEEDBACK:

Figure{SEQFigure\*ARABIC}:JackHayteroncamerawithGregSmith.SergejsBozoksmodelling.CML/CMIRlenstestJanuary2016(daylightset-up)

FortheOct2015cameratestsweasked3rdyearBAFilmmakingandCreativeImagingstudentSergejsBozokstoworkasanAC.ThisimportantinvitationwasbasedonourknowledgeofSergejsfrompreviousworkexperienceopportunities:hehadattendedearlierCML/CMIRtestsandworkshops,hadcrewedforBIFC,andineachhadprovedhimselfuseful,andkeen.

CML/CMIRCAMERAANDLENSTESTSREPORTFORFACULTYOFACE,UWEFLAXTON&SPARKE

{PAGE}

FollowingtheOcttests,Sergejssaid:

“Afterlastyear’sCMLtestsIrealisedhowlittleIknewaboutcameracapabilities.Between

thenandnowIdidmyhomeworkandthistimeassistingGeoffBoyleasanAssistantCameraOperator,IknewwhatI’mlookingatandwhatIshouldbelookingfor.ThistimeIwasabletodiscusscameras,theiradvantagesanddisadvantagesandcomparingthemon

thespotonetoanotherwithGeoffandhearhis“unedited"opinion.Thatisaone-of-a-kindopportunity.

NowIhavehadachancetohaveacloserlookatindustrystandardcameras.Ihadachancetogothroughmenusandsetthemup.IfIhadtohavetooperateoneofthemtomorrowat

leastnowIknowthebasicsaboutthem.”

(Source:personalemailfromSergejstoSarahSparke,highlightedemphasisbySergejs.Permissionforusegiven.)

RecentUWEgraduateJackHayter,FeedbackonbeinginvolvedintheCML/CMIRtests:

“DuringmytimeontheFilmmakingcourseatUWEIwasabletousetheeventsorganisedby

theCMIRandCMLtodevelopmyprofessionalprofilebeforemygraduation.Inearly2014IobservedtheCMLcamerateststhattookplaceatBowerAshton,allowingmetomeetcinematographerandvisitingprofessorGeoffBoyle.Afterdemonstratingakeeninterestin

thecameradepartmentIwasofferedthreeweeksofworkexperienceonafeaturefilmthatGeoffBoylewasshootinglaterthatyear.Iwastrainedasacameraassistantduringtheshootandlearnedthewaysinwhichaprofessionalsetworks,askillthathelpedmegreatly

duringmyfinalfilms.

InmyfinalyearonthecourseIwasabletousemyrelationshipwithGeoffBoyleandtheCMIRtogetinvolvedwithmoreopportunities,includingthe2015CMLcameratestswhereI

wasgiventheopportunitytomakeashortdocumentaryoftheeventfortheCMLandCMIRwebsite.IalsoattendedGeoff’s‘lightingfaces’workshopaftermyfinalhandin.Iusedmyskillsata2ndACtohelpGeoffconstructhislightingset-upsduringtheworkshop.Thisgave

mehands-onexperiencethatwasmuchmorevaluablethansittinginachairatthebackoftheroom.

Aftermygraduationin2015IworkedwiththeCMIRattheBristolInternationalFestivalofCinematographytohelpprepareforthefestivalandkeepitrunningsmoothlyduringthe

week.IhadalreadybuiltupagoodworkingrelationshipwithTerryFlaxtonandSarahSparkefrommypreviousexperiencewiththeCMIRandsoIwasabletotakeonafairamountofresponsibilityinmyrole.Icreatedthedesignsforthefestivalflierandcreatedastingvideo

tobeprojectedbeforeeachpanelevent.Themostvaluableaspectofthefestivalwasbeingabletoworkasa2ndACduringthelightingmasterclasses.IwasabletowatchleadingcinematographersRobertoSchaeferASCandNicKnowlandBSCworkfromanon-setposition

andcannowshowthatexperienceonmyCV.

CML/CMIRCAMERAANDLENSTESTSREPORTFORFACULTYOFACE,UWEFLAXTON&SPARKE

{PAGE}

TheeventsthatCMIRandCMLcarryoutatUWEarelikeawindowintothefilmindustryfor

aspiringstudents,givingthemtheopportunitytobepresentandaskquestionsamongst

working,industryprofessionals.Icantestifytoanystudentwhoiswillingtobeproactiveandgetstuckin,thattheseeventswillallowtheirknowledgeofcinematographyandthewaytheindustryworkstoincreasemorethaniteverwouldhaveiftheyweretosimplyusethefacilitiesavailabletothemwithinthecourse.”

(Source:personalemailtoSarahSparke.EmphasisandhighlightingbyJack.Permissionforusegiven).

NOTE:Followingthisemail,JackwasinvitedtobeanAssistantCameraonthe2016lenstests,ahugeresponsibilitywhichhetookonwithenthusiasm,accuracyandprofessionalism.(Seephotoonpage6.)

TESTRESULTSOUTPUTS:ThetestresultswerepresentedinitiallyontheCMLwebsite,foranindustry(manufacturersandusers)audience.TheresultsandcommentaryarealsopresentedinpersonbyGeoffBoyle,asaninvitedspeakeratkeyindustryeventssuchasatNAB(amajorindustrytradeshowbyNationalAssociationofBroadcasters)inLasVegas.ThetestresultstriggerdebateandKnowledgeExchangewithintheindustry–someofitismap-ablee.g.withintheCMLforums,anddemonstrablyinfluential,e.g.changestoproductdesignasadirectresponsetothetestresults,asintheAJACion(oneofthecamerastested).Theotherkeyoutputsarethenewknowledgegainedandexchangedamongstthoseattendingthetests.Someofthisistechnical,andsome(equallyimportant,asstatedearlier)isdevelopmentofculturalcapitalspecifictothefield.

CONCLUSION:TheCML/CMIRcameraandlenstestsareasuperbexampleofacademic/industryresearchcollaboration,buildingonthestrengthsofeachtocreateaKnowledgeExchangeenvironmentwhichproducesindustry-leadingdata.Weareveryproudtobepartofthisworld-firstprogrammeoftests,throughwhichwehavehadthechancetohandleveryspecialequipment,andtheopportunitytoworkwithpeople(practitionersandengineers)atthetopoftheirgame.ThetestshavebeenanopeningthroughwhichIhavebeenabletogiveUWEstudentsanextraordinaryopportunity,and–importantly-toraiseCMIRandUWE’sprofileinthemovingimageindustryandbeyond.DrSarahSparke(ProducerCMIR,ACE,UWE)ProfessorTerryFlaxton(DirectorCMIR,ACE,UWE)Reproductionofanypartofthisdocumentonlywithpermissionoftheauthors.Contactdetails:From1stJan2017:sarah.sparke@MappingTheMakers.orgFrom1stJan2017:terry.flaxton@btinternet.com