X-T2 sees many improvements in the movie recording function and its specification.
X Series is known for its high quality still images, but the movie recording was….well, not so much to get excited about. Movie quality was never up to the standard of the still images, and we at FUJIFILM were well aware of the fact. We tried to achieve the movie quality that couldn’t have been achieved with the X-Trans CMOS II and EXR Processor Pro with the new generation of devices.
Yes, the improvement of the movie quality had begun with the X-Pro2. And with the X-T2, the movie quality reaches the highest peak.
First, the sense of resolution is much higher. In order to have the 4K output, there are more signal input to the sensor. It is a technique generally called oversampling. To be specific, the input is at 14.7MP (5120×2880) for the output of 4K, which is 8.3MP (3840×2160). This is x1.8 more of signals coming through.
TXF lenses have high resolution performance to begin with. And they excel in performance in depicting the high frequency signals. With the 4K output that was generated through oversampling, you can definitely see the sharpness in the picture that only XF lenses can deliver.
And, color.
X Series movie recording was not so well reputed due to moiré and being jaggy. But we now have confidence that it will be recognized as “Movie recordings with the color of Film Simulation”
Movies are in other words, Motion Pictures. The are pictures in motion. How beautiful would it look if each frame of photos started moving? If you take a look at the projection room in a traditional movie theater, you will still most likely to find film.
So it happens, the first ever product of FUJIFILM was film for movie. So it is only natural for FUJIFILM that X Series cameras take pictures in motion in the color of film.
The operability and expandability have also improved.
You can now adjust aperture, shutter speed, and exposure compensation while recording. The AF algorithm has also been optimized for movie recording. The algorithm is well tuned so that the transition will be very smooth, and will keep tracking on the subject quite well.
Also the expandability have been strengthened. You can attach an external mic and monitor on the headphone. You can also have clean out via HDMI and record the movie onto the external recorder in F-Log data format. You can build a movie recording system with X-T2 being at the core.
F-Log is still under development, but let’s talk a little bit on the subject.
So much can be said about the concept of Log, but the important thing to remember is that Log allows you to fully utilize the dynamic range that the camera is capable of.
The recorded Log data are not in its final form if you leave it as is. The shadow and the highlight are there, but since it also includes excessive range of things, it appears very dull. But this also shows as the proof that the data can be edited very much to your liking. You can extract only what you need from the wide dynamic range. This is the important process in movie editing.
At the moment “F-Log” is the format that can fully utilize the potential of X Series cameras. Just remember that.
