PXW-FS5, Version 4.0 and above base ISO – BEWARE if you use ISO!!

The new version 4.0 firmware for the PXW-FS5 brings a new lower base ISO range to the camera. This very slightly reduces noise levels in the pictures. If you use “gain” in dB to indicate your gain level, then you shouldn’t have any problems, +6dB is still +6dB and will be twice as noisy as 0dB. However if you use ISO to indicate your gain level then be aware that as the base sensitivity is now lower, if you use the same ISO with version 4 as you did with version 3 you will be adding more gain than before.

Version 3 ISO  in black, version 4 ISO in Blue

Standard 1000 ISO – 800 ISO
Still 800 ISO- 640 ISO
Cinegamma 1  800 ISO – 640 ISO
Cinegamma 2  640 ISO – 500 ISO
Cinegamma 3  1000 ISO – 800 ISO
Cinegamma 4  1000 ISO – 800 ISO
ITU709 1000 ISO – 800 ISO
ITU709(800) 3200 ISO – 2000 ISO
S-Log2 3200 ISO – 3200/2000 ISO
S-Log3 3200 ISO- 3200/2000 ISO

At 0dB or the base ISO these small changes (a little under 3dB) won’t make much difference because the noise levels are pretty low in either case. But at higher gain levels the difference is more noticeable.

For example if you  often used Cinegamma 1 at 3200 ISO with Version 3 you would be adding 12dB gain and the pictures would be approx 4x noisier than the base ISO.

With Version 4, 3200 ISO with Cinegamma 1 is an extra 15dB gain and you will have pictures approx 6 time noisier than the base ISO.

Having said that, because 0dB in version 4 is now a little less noisy than in version 3, 3200 ISO in V3 looks quite similar to 3200 ISO in version 4 even though you are adding a bit more gain.

6 thoughts on “PXW-FS5, Version 4.0 and above base ISO – BEWARE if you use ISO!!”

  1. Software: PXW-FS5 : Binary Package V4.00 (Win+Mac)

    July 20, 2017
    Applies To:
    PXW-FS5, PXW-FS5K
    View Early Version
    There is an earlier version of this software.
    Overview

    We are temporarily stopping download of PXW-FS5 / FS5K firmware.
    We are planning a restart in early August

    Is a problem with this ?? I just instal this on my FS5,i hope to work ok…

  2. Thanks Alister,
    shooting with an a7s ii (that has no gain setting), what should be considered the base iso of cine4 gamma?

    1. Yes, generally the same thing. The base ISO of the FS5 for S-log in the latest firmware versions is 2000 ISO.

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