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Natural
"PHOTO STYLE"
CONTRAST
-1
SHARPNESS
+3
-0
-1
HIGHLIGHT SHADOW
-2+3
iDYNAMIC
OFF
LUMINANCE LEVEL
0-255
Unsharp Mask*
ADOBE
POST-PRODUCTION
AMOUNT
?
RADIUS
?
THRESHOLD
?
Blur / Sharpen
DAVINCI RESOLVE
POST-PRODUCTION
LENS @FULL WIDE
?
LENS @MID-ZOOM
?
LENS @FULL TELE
?
REAL RATINGS
After testing each lens-sensor combo, I like to know if the rendering is going to look realistic SOOC (Straight Out of Camera) or if it will need a LUT (to match the shots to other lenses and cameras).
CONTRAST
?
IS THE CONTRAST "REAL"?
SHARPNESS
?
IS THE SHARPNESS "REAL"?
NOISE
?
IS THE NOISE "REAL"?
COLOR
?
IS THE COLOR "REAL"?
*Click here to learn more about "REAL" Ratings. These ratings are AFTER my custom settings are applied (most combos don't look real good with default settings).
NOTES:
First off, there are a number of lenses with a similar external physical design to this lens, and so far this one is the best (both optically and in other ways). I tested one of the similar versions, a Quantaray with with almost identical lens markings, but printed in green. The Quantaray version did not have the MACRO function, nor did it have the APO designation, though there is more than one version of the Quantaray out there (and one with an LDO designation, which might be the same as the Sigma APO designation, but I need to test that).
Second, even though I have not tested (at the time of this writing) all of the other versions, so far this is the best one (of this vintage). So, I am referring to just this physical, external lens design, not earlier or later versions of the lens. The main reason I like this version, is the optics are better (on my test with the G85) and because it has the MACRO function.
One thing I was really impressed by was how the CUSTOM SETTINGS were able to render an image that has enough SHARPNESS to accurately pull focus manually (yes, the back screen on this camera is pretty accurate too) so that's good!
Overall, these CUSTOM SETTINGS bring the image (video or JPEG stills) to a good starting point, but it will need a LUT to finish it, and can't be used SOOC (Straight Out Of Camera).
The goal of our camera settings is to improve what we call the "lens-sensor relationship" by adjusting the contrast, sharpness, noise reduction and color to create an image that looks less digital and more organic (more like film, etc). Therefore, the first step is to apply the custom settings while shooting, and the second is to add a lens-sensor LUT, to finalize the image.
