Without question, Sony A7 Series cameras are fantastic compact tools for capturing high-quality 4K video. However, one of their major drawbacks is the inaccurate color reproduction they all suffer from. Aiming to resolve this issue once and for all, Omeneo brings the Primers 3D LUT Packs which are designed specifically for each Sony A7 Series camera and based on the certain sensor’s light response and spectral performance. These look-up tables are custom made through a detailed analysis and custom methodology utilizing the full dynamic range of the recorded data. Unlike typical camera profiles that are limited to the camera processing ability, Primers offer greater precision in correcting the image signal. These LUTs come in different packs of standard 3D look-up tables, applicable on monitors, recorders and in post.
Each digital camera has subtle imperfections in its color response, mainly affected by the camera sensor’s processing properties. Most of the time, these flaws can’t be corrected only through the in-camera settings. The built-in picture profiles are basic and limited with camera’s processing precision, capacity and signal chain, which typically leads to processing errors and additional color offsets and signal distortion. Fixing the offsets requires extra time and effort spent in color correction, and certain types of offsets are difficult to correct in post.
This is where Primers come in. They correct these color offsets in high precision and get much more out of the sensor, allowing the shooter or the colorist to focus on the creative part of the process. Special care is being taken for refinements and design of subtle picture aesthetics to maintain image neutrality. Primers aren’t typical creative “looks”, nor generic technical transforms made to transfer images from one color space and gamma to another. They are very delicate image signal optimizations used as a quality basis for further look creation and something completely new on the market.
All in all, these LUT packs bring Sony A7 Series cameras much closer to the color performance of higher end professional motion imaging devices. The main difference is still the limited sampling and compression of the recording codec which affects the range of further image manipulation, so external recorders with higher quality recording formats such as ProRes or DNxHD are highly recommended when using Primers.
Furthermore, it’s essential to utilize an appropriate Primers for a particular camera with targeted gamma and color space and apply them in the first step of color correction. You can still use these LUT packs when shooting in XAVC in the majority of cases but with advised caution in post production process and further image manipulation. According to Omeneo, S-Log2 gives slightly larger dynamic range than Cine4 gamma but at the cost of limited usability in high luminosity gradients, such as skies.
Ultimately, Primers are currently available for Sony A7 series and Sony A6300. The A7R II and A7S Primers are designed for S-Log2 gamma and S-Gamut color, whereas the A7S II and A6300 Primer LUTs are made for S-Log2 and Cine4 gammas, both using S-Gamut3cine color and both modified in camera. You can see the exact camera settings and claim your Primers 3D LUT Pack on the Omeneo’s official website.
[source: Omeneo]
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate partner and participant in B&H and Adorama Affiliate programmes, we earn a small comission from each purchase made through the affiliate links listed above at no additional cost to you.
Claim your copy of DAVINCI RESOLVE - SIMPLIFIED COURSE with 50% off! Get Instant Access!
What kind of “reporting” is this? Regarding Sony’s a7 cameras: “one of their major drawbacks is the inaccurate color reproduction they all suffer from.”
That’s news to me. Chances are, if you have any idea what you’re doing, you’re exposing while shooting for the S-Log2 or 3 log curve, and picking the excellent S-Gamut3.cine color space to record in.
Once in the color correction and grading process, how Sony’s colors look is totally up to you. Apply a technical LUT to your footage to convert into the Rec.709 color space, and there are countless incredible options from there.
Lots of people sell LUTs, and that’s great, but if you have to claim that Sony’s cameras suffer from “inaccurate color” in order to sell your LUT, then you come across as an amateur, and not a site/vendor I’d want any advice or products from.
“Chances are, if you have any idea what you’re doing, you’re exposing while shooting for the S-Log2 or 3 log curve, and picking the excellent S-Gamut3.cine color space to record in.”, Really??? You’re probably the only one who haven’t seen the cooler and even purple-ish at times color shifts in your Sony a7S footage. Of course, you are free to say whatever you want, but don’t blame me for trying to sell you anything, while you’re bragging about how perfect your Sony camera is.
Dear Larry,
After you test enough cameras and/or sit in post long enough grading them it becomes glaringly obvious that every camera has various and specific types of response offsets. These are related to sensor response properties and properties of camera’s on-board image processing of recorded data.
Primers are designed to correct those, with a couple of additional specific image tweaks made to naturalize the digital image, while keeping the image neutrality for further grading. All of which took tons of time and effort to achieve, with custom developed methodology which was necessary to even make this possible. So yes, every statement is firmly founded and based on actual research and experience in both camera testing and post production realms.
Sorry for your interpretation but if the information shared here and on the Primers web page, plus examples shown are not sufficient, attempts of convincing you that this actually is what it says it is…would be waste of effort.
Best of luck with your creative endeavors.
You dont know what you are talking about and sound like a fanboy when you deny Sony has color science issues.
Try recording anything that has the colour red in it and you’ll soon be convinced!