Clear Image Zoom is one of those options buried in Sony’s camera menus that isn’t widely publicized. Some people who found a use for it tend to love it though. It’s essentially a smarter digital zoom that does some processing using the actual sensor data to potentially deliver a better result than you may get in post. There is an advantage for sure for doing it in camera, but is the quality actually better than a good scale up during the edit?
Filmmaker Carlos Quintero took a closer look at this feature and whether it did compare favorably to scaling in post.
Today, the tests are focusing on the a7S III and FX3. This actually might make a difference, since Clear Image Zoom with high-resolution cameras can benefit from having all those extra pixels and data. The a7S III and FX3 are going to rely a lot more heavily on processing to get the punch in done.
The baseline footage is the a7S III with a 55mm lens set to f/2.8. Good example for making sure we are picking up a good amount of detail. Compared to Clear Image Zoom, there is not a noticeable loss in detail. The next step is Sony’s regular Digital Zoom. You can start to see some quality loss in the shadows or with fine detail. It’s got a purpose if you keep in mind the potential pain points.
Image Credit: Carlos Quintero
Going back to the original footage you can then take it and scale it up in post. What you are actually getting is a more artificial looking sharpening when scaled up. Carlos points out that for skin tones and people the more natural softening with the in-camera zoom options might actually be beneficial compared to sharper scaling in post.
If you are planning to scale your image – and you know before you are going to hit record – then you will likely benefit from doing it in camera. Simplifies your workflow and has a more natural look. Plus, it’s not like you can’t add some sharpening in post if you want.
Do you have any experience with Sony’s digital zoom features?
[source: Carlos Quintero]
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