WORKING WITH SCENE FILES
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Setting up customized scene file settings allows you to optimize camera for the
shooting situation at hand and also allows you to develop customized in-camera
“looks” for your footage.
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The camera comes with 6 pre-set scene files that can be accessed by turning the
scene file dial on the back of the camera: F1 (normal) / F2 (fluorescent) / F3
(scene spark = fuller color, contrast) / F4 (scene B-str – broadens contrast in
darks) / F5 (scene cine V = max contrast) / F6 (scene cine D = max dynamic
range)
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Any time you create new scene file settings and save them, they will “replace”
whichever pre-set scene file position you are currently dialed into. You can always
return to the factory pre-sets.
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Every time you turn the camera off and back on again, you will lose all your menu
settings, so it’s a good idea to save your scene file settings as you work. When
you save scene files, they are saved to the camera’s internal memory. You can
save up to 6. You can always re-zero things by going back to default settings and
restoring the original built-in scene file settings (so don’t be afraid to save your
work in progress, because you can always go back to the defaults, but you can’t
recall your selections if the camera gets turned off unless they are saved).
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Scene Files can also be saved to an SD card, shared with other camera users
(especially useful to coordinate multi-day or multi-camera shoots with a consistent
look, and re-uploaded so that successful scene file sets can be used on subsequent
shoots. I highly recommend buying at least one SD card so you can archive your
scene files (you can save up to 6). Since the cameras are shared among multiple
users, even if you save scene files to the camera’s internal memory, they won’t be
there any more the next time you shoot.
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NOTE that while stylized scene file settings can be fun to play with, be cautious
about implementing extreme looks in-camera. In-camera day for night may seem
like a great idea while shooting, but it leaves you with no room for changing your
mind in post. Many of the same parameters can also be tweaked using a good
color correction tool (like Apple Color), so there’s a good argument for shooting
your footage as “clean” as possible with maximum dynamic range (and without
crushing your blacks) and creating a more distinctive look in post.
