A Real World Comparison Of Sony's Film Simulation Recipes | Best Sony Picture Profiles
Updated: Oct 5
There is a New and improved article on this matter, Check it out >Here<
In February I posted a Color Checker Comparison showcasing All 50 Sony Film Simulation recipes, You can find the article right here. Check it out
But some of you told me you don't know how to apply the Color Checker Samples to real life situations, and you are right, that can be tricky, so I planned a real world comparison shot outdoors with a model so you can see all the characteristics of each Film Simulation Recipe Straight Out of Camera.
Since this article appeared I've brought updates and improvements to the Film Recipes. You can check the NEW and Updated comparison article >HERE <
I would've done this earlier, but weather was extremely unstable, and the comparison would've only resulted into many wasted hours and a lot of frustration.
Yesterday we had luck with a bright sunny day and constant weather, so the comparison results are usable. Also included the color settings each Sony Film Simulation has been shot at as a reference, but please note that in the Sony Film Simulation Pack you will find multiple color settings for different moods and styles, so these recipes are very versatile and are made to convey everybody's color preferences.
I've translated these results into a PDF, so you can Download and take it with you, together with the Film Simulation Chart, to help you choose your favorite Sony Film Simulation Recipe.
Follow this Link to Download Both The Sony Film Simulation Chart and the Comparison
All images shot around 4-7PM, so the light was still pretty harsh, but I wanted constant lighting, since the whole thing took about 2-3 hours, could not risk shooting later in the sunset when light changes dramatically and fast.
But anyways I think it's a great example to showcase these Sony Film Simulation in the harshest conditions and see how each performs when discussing about Dynamic Range, Skin tones and Highlight Roll Off.
If you don't know how to read the Color Checker and what each color square represents, Check this Article. It will make more sense after you have all these references to translate the Film Recipes into any kind of situation.
Also remember, you can Download Each Image for closer comparison!
SOOC Resized for Web in Capture One.
Without further ado, here are the results.
Check 'em out!
▼Standard Sony Colors ▼
Auto White Balance: White Priority
▼Vektro 100▼
4000 Kelvin A5-M0.5
▼Senova Light▼
9900 Kelvin B3-M2
▼Fuji 400H▼
4700Kelvin B2-G1
▼EvPro+▼
4700Kelvin A2-M1.5
▼Ektar 100▼
5500 Kelvin B2-G1.5
▼Portra 800▼
4500K A3-G0.5
▼Kodak Gold ▼
7000 Kelvin A5.5-M1
▼Blue Velvet / Cinestill 50D▼
6000Kelvin B7-M2
▼Sony Eterna▼
4000 Kelvin A2.5-M0.5
▼Cinestill 800T - Nightime Recipe▼
<2500 K B5-M2
▼Fuji Eterna▼ - Maybe should've shot this with a colder setting like A3-M1.25
4300K A5-M1.25
▼Classic Chrome▼
4300K A1.5-G1.25
▼Kodachrome 64 V1▼
3900 Kelvin A6.5-M3
▼Kodachrome 64 V2▼
5200 K B3.5-M1.25
▼Leica Chrome 64▼
5500K B3-G0.5
▼Kodak Ultra Max 400▼
3600 K A5.5-M0.5
▼Kodak Portra 400▼
4000 Kelvin A5.5-G0.5
▼Astia▼
4000 Kelvin A3.5-G0.75
▼Classic Negative▼
3700K A7-M2
▼Fortia 50▼
3500 Kelvin A7-G1.5
▼Oktar▼
5000 Kelvin B2-G0.25
▼Zero Mute▼
5500 Kelvin B1-G1
▼CineChrome▼ - A little bit underexposed
3200K A7-G1.5
▼Kodak Portra 160▼
3800 K A6-G1
▼Pro Color▼
3900 Kelvin A7-G3
▼EktaChrome▼
4300 Kelvin A3.5-M0.5
▼Delta 3200▼
5500 K
▼T-Max 100▼
5500K
▼Kosmo Pan▼
5500K
▼Chroma Fade▼
5500K
▼Kodak Tri -X - 1600 Pushed▼
5500 Kelvin A3-G2
▼Kodak Tri -X 400▼
5500 Kelvin A3-G2
▼MidRed Infra - New▼
5500 Kelvin A3-G2
▼Acros X▼
5500 Kelvin A3-G2
▼Acros XY▼
5500 Kelvin A3-G2
▼Acros XR▼
5500 Kelvin A3-G2
▼Acros XG▼
5500 Kelvin A3-G2
▼DreamNeg▼
4000 Kelvin A2-G1.5
▼Agfa Precisa▼
3200 Kelvin A7-G1.5
▼Velvia Pro▼
5000 Kelvin B1-M1.5
▼RedScale Ultra▼
>9900+ A7-G7
Set with Custom WB
and a Teal Card
▼Zetra 100▼
4100 Kelvin A2.5-M1.5
▼Rose Spectra▼
3800 Kelvin A1.5-M0.5
▼Provia RX▼
4000 Kelvin A3-M1.75
▼Classic Cinema▼
Auto White Balance
White Priority - B2-G1
▼Kodak Color Plus 200▼
3700 Kelvin A7-G1.5
▼Neo Max▼ - In progress
6000 Kelvin B2.5-M1.5
▼Nostalgic Neg▼ - In progress
Auto White Balance
White Priority - M3-A3
Hope this comparison helps you understand the differences between all Film Recipes, and in combination with the Sony Film Simulation Chart to choose the right one for your project!
Download both the comparison and the Chart in as a PDF Document.