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BURANO's Revolutionary Features through the Lens of O Sing Pui

In this article, Director of Photography O Sing Pui shares his experience using the Sony Cinema Line's BURANO Digital Cinema Camera for his recent showreel, "Rainbow.” He delves into how the camera's features and capabilities played a pivotal role in bringing his artistic vision to life.  

by Alpha Universe Community

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Mr. O Sing Pui, famed for his cinematographic work in the iconic Hong Kong blockbuster "Ip Man," is a seasoned Director of Photography. His proficiency spans the artistic and technical realms of filmmaking, earning widespread recognition in the film industry. 

 

A Cinematic Journey Unveiled 

Witness BURANO's remarkable low-light capabilities and lens versatility in "Rainbow," a showreel that captures the inspiring journey of a content creator. 

 

Capturing Vibrancy 

O Sing Pui attributed the realisation of his artistic vision to BURANO's cutting-edge features. The camera's internal 16-bit X-OCN (Extended Tonal Range Original Camera Negative) format, capable of recording everything captured by its 8.6K sensor, delivers a 16-bit scene linear file with a wide latitude and rich tonal gradation. "It pleases me to see such vibrant colours, made possible by the 16-bit format," he conveyed. 

 

Dynamic Range Beyond Imagination 

Pushing the boundaries of creativity, O Sing Pui harnessed BURANO's remarkable dynamic range. "The camera preserved highlights and shadows, retaining texture, which significantly streamlined my colour grading process."  

With an impressive 16-stop latitude, this digital cinema camera effortlessly captured scenes with superb colour rendition. 

 

 

Astonishing Low-light Performance 

Additionally, BURANO offers Dual Base ISO support, aligning with the acclaimed sensitivity settings of the VENICE 2 Digital Cinema Camera, featuring ISO 800 for well-lit environments and ISO 3200 for low-light conditions. 

In the making of "Rainbow," O Sing Pui decided to challenge the camera's low-light capabilities, yielding astonishing results with entirely noise-free footage, eliminating the need for post-production noise reduction. 

 

Fast, Precise Focus with Ease 

"The autofocus works flawlessly, eliminating the need for manual focus thanks to the advanced AI processing unit within BURANO's system." BURANO's Fast Hybrid AF enabled O Sing Pui with the versatility to capture a wide range of shots seamlessly. It combines phase detection AF for swift and precise subject tracking with contrast AF for exceptional focus accuracy. Face Detection intelligently recognises and locks onto human faces, while the AI processing unit accurately senses eye, torso, and head positions. 

 

Creative Exposure Control 

The electronic Variable ND Filter in BURANO is valuable for achieving desired exposure and creative effects. Redesigned to be smaller and compatible with the camera's built-in image stabilisation, it offers smooth and continuous density adjustments from 0.6 (1/4) to 2.1 (1/128). "The Variable ND Filter provides the exact look and feel I desire for this showreel," mentioned O Sing Pui. 

 

Flexibility Beyond Comparison 

BURANO features an industry-standard PL lens mount while offering the flexibility to switch to Sony's E-mount lenses by removing the adapter. O Sing Pui elaborated that most of the scenes were captured using E-mount lenses, chosen for their convenience during run-and-gun shoots, enabling efficient operation with a small crew. 

However, in this specific scene, O Sing Pui utilised a PL lens to achieve a dreamy and vintage look. 

 

Steady Shots in Any Situation 

BURANO represents a groundbreaking advancement in cinematography, introducing in-body optical image stabilisation (IBIS) for nearly any lens, including PL lenses. It ensures stability and allows for steady shots, even in challenging conditions. "It facilitates handheld shots, as it compensates for the inherent shake." 

 

A Revolution in Cinematography 

In summary, BURANO's transformative capabilities revolutionise the art of cinematography, empowering filmmakers like O Sing Pui to explore creative boundaries and achieve extraordinary results. 

 

 

Download and watch “Rainbow” here: https://bit.ly/3QFW9HD  

Kindly note that this video is in 10-bit H.265 4K quality (489MB). 

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