S-Log2 or Cine4 ? Sony a6500 4K ISO comparison (Low Light)

This is a comparison of S-Log2 and Cine4 footage at the same location. Cine4 is not set in the default picture profiles of a6500, so I just changed Cine2 (PP6) to Cine4. I put the circles at the right side with higher exposure and monochrome so that you can see grains. I didn't resize any footage not to change the grain quality of 4K, but it was changed a bit by YouTube encoder. In this test I could get results:

1. Cine4 has less grain than S-Log2 under ISO 8000.
2. Cine4 has more potential than S-Log2, because you can choose ISO 200, 250, 320, 400, 500 and 640 with Cine4.
3. ISO 500 and 2000 have less grain than other ISO value in any profile. I don't know the reason.

I haven't checked other profiles, but probably non-S-Log profiles are all better than S-Log. I have kept to use S-Log2 or 3, but now I'm getting to stop using S-Log. Can you tell me any reason why I should use S-Log? Should I test in the light of day? Should I check the dynamic range?

music:
Professor Kliq - Steam Sleep (OP-1 Sketch)

Smirking - Triphop - BenSoundBeats

equipment :
SONY α6500
SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC DN

[ymgaki]

I really did notice lower noise in Cine4 until around ISO 8000 where Cine4 noise becomes higher than slog. Thanks for the tests. They are very useful!

[SamPho]

Thank you for this! Being able to use Cine4 in lower ISO instead of high 800 ISO with SLog is great.

[Kreatve]

The correct shutter speed would have allowed for less iso & better lowlight....

[Thevikingcam]

The S-log2 is usable only when overexposed by +2EV. That's why S-log2 looks less noisier than CINE4 at ISO 16000. That in mind these tests where you just lift ISO regardless of exposure aint giving precise results. Next time do test where S-log2 is always overexposed by +2EV and cine4 is at -+0, that gives you real world results.

[joaoramos]

Very nive comparicion. S-log has a little bit more of dynamic range, but im very suprised how good cine4 is considering that you can use whatever iso you want. Really interasting 👌

[noeleee]

Great vid, thank you and greetings from Ireland :)

[markshirley]

Thanks the A6500 looks like it shoots well in low light.

[robertaldrich]

Try something like this in Intelligent Auto or Superior Auto! Then try to duplicate what you got in manual mode, without any automatic changes going on due to light level changes. I am continually blown away by what this simple-looking but very complicated little camera can do. It seems to be the little noticed test-bed for features added to later, more expensive Sony cameras.

[robertemerson]

Estou tentando curtir o vídeo, porém o YouTube nao deixa. Obrigado pelo video.

[TheIndianFankaarShowTalkStyle]

Slog 2, 3used for dynamic range...i checked pp1 9 .slog default set with pp 4 to 8 with cine 2, 4

[krisco]

S-log2 with high iso looks like it has the most detail with less noise...have you tried comparing slog2 at a high ISO like 10000+ and bumping it down in post vs cine4 at a low ISO to see which had the best outcome?

[Onenamemedia]

Why is the shutter at 1/400 ? It should be 1/50.. makes more sense.. but also gives u better light.

[vcphotographyfilms]

I shoot cine 3 on my sony a7rii but all the videos are in 720p...which settings should I use for 1080p full hd

[REDASABIR]

Amazing content as always! you're such an inspiration. I make video's to! Any other filmmakers out there?? Let's help each other out!

[Airestotle]

Nice video.
I have to say the color and Dynamic range still look alot better on Slog 2. On Sony cameras(especially the A7s models) your not gonna notice noise too much anyway. So I would still pick Slog2/3 over other profiles. Besides theres more potential in color grading, and default Cine 4 looks very washed out in terms of color.

[goomrning]

why to compare it? you have both on your camera and use it both if you like.

[andyquan]

Didnt you apply any denoiser? I think during daytime it's still better to use slog over cine 4.

[TheOrisya]

Theres a little bit of banding on the cine4

[qtben]

been using cine4 (pro) since I got a6500 for 8 months.  lately been testing slog2/3 with sigma 18-35 1.8  and trying different settings but seems like i can't get all the hype about it, especially with low light. gets grainy even if properly exposed. i had no problem dealing with slog on daytime, but on low light is where it gets problematic.  right now im doing cine2 (sgamut3.cine) since this is the flattest profile that goes well both for day and night.

[adzamree]

you dont use slog during the night..defeat the purpose of slog (dynamic range), you can only get around 6 stops at night