Specifications

Software Compatibility
23
RAW Files
Why do my RAW shots look overexposed?
The 100% Zebra level in the Display Settings helps you adjust your exposure to ensure that you don't
overload the sensor and clip your highlights. It is based on the full dynamic range capability of the Blackmagic
Cinema Camera and not on video levels. A quick way to ensure you do not allow the sensor to clip any
image data is to set your Zebra level to 100%, expose your shot such that zebras start to appear and then
back it off until the zebras disappear. If you have an auto iris lens on the camera, pressing the IRIS button will
do this automatically for you by adjusting the lens aperture to keep the white peaks just below the sensor's
clipping point.
If you normally expose your shots based on an 18% gray card at 40 IRE video levels, then your RAW images
will look correct when imported into DaVinci Resolve. However, if you want to maximize your camera
sensor's signal to noise ratio, you might expose your shots so the white peaks are just below the sensor
clipping point. This may cause your RAW images to look overexposed when a video curve is applied to the
preview, and the highlights you thought were safe will look as though they have been clipped. This is normal
and all the details are still retained in the file. If there is a lot of contrast range in the shot, the RAW images
may look fine and not overexposed.
Shooting in RAW captures a very wide dynamic range. However, you might only see the image in the more
limited Video range when you open the CinemaDNG files in a compatible application. If the camera is not
exposed based on 18% or another video related exposure guide, the RAW files will look over or under
exposed depending on the dynamic range of the scene.
The good news is that you have not really lost any information in your shots. Based on the contrast range
of your shot, you can creatively adjust the exposure settings of the DNG file for the look you want using
software such as DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Lightroom.
To recover the highlights not displayed in Resolve, use the RAW image settings and adjust the Exposure
values so the details you need fit within the video range. Exposing your shot to the point just before the
sensor clips, ensures you are getting the best signal to noise ratio for the maximum flexibility during post
production.
Alternatively, you can also base your exposure while using the LCD set to preview in Video dynamic range
so there is no need to worry even if you do not have a gray card. Shots exposed this way will then look the
same when imported into Resolve and will need very little exposure correction.
RAW FILM DATA
VIDEO DATA
RAW Wide Dynamic Range - With Blackmagic Cinema Camera,
a wide dynamic range is captured with all details preserved
Final Color Graded Shot - Now the shot can be graded and
highlights managed, so your shots look cinematic!