One of the most powerful features of advanced mirrorless cameras such as the Sony a6500 is the ability to change the camera’s picture profile on the fly.
This asset gives you control over the main characteristics of the captured image such as gamma, color mode, saturation, black levels, etc. By tweaking these essential parameters, you’ll be able to quickly get a flat desaturated image for maximum flexibility in post or dial in a more finished look on occasions when you’re in a hurry or just need to deal with a tight deadline.
With all the possible picture profile combinations out there, however, one can easily get intimidated while trying to sort out the optimal camera settings for the job. In this particular case, filmmaker Sidney Diongzon showcases what he believes is the best picture profile for the Sony A6500 and how to get a more cinematic look in a few easy steps.
For this custom picture profile, Diongzon utilizes the Custom Picture Profile 8. To load the profile on your Sony A6500, first access the main menu and under the first tab, head over to page eleven where you’ll be able to find the Picture Profile setting. From there, use the navigation buttons to scroll down to PP8.
Next, press Enter and under Gamma change the setting from S-Log 3 to Cine4. Finally, go back into the profile picture settings and set the color mode to Pro.
As you can see from the test shots Sidney provided, the picture profile strikes a balance between a typical color preset but still offers some room for color grading in post. Obviously, if you are planning to do some sophisticated post-production color grading, this may not be the best setting for the camera since you’ll want a much flatter image.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a profile that can produce more cinematic look right off the bat without putting much effort later in post, Sidney’s custom settings could be a great place to start. What are your favorite Sony A6500 picture profile settings? Let us know in the comments.
[source: Sidney Diongzon]
B&H and Amazon US Links:
Sony Alpha a6500 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only) (B&H, Amazon US)
Sony Alpha a6500 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body with Free Accessory Kit (B&H)
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I feel like the more experience someone has the higher the pp# they will use. pp2 is safe for starters like myself but as you get to 7 and 8 it gets much more complex and slog3 in anything darker than daylight can be rough to shoot without ruining the blacks or overexposing whites. Slog2 seems safe in most instances. I think Sidney’s preferences work well, and allow for maybe 1 lut application or slightly editing but that’s about it. All depends I think on time crunch, experience with color grading and what look you’re going for. Very preference based!