Two 1Dx II bodies, two different colors

FTb-n

Canonet QL17 GIII
Sep 22, 2012
532
8
St. Paul, MN
I recently did a photo shoot using two 1Dx II bodies, one with a 24-70 2.8L II and the second with a 70-200 2.8L II. To my surprise, the two bodies produced two different colors which gave my some problems in post getting them to match up. Lighting was the same (I was switching between the bodies without changing lighting) and, in post, tried setting the color temp and tint to the same values. All settings on the bodies were the same. One body produced a decidedly bluer color than the other.

I've often done similar shoots using two 5DIII bodies and didn't notice this issue.

Below are test shots with the two bodies using a RoveLight with a Paul Buff PLM diffused umbrella and the same backdrop from my shoot. For these shots, I used the same 70-200 2.8L II on both bodies.

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

(Yes, I am following up with Canon support on this.)
 

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The same lens (70-200) was used for both the example shots. Pretty unlikely that he removed or added a filter for one of the shots.
Aah, yes, I fixed on the original comments about the different lenses, and managed to miss the point that the same lens was used for the comparison shots - so, can't be that then!
 
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FTb-n

Canonet QL17 GIII
Sep 22, 2012
532
8
St. Paul, MN
If you eyedrop the neutral grey square on the ColorChecker, are they still different?
Using the eyedropper on the neutral grey square for each image will bring the background colors in sync. Curiously, this set the already grey image (with IM1 in the name) to temp 6400, tint 15. The blueish image (with IM2 in the name) was set to temp 7150, tint 10. So the two sensors vary by a temp of 750. When I did this during my photo shoot, it fixed the backdrop colors, but skin tones were not in sync.

I took more test shots using my 1Dx, both 1Dx II bodies, and two 5D3 bodies. The body producing the blueish photo in my original post is the oddball. It consistently produced a blueish cast while the other four bodies were very similar to each other.

I have engaged Canon support and they are reviewing the raw images.
 
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koenkooi

CR Pro
Feb 25, 2015
3,575
4,110
The Netherlands
Funny thing. I've earned a Canonet QL17 GIII rating. I actually have two of these. They are my favorite film rangefinders.

I'm still sad I traded mine, it was really fun to shoot. But at the time (2010-ish) I decided that if I was continue doing film I'd rather keep my Yashica 124G.
 
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FTb-n

Canonet QL17 GIII
Sep 22, 2012
532
8
St. Paul, MN
I'm still sad I traded mine, it was really fun to shoot. But at the time (2010-ish) I decided that if I was continue doing film I'd rather keep my Yashica 124G.
I used a Yashica Mat 124G extensively in high school, before getting my Canon FTb-n. The 124G is a great camera. The one I used belonged to the school. If it were mine, I would have kept it too., it's a classic.
 
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