Tag Archives: 2017

NAB 2017 Sony & Panasonic Firmware Slowmo Updates!

NAB 2017 Sony

There has been a lack of big camera announcements at NAB 2017, with more and more saturation and less camera replacement by TV studios and Filmmakers there is talk of good enough gear already purchased for 4k and 2k/1080p production.  The Alexa, RED, Sony F55 and Varicam LT cameras released in the last few years already exceeds most delivery methods in quality and completely obliterates the compressed cable delivery streams for hove TVs.

However manufacturers like Sony & Panasonic have released information about new firmware updates that will improve high frame rate recording on some of their cameras as free updates. This in turn makes for a practical camera line refresh that gives more longevity to the existing hardware while permitting more high speed latitude to current owners. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Panasonic Lumix ZS70 / TZ90 with 120fps HD!

Panasonic Lumix ZS70

Panasonic has released a new compact super zoom camera in the  Lumix DC-ZS70 (TZ90 outside of US & Canada). The camera is no slouch with a 20.3 MP new MOS Sensor with their Lumix Depth from Defocus or DFD AF technology; present in cameras like the GH5 & GX85. The camera also re-stocks the bundle with the compact lens that is able to offer 30X, 24-720mm in 35mm equivalent terms.

The camera also has 4k video at 30fps but excludes for some reason the 24p mode which film makers crave. Slow motion features are present but modest at 1080p 60fps and 720p 120fps which work across the entire 30x zoom range.  This camera is a powerful point & shoot option that won’t break the bank at $447.99 USD MSRP. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

DJI Phantom 4 Advanced Has 4k 60fps!

DJI’s refresh of the Phantom 4 is a mid-range model that sits between the Standard Phantom 4  & Phantom 4 Pro.  It has either a few features left out from the Pro and or some added from the standard model that make it into a category of it’s own.  The camera however seems to be identical the the Phantom 4 Pro which supports 4k at 60fps.

The UHD 60fps video spec is finding it’s way into more and more products as it becomes popular on video social media sites like Youtube and Vimeo.  Consumers expect the ability to have some slow motion capability on 4k without dropping resolution to 1080p or 720p. However the 120fps spec at 4k might take a few more years to become commonplace due to data rates which will push storage requirements and tax processing capabilities. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Chronos 1.4 Update 4 and Yi 4k+ Ships!

Chronos 1.4

The Chronos 1.4 camera is nearing the ship date with early bird units now scheduled to be shipped end of April or beginning of May.  The delay as stated in update #3 is due to some LCD parts not performing as indicated and the manufacturer taking longer than anticipated. All other components are ready for assembly.

As far as FCC & CE emissions approval, tests are still ongoing and look promising.  If nothing else changes early bird backers should start to get their Chronos 1.4 in 4 weeks time. For non early bird backers expect a similar delay time frame to your orders. Once the cameras start shipping the time delay should compress with assembly, testing and packaging being the only steps. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Xperia XZs Ships & New SlowMo Samples!

Xperia XZs

The Xperia XZs which is the lower spec phone that supports Motion Eye 960fps by Sony is now shipping and available for ordering.  At $699 it is not a really cheap phone but it is nowhere near the $800+ of flagship phones from Apple and Samsung. It is still under-powered compared to the latest Galaxy S8 release but where it counts for us the Slow Motion feature it is on a class of it’s own.

The quality is pretty remarkable for a phone and while the duration of recording is under 1 second, it translates to 40 seconds playback in a 24p timeline. Resolution is stated at 720p and while the frame is really that size, there is some subdued aliasing and moire in extreme detail which means Sony is removing some line information to get 960fps. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Canon 5D Mark III Gets New Magic Lantern SlowMo!

Canon 5D Mark III

The Magic Lantern Project has done impossible things before but it continues to amaze at the sheer unleashed power of Canon DSLRs. The 5D Mark III has been a darling of the team behind the ML Project due to it’s processing power and great image quality.  The Camera is now able to record 4k RAW video along with 1080p 45fps Full HD and up to 60p RAW @ 1920×800 pixels.

So a camera like this is able to extract 4k RAW video and higher frame rates in RAW from hardware that by today’s standards is slow and obsolete. Just goes to show you how restricted final products get to market even when their processing capabilities are much higher. All this started as an April’s Fools joke  which is customary for the team. However these features are not only real but available. → Continue Reading Full Post ←