Tag Archives: 300fps

Panasonic Lumix GH6 does 300fps in Full HD!

We have been expecting Panasonic to deliver a GH5 and or GH5s replacement camera for over a year now. The pandemic and component shortages pushed back the release of almost all high tech imaging equipment. The Lumix GH6 is now announced and it does everything right for Micro 4/3 and then some but will that be enough to make the format survive in a world of ever-decreasing Full Frame camera prices getting cheaper?  

The GH6 has a new sensor, new Venus processing engine, new IBIS with up to 7.5 stops which is bordering on ridiculous, and a body that has active cooling. For HSC however, only one set of specs matters and that is frame rates for video. The camera is now on top of the Lumix and almost all of their pro division cameras by shooting up to 300fps 10 bit Full HDish, 240fps Full HD 10bit, and 120fps at 4k 10 bit.  For slow motion enthusiasts, it looks to be a great camera on paper and at just under $2,200 USD it is not going to break the bank.  But after all of this, should you invest in the GH6 as a slow motion tool or save more for an affordable dedicated high speed camera? → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Slow Motion News May 25th 2019!

Slow Motion News May 25th 2019

This year there have been a few surprises that got our attention in the high frame rate market. Some are firmware related, some are entirely new cameras and others are simply rumors that have yet to appear. We found a few things on the web that may shed some light on these happenings. But First…

Note Advisory: It is kind of disheartening that many Youtube channels are posting fake slow motion videos from cameras & Phones that they have no access to in order to receive clicks and advertising. We encourage you to report these videos on the Youtube interface as inaccurate or misleading. That way we may get less garbage and more real samples in the future. Thank you!

Slow Motion News May 25th 2019:

  1. The Chronos 2.1 -HD camera is about to sell out of their Early Bird lot of 50 cameras with only 3 remaining (LINK HERE). The buyers of these cameras will receive the first batch when it launches later this year.  If you are interested you can get a 1000fps 1080p RAW camera with a 4/3″ sensor for a starting price of $5000USD which is the first reaching that low price bracket that we know of.   You can find more information about this camera and their other products here: https://www.krontech.ca/

We also asked David Kronstein the mind behind Krontech a few questions submitted by our readers about the new camera:
1) Since the Prototype 2.1-HD is running on the 4k Luxima sensor, is it possible to order a camera based on it? We assume pricing for bulk order and Gpps might be limiting factors, but it certainly is an interesting idea for also the intermediate resolutions like 2.5k and 3k frame rates.
D.K.:The limiting factor right now is the CPU’s video system, which doesn’t support resolutions over 1920×1080. We’re not sure if this limit can be overcome right now. 4k is something we’ll look into after the 2.1-HD is launched and stable.

2) If a m4/3 mount is planned as an accessory, does the reduced lens flange distance cause a problem for m4/3 lenses?
An adapter is in the works, this will maintain the proper flange focal distance so MFT lenses or other lenses with an MFT adapter will focus properly.

3) Since the Chronos 2.1 shares a board, is there a possibility of an upgrade path on the same 1.4 platform? The LCD at least was hinted in the krontech forum as a possibility.
LCD upgrades are definitely possible, but converting an old Chronos 1.4 to a Chronos 2.1-HD would require replacement of the case, sensor board and mainboard, there’s not much left of the original camera, so this is not cost effective. 

4) Is power consumption increased in the new 2.1 compared to the 1.4?  I.e. battery life.
Power consumption is increased, the battery life goes from about 1.5 hours on the 1.4 to about 1 hour on the 2.1

5) Is black the only case color available or silver is still around? 
Just black, unless there is a significant demand for silver. When we had silver offered last, so few people bought it that it wasn’t economically justifiable to keep the silver model as it doubled the number of SKUs we have to build and stock.

Meet Chronos 2.1-HD, the Low-Cost High-Speed 1,000fps Camera at NAB by No Film School:

Chronos 2.1-HD Demo Reel #1 by Chronos Cameras: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 Has 300fps in RAW!

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2

Blackmagic Design has been working behind the scenes to deliver yet one more professional camera solution that at $5,995 for up to 300fps in RAW recording at 1080p and 2k in windowed mode; makes it possible to have flawless image quality without breaking the bank.  New Super 35mm sensor with 15 stops dynamic range with the ability to shoot at 120fps 4.6k full sensor RAW and 150fps at 4k UHD and DCI 4k makes it possible to really deliver on the slow motion promise for quality projects.

If you need more the 300fps 1080p and or 2k recording in the cropped windowed sensor should help you get that extra edge. It also records in Blackmagic RAW and delivers flawless looking 1:1 pixel footage with no aliasing or moire due to throwing away information. This camera has the capacity to really up your video game with these frame rate options.

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 Camera Features:

Effective Sensor Size

25.34mm x 14.25mm (Super35)

Lens Mount

EF mount included. Interchangeable with optional PL, B4 and F lens mounts.

Lens Control

Electronic control via EF mount pins or 12pin broadcast connector for compatible lenses

Dynamic Range

15 Stops.

Shooting Resolutions

4608 x 2592, 4608 x 1920 (4.6K 2.40:1),4096 x 2304 (4K 16:9),
4096 x 2160 (4K DCI),
3840 x 2160 (Ultra HD),
3072 x 2560 (3K Anamorphic),
2048 x 1152 (2K 16:9),
2048 x 1080 (2K DCI),
1920 x 1080

Frame Rates

Maximum sensor frame rate dependent on resolution and codec selected. Project frame rates of 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94 and 60 fps supported.

High Speed Frame Rates

Blackmagic RAW 8:1

4.6K Full – Up to 120 fps
UHD Windowed – Up to 150 fps
HD Windowed – Up to 300 fps

ProRes 422 HQ

4.6K Full – Up to 80 fps
UHD Windowed – Up to 120 fps
HD Windowed – Up to 240 fps

Built in ND Filters

Four position ND filter wheel with clear, 2-stop, 4-stop and 6-stop ND filters.

Focus

Focus button turns on peaking, auto focus available using compatible lenses.

Iris Control

Iris wheel and touchscreen slider for manual iris adjustment on electronically controllable lenses, iris button for instant auto iris settings on compatible lenses so no pixel is clipped in film mode. Scene average auto exposure in video mode.

Screen Dimensions

4 inch

Screen Type

LCD capacitive touchscreen.

Metadata Support

Automatically populated lens data from electronic EF, B4 and i/Technology compatible PL lenses. Automatic recording of camera settings and slate data such as project, scene number, take and special notes.

Controls

Touchscreen menus on 4 inch screen. Push buttons for other controls. 2 assignable shortcut keys.

Timecode Clock

Highly accurate timecode clock. Less than 1 frame drift every 8 hours.

“URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 is a more powerful second generation camera with entirely new electronics and a new high performance image sensor that lets you shoot crystal clear slow motion footage. You can record full sensor 4.6K images up to 120 frames per second, windowed DCI 4K at up to 150 frames per second, and regular windowed 1080 HD at an amazing 300 frames per second. A dedicated off-speed button on the camera’s body lets you quickly switch between your preset high frame rate and regular frame rate shooting! When it comes to high frame rate shooting, URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 is ideal for fast action sports, high speed nature photography and more!” Blackmagic Design

HSC: As you can see from the video sample above, expect to have incredibly good dynamic range, noise control and color accuracy in the high frame rate modes. As we have seen in previous Blackmagic cameras, there is a tendency to allow frame rates only when quality is not thrown by the wayside. Expect your images to look as good as possible when shooting HFR with no added artifacts because the camera will not throw away lines in the image to achieve these frame rates.

Blackmagic Update March 5th, 2019: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Z Cam E2 Starts Shipping To Customers!

The Z Cam E2 has finally started shipping and is now available for direct order at their site. The camera caught our attention for its low price of just $1999 and the high frame rate features of 240fps 1080p and 120fps 4k.  It seems to be using the same 4/3 sensor as the great Panasonic GH5s but with extended features.

The camera company ZCam has also released some samples in a variety of scenarios so you can see what the camera is capable of. At first inspection, it is clear this camera is a clear step up from the Z Cam E1 which had some image quality issues. The E2 seems to go out of the box ready to produce class-leading imagery and offer some very nice high frame rate action. There are also some rumored comments that suggest the team is testing 300fps at 720p as an added bonus for future software.

Z Cam E2 Main Features:

  • 4K @120fps, 10-bit color
  • 4/3″ Dual Native ISO sensor
  • 13 stops dynamic range
  • 16 Stops in Extended DR Mode
  • Gigabit Ethernet for data, control & live streaming*
  • iOS app for control setting & live preview
  • Multi-cam synchronization**
  • HDMI Clean Signal Out!
  • Monitoring Required*

Z Ca, E2 Sample footage at 120fps:

Max Variable Frame Rate 120 fps for 4096 x 2160
120 fps for 3840 x 2160
59.94 fps for 3696 x 2772
240 fps for 1920 x 1080300fps 720p (Rumored Testing)

16 Stop Dynamic Range Test:

More footage from the Z Cam E2 Here at their official company Vimeo Page!

Z-Cam E2 Testing at Afton by EatsTooMuchJam:

It is clear the Z Cam E2 camera is capable of some very high-quality video output and could be easily used for cinema productions as a crash camera with remote access built in.  However, the camera’s lack of screen and irregular cuboid shape may put off some buyers and it may not be for everyone.  Add the fact that it shoots 4k 120fps and 240fps at 1080p makes it a desirable higher frame rate solution.  For under 2k this is one camera you may be able to afford as a production assist with also the quality needed for drone imagery without being too bulky. HSC

More info on the Z Cam E2 at their official website here!

and Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/zcamera/

Canon C700 FF and RED EPIC-W Dual ISO do High Frame Rates!

With NAB 2018 getting near, new announcements are starting to trickle in.  The two newest are the Canon EOS C700 FF Full-Frame Cinema Camera & the RED DIGITAL CINEMA EPIC-W BRAIN with Gemini 5K S35 Sensor.  These two are serious cinema cameras aimed at recording in high-end codec formats and supporting RAW codecs.  Both cameras support higher frame rates but do not offer extreme high speeds like dedicated slow-motion cameras.

In the case of the RED EPIC-W with Gemini S35 sensor, it is the first time RED has used a dual Native ISO sensor like the ones seen on the Panasonic EVA1 and GH5s which have two different native sensitivities to deliver extremely clean footage with the widest dynamic range. Witha claimed 16.5 stops of dynamic range in standard mode & a gain of approximately two stops of light, from 800 to 3200 ISO without increasing the image noise. DPs of all kinds will savor these advances to shoot in dark situations knowing the output will be dependable.

Canon EOS C700 FF Full-Frame Cinema Camera EF & PL Mount Options):

  • 5.9K Full-Frame CMOS Sensor with DAF
  • EF-Cinema Lock Type Mount
  • Dual Pixel AF
  • Triple DIGIC DV 5 Processing
  • XF-AVC and ProRes Recording to CFast 2.0
  • Internal Full-Frame up to 60 fps
  • Internal 4K/Super35 Crop up to 72 fps
  • Internal 2K/Super16 Crop up to 168 fps
  • Selectable Gamma and Log Curves
  • ACES Support
  • External Raw Recording Option (CODEX Box Optional)
  • MSRP $33,000.00 Camera Body
  • Shipping Soon

Introducing the Canon EOS C700 FF – A Full-Frame Digital Cinema Camera by CanonUSA:

The Calling 4K Shot With C700  by Canon: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

GH5 Firmware 2.2 Update for VFR And More!

GH5 Firmware 2.2 Update

Panasonic has released an updated firmware that claims to fix some instability issues while recording video at higher frame rates using VFR. The Firmware Version 2.2 Available here aims to reduce or eliminate instances where the camera could stop recording video or in some instances refuse to record in VFR mode. Some users have reported rare incidents of corrupted files, recording stops and some camera lockups that could be related to the VFR function buffer and write to SD card procedure.  It will be a matter of testing this new firmware to see if it resolves these issues.

In some instances, it was narrowed down to slow SD cards that could not keep up with the data rates necessary or cards that had internal fragmentation that could cause corruption on clips.  Glad to see Panasonic addressing this issue. The camera also adds a new menu item for customizing the function button on the new Leica H-ES200 200mm 2.8 lens to different parameters.  Firmware Link!

Other recent developments Freefly Movi for iPhone:

 

Freefly Movi Motorized Gimbal Stabilizer for Smartphones has been released and it could really up your game if you own an iPhone especially that shoots slow motion video.    It can really stabilize images and get rid of rolling shutter for most shots with abilities like timelapse panning, cinematic shots, joystick motion, speed time progression and more.

Freefly Movi – Your Personal Cinema Robot by Freefly Systems:

While the new device may be used with Android phones, for example, the software it ships with does not work on the Android platform as of now to deliver features above what the stock video recording on the phone is capable of.  There is no word if Android will be supported in the future.  There are other alternatives for Android phones that offer similar capabilities at lower prices here!

At a price of $299, we think it’s an excellent choice if you own an iPhone 6s, 7, 8 or X to up the stabilization capabilities of these great devices.  Be sure to turn off the built-in stabilizer on the phone in order to avoid motion jitter that can occur while moving.

The Freefly Movi for Phones is available for Pre Order at Adorama Camera here for $299 for an April 1st 2018 estimated Ship Date.

We have been following the AXIOM Camera development for a while and while they are yet to ship, recent developments suggest the day is nearing.  New finalized case designs and locked in specs allow for up to 300fps shooting in slow motion which could be just what you needed.  The camera will be able to record from sensor to the USB 3.0 out at up to 400MB/s on one port & 800MB/sec using the two ports on the body which allows for higher frame rates not just in HD but 4k to be saved into a commodity RAID, SSD array.

For more information about possible frame rates and sensor choices, go directly to their website here: https://www.apertus.org/axiom-beta-imagesensors

That is it for now,  thanks for reading -HSC