Tag Archives: Auto Focus

Sony Palm 4k Camcorders Have 960fps!

Sony Palm 4k Camcorders

Sony has released three new Palm Sized 4k camcorders on the wake left by the RX10 IV all in one  1″ Sensor camera, these new cameras aim to produce professional results in 4k and with the use of broadcast features like 3G-SDI in the case of the Z90V allow for real time ENG and EFP production.

These cameras have the same  sensor and buffer mode as the RX10 IV camera but in a more traditional non SLR like form factor. The FDR-AX700 at the lower end of the range lacks a Proper microphone mount and XLR inputs with volume controls but they all share the same specs in lens 12x – and internal codecs aside from broadcast features.  This includes the HFR mode which seems to be identical to the RX10 IV offering 120fps continuous and up to 7 seconds of 240fps near full HD and reduced resolution 480fps and 960fps. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Sony RX10 IV Improves HFR Resolution!

Sony RX10 IV

As expected Sony has released the RX10 IV super zoom camera.  It is a good update to last year’s RX10 III which had a maximum HFR recording rate in quality priority of 2 seconds. This new model is, in essence, the exact same Sensor and HFR spec combination as the excellent Sony RX100 V which was our camera pick for 2016 when it came to price/performance for high-speed recording.

The RX10 IV has, however, a brand new AF system with 315 AF phase points in total with also 25 region contrast AF areas for extra accuracy.   The camera is mostly identical to its predecessor in appearance with improvements and refinements like a better screen and improved weather sealing. However, the imaging system processing is the exact same upgrade we saw in the 2016 RX100 V. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

GH5 Firmware 2.0 Has Huge Improvements!

GH5 Firmware 2.0

The just announced Firmware for the Panasonic GH5 offers the promised improvements when the camera was launched like 400Mbps All-I compression for 4k 10 bit recording and or 200MBPS 1080p.  Also promised was near 6k Anamorphic shooting and HDR Ready Log Recording Gamma. All of that is in the firmware but the surprise comes from all the extra improvements that made the way into the 2.0 firmware release.

The new unexpected features range from a full tethering option for Mac or PC with free downloadable software to improved autofocus recording which was one of the weakest features of the camera.  As far as slow motion related improvements it seems the firmware is not making any headway there. The bitrate improvements do not mention the VFR mode. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Canon EOS 6D Mark II is 4k Phobic!

Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Nearly 5 years after the original 6D Mark 1 camera was released, Canon has now unveiled the EOS 6D Mark II which is a big update from that camera when it comes to a new vari-angle LCD touch screen, AF points now 45 all cross type vs the old one at 11 with only 1 center cross type, Wireless support, dual pixel video AF and an extra 6MP for a total of 26MP vs 20.1 on the Mark 1.

This camera is still the cheapest full frame camera on the Canon line up and it gets a lot right but also 4 things are left out that really miss the mark which will not sit well with people looking at competitive options.  The camera is a great picture shooter for sure but it feels crippled artificially and it is quite behind the times when it comes to video specs. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Canon C200 Cinema Camera 120fps Slowmo!

Canon C200

There is no question Canon has had great success with their EOS Cinema line of cameras. They continue to dominate the rental production market and even when they are overpriced compared to competitor’s options it is in a class of its own when it comes to Dual Pixel Continuous AF with Canon EF lenses which are plentiful and part of the stable of most serious camera professionals.

The latest iteration just announced is the Canon EOS C200 EF Cinema Camera which has some serious performance improvements over the current price/performance kind in their camera line. The new camera slots between the lower priced C100 Mark II and the more professional 4k C300 Mark II. However the C200 records in 4k RAW Light format which gives 15 stops of dynamic range with all the benefits of RAW editing with some compression. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Sony a9 Slow Motion Has Impressive Quality!

Sony a9 Slow Motion

The Sony a9 impressed with its full frame 20fps Stills shooting at  24.2 Megapixels.  It is probably the most groundbreaking camera performance wise we have come across for sports shooters in a decade.  The AF performance is second to none and as recent samples show it is just as good in video mode. Sony has cracked the continuous AF for video performance threshold where it can be used for production. That is no small feat.

What was totally unexpected was that the 120fps slow motion mode at full HD, which has a full sensor downsampling without crop of the 35mm FF sensor, is not only good; but probably the most detailed full HD slow motion mode we have seen in a DSLR or Mirrorless camera to date. → Continue Reading Full Post ←