It’s that time of the year again when we revisit and dig up slow motion footage that is just out of this world cool. From the most well known names in YouTube slow-mo to the obscure coolness of the lab and phone tests.
We choose a list of what we believe represent the current cutting edge in slow motion video art and research. Not everything is about gear and specs, a little inspiring footage can make your current camera shine again when you get an idea and put it to the test.
Panavision the company that brought you the Genesis digital cinema camera which many credit for jump starting true digital cinematography for the big screen has done it again with the Panavision DXL. An 8k 8192 x 4320 camera capable of recording higher frame rates at that resolution than what many 4k resolution options have still to achieve.
The company doesn’t offer a table or indication of slow motion high speed frame rates in the specs as the maximum frame rate they tout is 75fps at 8K 2.4:1 (8192 x 3456) which is slightly shorter in the vertical frame than the full capability which maxes at 60fps at the highest resolution. RED is heavily involved in the DXL by supplying the sensor, color science, REDCODE RAW Codec and many design cues.
Samsung as it is customary has released the rugged version of their flagship Galaxy phone in this case the Galaxy S7 Active. The Phone is IP68 water resistant which is not for scuba or snorkeling but will allow for it to be used in heavy rain, wash it and or for that accidental drop into the sink or puddle.
The Phone did not improve the video specs on the fabulous Galaxy S7 camera but has directly translated the performance; furthermore is might be the first Active phone that may be usable without a protective case of any kind do to it’s new Poly carbonate screen layer which makes it shatter resistance above and beyond what common Gorilla glass can withstand.
The Chinese Smartphone Maker ZTE has released the Axon 7 handset with some impressive camera features like a newly released 20MP Samsung ISOCELL sensor, F1.8 lens aperture, sapphire glass lens front element for scratch-proof and flare resistance, optical image stabilization in the lens elements and dual pixel on-sensor phase detection auto-focus; not to mention a handy dual LED Flash.
Other phone specs compete well with other more well known brand flagship devices like the Galaxy S7. such as a 5.5-inch AMOLED panel 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD resolution with 2.5D curved Gorilla Glass 4 and a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset.
LG Released the wrapping this week on the LG Action CAM LTE which is a GoPro Hero Competitor that has a trick up it’s sleeve. The LTE Part means that you can add 4G LTE or 3G Data to the camera to stream live video over cellular data towers to potentially any internet connected server in the globe.
As to how powerful it will be remains to be seen but the use as a live car Dash Camera, home surveillance CCTV camera and streaming directly to Youtube, Facebook or Periscope seems a pretty incredible proposition at a maximum of 720p 30p over data.
Our reader Andy Urtu alerted us to the firmware updates for the JVC prosumer camcorder line which add among other improvements the 120fps high speed video mode at full 1080p 1920*1080 resolution to the popular camera line. Thanks Andy!