Tag Archives: video mode

Google Pixel 3 Slow Motion is Lackluster!

Google Pixel 3 Slow Motion

The newly announced Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL phones do impressive things with machine learning when it comes to their camera app. The ability to do resolution comparable 2X  zoom to an optical lens by using exposure merging is genius.  Their portrait mode is also the best ever made on a phone with incredible separation of background and foreground depth of field based on learning algorithms that can tackle hair transitions and other objects all with only a single lens.

When it comes to video however it is not as good as either the Samsung’s or Apple’s latest flagship phones. The pixel tops at 4k 30p and the slow motion while doing 240fps which matches the iPhone XS it is only 720p instead of 1080p. Google seems to have beefed up the phone for still images and selfies and left the video features on a secondary plane. The slow motion mode is essentially identical to last year’s Pixel 2 and 2 XL at 120fps 1080p and 240fps 720p. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Fujifilm X-T3 Slow Motion Samples!

Fujifilm X-T3 Slow Motion

Fujifilm continues to further evolve their high-end mirrorless offerings by releasing the X-T3 which is a souped-up X-T2 with much of what was missing like 4k 60p and a new  X-Trans Sensor now with 2 more megapixels and lower base ISO of 160. The new camera also has a touchscreen with the ability to use up to 425 Phase and Contrast hybrid Autofocus points which is their most advanced AF yet.

Others will point out to the new blackout-free burst shooting much like that in the Sony high end a9 for example. What is really remarkable here is that the 4k 60p mode is 10 bit 4:2:0 vs 8 bit on competitors, as to what big advantage that will be remains to be seen considering 4:2:0 is not exactly ideal. For slow motion fans, the camera now records 120fps 1080p at 200Mbps bs 100Mbps on the X-T2 → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Canon EOS R Is a Good Start But Lacks Frame Rates!

People waited with extreme patience for the Canon Full Frame Mirrorless line for several years. The Verdict? Pretty good start but feels like a mid-range product.  It lacks IBIS stabilization on the body sensor which has become one of the most coveted features for camera enthusiasts. It lacks dual card slots and most important of all for us it is 2014 frame rates for a camera of this class.

The camera does shoot 4k up to 30p but it has the same crop that has made the Canon 5D Mark IV a bad proposition for videographers that want 4k footage. The crop is 1.7x which is essentially a Micro 4/3rds sensor size with a speed booster but without all the benefits of those bodies like IBIS and very low rolling shutter with the added benefit of better frame rates. This feels for all intents and purposes like a base product for a line that needed to be released to compete but is still evolving technologically. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

FUJIFILM X-T2 vs X-H1 Slow Motion Quality Comparison by CVP!

The FUJIFILM X-H1 which offers 120fps 1080p slow motion was a worthwhile effort to offer high frame rates that are usable to their video-centric base. It still was not as good as the Sony or Panasonic slow motion options due to aliasing, moire, and noise but with a little post work, it could be used with success in an edited piece.  FUJI then with a firmware update for their stills flagship the X-T2 allowed the camera to now shoot the same 120fps 1080p slow motion which makes sense considering they use the same sensor on both cameras.

The camera site CVP has done a full comparison review here which pits the X-H1 against the X-T2 to see which camera strengths are ahead on each body and if it makes sense for X-T2 owners who are invested in a FUJI lens system to upgrade.  Their findings are interesting and as far as slow motion it is clear that while they use most of the same imaging pipeline; the X-H1 has the edge with less crop, less aliasing, and better artifact suppression when using the 120fps slow motion mode. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Fuji X-H1 Aims to Compete in Pro Video!

Fuji X-H1

The Fuji X-H1 just announced does a lot of things right; It has a 200mbps 4k codec in UHD / DCI, 120fps Full HD which from the initial looks of it looks gorgeous and it finally has the 5-Axis Stabilizer on the sensor 5.5 stops worth that had eluded Fuji cameras for two years now.  It even has a new Eterna color profile which makes it easy to color correct without being too flat or too processed.

However, the X-H1 is based on the same 24MP X-Trans APS-C sensor found on the X-T2 which while overall good, it has problems with color moire and fine textures due to the processing on the unconventional RGB pattern which has 4 adjacent green pixels and differs quite a lot from Bayer sensors. See this article from PetaPixel comparing both technologies here.  But as far as video mode is concerned it looks to be a good contender to options like the GH5 and Sony 7 series. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

HTC U11 Plus Does 120fps Full HD 1080p!

HTC U11 Plus

The HTC U11+  is a refined version of the U11 which was one of the better spec android phones of 2017. The new iteration boosts speed and a screen that goes from 5.5 inches to 6 inches. Space was accommodated for a larger screen without making the phone itself much bigger which is a feat of design and engineering.

For many, the big disappointment will be that it seems HTC is not making a US version of the U11 Plus and leaving it only for Asia and Europe at this time.  The US market is very competitive and HTC has had a hard time penetrating the sales ranks of the Samsung, Apple and Google phones. If you indeed are able to get an HTC U11 Plus the Slow motion component has a 120fps full HD 1080p spec that should be competitive. → Continue Reading Full Post ←