Tag Archives: zoom

Panasonic HC-X1 Packs Some Serious Performance!

Panasonic hc-x1

In a launch that was mostly subdued, a new camera was launched in August; the Panasonic  HC-X1 which is a mid range professional fixed lens ENG or EFP camera with some serious specs to go behind it.  For starters there is 4k at up to 60fps a format that we hope to see in upcoming ILCs like the GH4 successor and Sony Cameras.  The other is 100fps PAL or 120fps NTSC 1080p which is now a must have slow motion standard for any serious camera.

The qualities of the new Panasonic HC-X1 do not stop at higher frame rates; it features a fantastic 3 independent fly by wire ring system for focus, aperture and the last for zoom which starts at a very wide 24mm to 480mm at the long end or 20x optical. The camera also features  a built in ND Filter wheel from 1/4th to 1/64th for effortless 180 degree shooting outdoors. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Hasselblad True Zoom Signaling the Future?

Hasselblad True Zoom moto mods

The recently announced Hasselblad True Zoom is an add on module for the Moto Z + Moto Mods™ smartphone platform which lets you add modules to your already very capable phone to increase it’s feature set.  A Pico Projector, a much larger battery, a JBL speaker set and now the Hasselblad True Zoom 10x Optical zoom are the current back plate options for this new ecosystem.

What may look like a gimmick to some; it may be the advent of a personalized and very powerful experience for the future of smartphone use. What if you could add the advantages of a larger camera sensor and higher frame rates with built in processing to your phone when needed. What if you could add a built in microscope back plate to the phone for biologists on the field or a sensor module for tracking scientific concepts with the phone as a central part of experiments. The sky seems to be the limit here. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Sony RX10 III Ships and Reviews Start to Show!

RX10III

The Sony RX10 III has been the talk of the town as of late with an impressive lens 24-600mm 35mm equivalent  or 25x from wide to telephoto.  For us the value lies in the High frame rate or HFR mode that has the same specs as last year’s darlings the Sony RX100 IV and RX10 II.

At first glance the quality seems to be the same in terms of sensor response as all of these cameras share the exact same stacked 1″ sensor with blazing fast memory attached.  While the stills quality will not win any awards compared to 4/3, APS C or Full Frame cameras; it is still a big step up compared to small sensor P&S cams or smartphones. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Sony FS5 Firmware Improves High Speed Capture!

FS5Sony

NAB 2016 has turned out to be subdued in product announcements when it comes to cameras. Sure there are a few of not but nothing earth shattering for price conscious video enthusiasts.  The Sony FS5 is still a great camera and the new firmware to be released in May-June 2016 will give it more features and power.

The New firmware update v2.0 will be free but if you want the high frame rate capabilities you will need an external recorder and $600 USD or $500 Euros. Also you will need an external recorder to handle the RAW output. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Sony RX10 III Continues Slow Motion Features!

RX10III

Just announced is the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III or Sony RX10 III for short.  It is no direct replacement for last year’s Sony RX10 II which at first glance looks very similar.  They are essentially the same camera featuring the same video recording features. The real change comes with the incorporation of a monster zoom lens made by Carl Zeiss with a 24 -600mm FF equivalent compared to the now paltry 24-200mm FF equivalent of the RX10 II.

The lens is impressive for a super zoom camera capable of 25x zoom range. Wide end of 24mm has an aperture of f2.4 with the Tele end closing to f4 which is still pretty respectable for such reach.  It has stabilization also which Sony claims 4.5 stops worth of handhold-ability which seems the best case scenario. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Sony PXW-Z150 has 120fps with Stacked Sensor!

PXWZ150

Announced just last week the Sony PXW-Z150 gets a lot of right for the low end pro video market.   It has 4k 4:2:0 as many in the competitive price range of $3,595 MSRP. It has 4:2:2 1080p 10 bit at 50mbit  which is a good surprise and it seems to be carried to the also included 120fps full HD 1080p slow motion mode.

The sensor is of the stacked kind and it is 1″ sized, the same as the ones in the RX100 IV and RX10 II from Sony which are really good at slow motion for a low price. However those full specs are not carried through in the high frame rate mode or HFR.  It maxes out at 120fps 1080p instead of 240fps on the RX series in the 1k range and the FS5 which is a tad more expensive than the Z150. → Continue Reading Full Post ←