Today Panasonic has released the GH4 Firmware v2.1. It is mainly a usability/performance and external recorder update. No slow motion bit rate or frame rate improvements on this release. We analyzed a before and after on the files and detected no change in data. However recorded 4k footage has performance improvements. It is good to see that the camera continues to be updated by Panasonic and adding features filmmakers care about.
The following features are included:
What had been just a rumor just a few months ago before the release of the Hero 4 Black now its a reality. The camera will regain the feature of 240fps at 720p which it was rumored and lost at launch. All rumors speculated that this frame rate would be included but was scrapped at the last minute. Be it stability or heat concerns, the extra slow motion spec is now going to be brought to life by a firmware update.
Full Firmware Specs:
Last year’s CES star camcorder marvels were the W850 and the V750 from Panasonic. Both cameras were capable of 1080p at 120fps progressive with a 240p interpolation mode that looked pretty good with low motion and high shutter speed.
This year we get the replacements in the line the HC-VX870 retails for $899US and the HC-VX970 will be $999US. Both shoot 4k video yes… let me say that again… both shoot 4k! They are carbon copies of themselves with one differentiating feature. The VX970 has an integrated selfie picture in picture camera attached to the flip screen. This is the same feature the W850 introduced last year. The VX870 has no selfie camera but allows a phone to connect and feed the secondary image to record in tandem. It is kind of gimmicky but for filming parents wanting to film their reaction when their toddlers take their first steps it can be a pretty priceless feature.
Sony has today unveiled the next crop of direct GoPro line Competitor action cameras. There are two new cameras with improved specs as follows:
FDR-X1000V 4k Action Cam:
Next week January 6-9, in Las Vegas Nevada the 2015 CES show will take place. Usually the show doesn’t show much in the way of hi speed but a few gems have come out of the show in the past like the Panasonic W850 & V750 which a year later still hold their own as the best slow motion general purpose camcorders in quality with the 9th and 10th place in our slow-mo camera guide. These have recently come down in price considerably!
2014 has been a very interesting year for slow motion. We saw a new crop of cameras sport frame rates that will set new standards for affordable slowmo for years to come. We had the edgertronic shipping in quantity and the Kickstarter fps1000 surprise that promises unrivaled slow motion in full HD and even 4k at unheard of prices. Phones like the iPhone 6 now sport 240fps and the Mediatek MT6595, MT6795 chips offer the possibility of 480fps at full 1080p.
2015 will probably be the year of the slow motion HD phone as it seems the feature is a way for brands to differentiate phone specs. Like the megapixel spec race, the slow-mo race is now in motion. We want to share some of the slow motion footage we have come across this year and thank you again for your support. This site was started at the beginning of the year with an idea and it has turned into an evolving resource for many camera enthusiasts to look for the latest in slow motion cameras on a budget.