Tag Archives: 4k video

Sony Xperia 1 III is Slow Motion Capable!

Sony has now released the third iteration of their Xperia 1 series which are the flagship phones from the company that really push the capabilities of the brand. Many point out that Sony smartphones are excellently made and perform admirably while also including the now coveted 3.5mm audio jack which has been removed at the behest of Apple iPhone influence in the vast majority of phones. We will say it once more, USB C audio adapters are terrible connections compared to 3.5mm jacks which offer the best possible audio transmission possibilities without compression and other trade-offs.

The new Sony Xperia 1 III continues the 120fps 4k HDR pedigree of the Xperia 1 II which is clearly a much-coveted feature for video enthusiasts. This time around the phone improves color, compression, and HDR fidelity to deliver an outstanding image when light allows it. The phone also has the typical 1080p 120fp and 240fps frame rate that have been showing up as commonplace features in flagship smartphones but absent is any higher frame rates that were included the Motion Eye TM technology used in previous Sony phones allowing 1000fps 1080p recording for a short time. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Galaxy Note 20 Slow Motion The Good and the Bad!

Galaxy Note 20 Slow Motion

Samsung will start shipping to stores the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra on August 21, 2020.  This new phone is the latest and greatest on their line of ultra-performance devices that offer little compromise at a premium price.  It has a 108MP sensor on an f1.8 lens on the Note 20 Ultra 5G version that can do crazy zoom and pixel averaging in low light. The more pixels you record even if they are small let you do more computational photography processing to average noise and artifacts out to end with a crisper lower resolution image that is pleasing and punches above it’s weight.

However, not all is good news since the video mode in Samsung devices when it comes to slow motion has been stalling in the last iterations to a max 960fps mode in HD 720p which is now on this phone an interpolated 480fps mode that is slowed 2x to 960p.  This makes the Note 20 line an inferior slow-mo device to even the Galaxy S10 which offers real 960fps.  The good thing here is a full second of recording at 480fps on the Note 20 line which translates to 16 seconds playback at 30fps and 32seconds with interpolation.

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Main Imaging specs:

  • 108MP F1.8 wide-angle optically-stabilized camera module
  • 12MP F3.0 telephoto (5x zoom) from 64MP Sensor
  •  8K video at up to 24fps in either 16:9 or 21:9
  • 12MP F2.2 ultra-wide cameras
  • Laser AF module
  • Note 20 Zoom simulator online here!

Other specs:

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus in USA
  • Samsung Exynos 990 CPU for the global version
  • 4,500mAh battery
  • 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM
  • 128GB or 512GB of internal storage
  • Up to 1TB Internal Storage with Micro SD Card

Galaxy Note 20 Slow Motion Is stalled:

Samsung at least does the courtesy of showing the real specs of their slow motion implementation. With Interpolation, the camera that shoots slow motion is capped to 480fps and then bumped with a re-timing algorithm to 960p. We are no fans of interpolation for the most part read our article on this here!

Samsung description:

Super Slow-mo up to 960fps

The super-speed camera shoots up to 960 frames per second and slows way down for the ultimate slow-motion takes.5

(5) Super Slow-mo only supports HD resolution. Users can record approximately 1 second of video captured at 480 fps and digitally enhance the video to 960 fps with approximately 32 seconds of playback. Playback time can be edited in Super Slow-mo player.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 event in under 9 minutes by The Verge: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Sony Xperia 5 is a Cheaper Xperia 1!

Sony Xperia 5

Sony continues to recycle the same features over their phone lineup with a slightly dumbed down Xperia 1 phone which is their flagship with the same camera arrangement, screen, and main features. The 1080p 960fps mode is still here with a duration of 0.1 seconds and at 720p of 0.2 seconds.  The resolution and quality are not real 1080p as we have discussed before and the reduced time makes it nearly unusable.

However, the feature many are calling a bad omen is the disappearance of the 3.5mm headphone jack.  The phone is slimmer and smaller than the Xperia 1 but shares the best traits at a lower price. For many, it will not be enough to counter the popularity of other phones that are more full-featured and offer a vast array of video modes.

Sony Xperia 5 Camera Specs:

CAMERA Specs Triple 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.6″, 1.4µm, predictive Dual Pixel PDAF, 5-axis OIS
12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4″, 1.0µm, predictive PDAF, 2x optical zoom, 5-axis OIS
12 MP, f/2.4, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4″, 1.0µm
Features LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Video 2160p@24/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps

Sony Xperia 5 Hands-on Review | What’s Changed vs Xperia 1? by Tech Spurt:

The Xperia 5 also has the cinema pro app which made the Xperia 1 so coveted for video shooters. The AF with Eye AF also is here so this phone is probably a better deal than the Xperia 1 considering it has almost identical specs in just a smaller screen size.

So after looking at what the Xperia 5 is capable off we have no problem recommending it as the best Sony phone ever based on its price. However, we cannot recommend it as a slow motion solution due to the lower than expected quality and recording time of the 960fps mode.

Xperia 1 960fps Slowmotion test by kao winson:

The sample above is from the Xperia 1 which shows the 6.4 seconds slow motion mode at 720p 960fps. Quality is ok but you can clearly see the jagged edges of lost line information.

In contrast, the sample below by McLarty Films shows the Xperia 1 at 1080p 960fps which equates to 3.2 seconds playback per clip. There is more resolution but also suffers from loss of resolution. Clarity is better but you cannot claim this is a professional-looking image and or worthy of using it for serious production work. It is a fun feature that could be bettered by a larger buffer and better resolution only if, Sony decides to give us that real performance upgrade.

Sony Xperia 1 – Slow Motion Camera Test – Taiwan Surfing by McLarty Films: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 960fps Mode Uses Interpolation?

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 960fps

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 had a few leaks in the past weeks concerning the slow motion mode and the company even released a water balloon sample. We decided to wait for the real reviews and samples before making an opinion on this phone which is destined for the Chinese market first. The phone is supposed to shoot 960fps in 1080p mode which is exciting as an initial spec matching the Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ3 phones in resolution and frame rate but we really have no slow motion duration spec yet.

After looking at the samples we have seen a clear indication of software interpolation to fill in video frames between high frame rate recorded video which looks to be 240p at 1080p and then conformed in software to 960fps on the fly using the phone’s hardware. The results are very good and beat anything we have seen before on phone frame rate interpolation which is a good thing, however, it looks like the phone is faking its way into slow motion 960fps.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 Main Specs:

The Mi Mix 3 is no slouch with 8GB- 10GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, it is a powerhouse of specs without the added cost of other phones.

NETWORK Technology GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO/LTE
Screen Type Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Multitouch Yes
Protection Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version)
– MIUI 10
– HDR
BODY Dimensions 157.9 x 74.7 x 8.5 mm (6.22 x 2.94 x 0.33 in)
Weight 218 g (7.69 oz)
Build Front glass, aluminum frame (7000 series), ceramic back
SIM Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
PLATFORM OS Android 9.0 (Pie)
Chipset Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)
CPU Octa-core (4×2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4×1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)
GPU Adreno 630
MEMORY Card slot No
Internal 256 GB, 8/10 GB RAM or 128 GB, 6/8 GB RAM
Camera SPECS Dual 12 MP (wide), f/1.8, 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, 4-axis OIS
12 MP (telephoto), 1/3.4″, 1.0µm
Features LED flash, HDR, panorama
Video 2160p@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps
USB Type-C 1.0 reversible connector

MSRP $475 to $720 depending on model specs.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 hands-on: No Bezel Slider Phone by: Android Authority

The phone has a sliding feature that in essence enables it to get rid of the notch without any sort of automated mechanism which is a plus for durability but the lack of any water resistance will put off some buyers. In time slider phones should be able to be submersible without compromising the feature set.

What about the Slow Motion 960fps?

The phone takes beautiful images and 4k video which is comparable to other flagships in detail and file quality. However, the slow motion feature touted as 1080p 960fps is at first glance a sub 720p image that is the result of line skipping which also uses clever interpolation to get from what we believe to be 240fps to 960fps with software. The results are very good and hardly detectable by many users so it is actually very impressive what Xiaomi was able to do here.

960fps Mi Mix 3 Samples below (Real to the best of our knowledge):

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 960FPS video support confirmed by AndroidPure: → 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.

Canon EOS R Main Features:

  • 30.3MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 8 Image Processor
  • UHD 4K30 Video; C-Log & 10-Bit HDMI Out
  • 1080p Full HD up to 60fps
  • 720p HD up to 120fps
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF – 5,655 AF Points
  • 3.69m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
  • 3.15″ 2.1m-Dot Swivel Touchscreen LCD
  • Expanded ISO 50-102400, 8 fps Shooting
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, SD UHS-II Card Slot
  • Multi-Function Bar, Dual Pixel RAW
  • EOS EF Lens compatibility with adapters including ND

Canon EOS R Slow Motion Features:

Frame Rates: 3840 x 2160p at 23.98/24/29.97 fps
1920 x 1080p at 23.98/24/29.97/59.94 fps
1280 x 720p at 29.97/59.94/120 fps

Frame rates are capped at 720p 120fps which is so 2011 in some instances and quite unacceptable for a camera in this price range. The 60p max at full HD is also something that was all the rage back in 2013 but now feels geriatric by comparison to Sony, Nikon, Fuji and Panasonic products.

Canon EOS R Sample Video – Lake Natron by CanonUSA:

Canon EOS R System: Video Controls and Operation by CanonUSA: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Insta360 Pro 2 Can do 120fps at 4k!

Insta360 Pro 2

We liked the Insta360 Pro released last year because it upped the ante in resolution and immersion compared to other off the shelf camera solutions. This new Pro 2 camera essentially increases the performance by stitching six 4k images to truly bring VR recording to a point where resolution blends with realism at 8k 3D. VR has always suffered from the resolution Achilles heel which can kill the experience as you notice image errors like aliasing, softness or stitching artifacts.

The new Insta630 Pro 2 camera has 6 lenses and 6 full camera systems to capture the scene. If using H.265 for Post stitching it can reach 4k UHD at up to 120fps binned.    All six cameras used at maximum resolution can build a 12k still image but for VR video you will be outputting an 8k stream in 2D or 3D with outstanding visual crispness.  The demos shown do make it seem like headsets are now the technology that needs improvement to increase resolution and catch up.

Insta360 Pro 2 Specs:

  • Lenses:6 x F2.4 fisheye lenses
  • Storage:6 x MicroSD cards + 1 x Full SD card
  • Power:12V 5A adapter
  • Material:Aluminum alloy
  • Exposure modes:Auto, Manual, Lens-by-Lens Custom, Shutter Priority (photo only), ISO Priority (photo only)
  • Diameter:φ143mm
  • Weight:1550g
  • ISO Range:100~6400
  • Battery Capacity:5000mAh removable battery
  • White Balance Modes:Auto, Manual
  • Bitrate per lens:Up to 120Mbps
  • Video Files:MP4
  • Video Coding:H264 in-camera, H265 available when post stitching

Insta360 Pro 2 Video Formats:

  • Post-processing Stitching:
  • 7680 x 3840 @30 fps HDR (8K 2D)
  • 7680 x 7680 @30 fps (8K 3D)
  • 7680 x 3840 @60 fps (8K 2D)
  • 6400 x 6400 @60 fps (6K 2D/3D)
  • 3840 x 3840 @120 fps (4K 2D/3D Binning)

Real-time Stitching:

  • 3840 x 3840 @30 fps (3D)
  • 3840 x 1920@30fps(2D)
  • Live-streaming Protocol:rtsp、rtmp、hls
  • Live-streaming Modes
  • Built-in server \ Custom server \ HDMI output
  • Note: Simultaneous live-streaming + recording is supported.

Video Modes

  • Standard \ Binning
  • Note: i-Log is available in all modes and HDR is available in some modes.
  • Photo Files:JPEG / DNG

Photos → Continue Reading Full Post ←