Tag Archives: Micro

Oppo Find X3 Pro brings microscopy to phones!

Oppo Find X3 Pro

There is always an outlier when it comes to phone innovation and we have to give it to Oppo in 2021 as it seems to have created a phone that really delivers features that seemed impossible just months ago.  The Oppo Find X3 Pro can deliver the usual 4k 30p and 60p video and up to 720p 480fps slow motion along with the common standard of 240p at 1080p.  Where the phone jumps ahead of the pack is the inclusion of a real microscopy camera module that has a ring light to boot.

The Microscope camera can deliver a mind-altering 60x microscopy range magnification that looks so good that you might think it was taken with a professional clinical microscope.   It will not be enough to show blood cells that usually require over 100x to be appreciated but it delivers detail on small insects, fibers, textures, and electronics that previously required a complicated camera setup attached to a multi-lens instrument. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Z E2 Camera Rumor of 4k 120fps!

Z E2 Camera

The Z Cam E1 which delivered excellent quality 4k footage from a tiny package and was able to do 720p 240fps frame rates “at less than ideal quality”, however,  a new Rumor from 4/3 Rumors here shows a Twitter message that hints at a new Z E2 m4/3 camera that is able to do 120fps at full 4k resolution.  If this turns out to be true it could yield further performance improvements in 1080p and 720p along with higher quality that could be usable.

As far as linear specs go a 120p 4k pipeline could in theory yield 480fps 1080p and 960/1000fps 720p without going out of spec. As we have come to know over the years, however, it is usually wrong to extrapolate these specs to the maximum possible metric as the sensor or memory could be bottlenecks that limit the performance. So this rumor could have some legs to it and NAB 2018 could be the show that makes 4k 120p a regular feature for cameras.

Z E2 Camera What We Want In Specs:

  • 12-16MP 4/3 sensor
  • 24p,30p & 60p 4k UHD
  • 120fps 4k Slow Mo
  • 240fps 1080p
  • 480fps 720p
  • 2hr Battery Life
  • 12-14 stops of Dynamic Range
  • Full electronic m4/3 lens compatibility
  • Clean High Sensitivity up to ISO 25,600

So the list above sounds pretty much like a wishlist and it is. So take that with a scoop of salt.  If we finally get the 120p 4k spec in a  camera under 1k that delivers quality then we expect it to do very well in the market.   That said NAB 2018 in early April may turn out to be an excellent announcement show with cameras from specialized markets to wide release expected to be shown and or announced. Slow Motion should also be prominently displayed which will probably show the usual big players show their wares.

Below you can see the 240fps 720p quality of the current Z E1 Cam which is not ideal. Will we see a big increase in quality? only time will tell.

Z Camera E1 by Finepoint 240fps 720p 2:35 time:

Seagull crash landing in slow motion Z-CAM E1 240 fps by BlueNoite:

Z Camera E1 Water Balloon Exploding 720P @ 240FPS by aussiemikeysaru: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Manfrotto Befree Live New King Of Portable Video Heads!

Manfrotto Befree Live

The new Manfrotto Befree Live Tripod Fluid-head may be the most ultra-portable and quality video ready fluid head out there.  Before this new model was introduced the Manfrotto 128RC and 128LP heads dominated this space. However the new model has smoother movement along with locking features that bring the line to more modern designs.  There is a big need for compact video heads which can be used with smaller slow motion capable cameras like DSLRs, Sony RX100, Sony RX10, Micro 4/3rds and Action cams.

With the miniaturization of camera gear the days of the old and heavy but dependable fluid head are nearing an end. When the tripod can be carried alongside a small camera bag in a very portable fashion; the amount of usable footage will increase due to the amount of shots set up with it due to simplicity and little fuzz.

Manfrotto BeFree Live Specifications:

Fluid Head Specifications:

  • Base: 40mm flat base
  • Camera Plate: Includes Manfrotto 501PL Sliding Quick-Release
  • Plate with 1/4″-20 Screw
  • Weight: 3.9 lbs (1.8kg)
  • Payload: 8.8 lbs (4kg)
  • Panning Range: 360 degree
  • Material: Aluminum
  • Bubble Level: Yes
  • Weight: 0.8 lb (0.4 kg)
  • Minimum Height: 17″ (43cm)

Tripod Specifications:

  • Maximum Height 50.5″ (128cm) with center post down , 59.5″ (151cm) with center post raised.
  • Folded Length: 16.5″ (40cm)
  • Material of Construction: Aluminum
  • Dimensions: 3.8″ (9.7cm) height
  • Weight: 3.9 lb (1.8 kg)

As you can see the portability and weight of the Manfrotto BeFree Live are extraordinary for a fluid drag system. The head itself just weights 0.8 lb (0.4 kg) which is almost feather-like.  When you add the tripod it weights just 2.2Kg or 4.85 lbs-  pounds. However you can use your current tripod just as well as the fluid head sports a standard 3/8″ screw mount system.

The head comes with Pan and Tilt locks as-well as adjustment for the handle position with a simple thumb screw which makes it much easier to adjust in the field.

We were big fans of the Manfrotto 128RC and 128LP Micro fluid heads and this new one at $99 USD for the head and $239.99 for the BeFree Live Tripod+Head combination seems like a great option for hiking, DSLR and ILC compacts and any slow motion gear that you need to mount on the go.  We used the edgertronic camera in a 128LP head with great success but this new fluid drag system is even more stable when tilting, panning or mixing both.

Be aware that since the total weight of the tripod and head of the Be Free Live system is under 5 lbs (2.2kg)  you will need to add a sandbag for more stability if needed with loads above 8lbs. This is expected with such a lightweight setup so plan accordingly. We briefly tested the tripod at a store and the motion and fluid drag were very good. It seems as good as the previous models but with all the advantages of new drag control and lighter weight.

You can already order the fluid Head and System from Amazon.com and or Adorama below:

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0";
amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true";
amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "hispeedcams-20";
amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";
amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";
amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
amzn_assoc_region = "US";
amzn_assoc_title = "My Amazon Picks";
amzn_assoc_linkid = "49ecf79dc3e1d040ab9c89565a73e87b";
amzn_assoc_asins = "B01MCTN5O5,B00COLBNTK,B000JLO6RS,B001EXVQJQ";

The videos below show users of the new BeFree Live from Manfrotto giving it an honest review, check out their sites also by clicking on the link above each video:

Manfrotto BeFree Live Tripod Hands-On Field Review by Raiatea Arcuri:

Manfrotto Befree Live Fluid-head Tripod REVIEW and TEST FOOTAGE by OrangeBulletStudios:

Manfrotto Befree Live Tripod Review by The Travel Vlogger:

If you do get a Manfrotto Be Free Live fluid head or tripod be sure to comment on your experience below this post. Your experiences help inform others. Thank you- HSC!

Z E1 120fps HD and 4k in Tiny Package!

ZCamE1

The Kickstarter project Z  E1 has been funded over 4x their initial goal and now proceeds to build the cameras based on a Micro 4/3 sensor and an extremely small GoPro-like camera body that does 4k video and up to 120fps HD video in an upcoming  software update; the camera form factor is ideal for drone aerial photo and video. It promises professional video and photo quality with no compromises in an incredibly small body which would be close to what Olympus attempts with the Air A01 or DxO with the One. The camera does have a 2.5″ inch Screen on teh back but also relies on a 200-300ms response time over wifi which is short for little lag. The Interface is iOS and or Android and are already available for download on these platform stores for remote shooting.

ZCAM E1 Spec Sheet:

“We have several challenges to face being the first non-Japanese company to develop a 4k interchangeable camera system. Our experience with the latest A9 chip from Ambarella has been a major asset. Cooperation with Panasonic to embed their sensor and lens into E1 has helped us to finalize the product. ” ZCAM

From the statement above you can get a lot of insight into what the camera is built on and what kind of components make it breathe. It is a GoPro A9 chip with a Panasonic sensor MN34230 “still capture it’s 2x crop. For video mode, it’s around 2.34x 35mm crop; they do claim a perfectly acceptable quality at ISO 6400 and up to 102,400 ISO for extreme low light.  The Dynamic range as their specs is now 10 stops with a possible 11 stops with a future wide DR update.

They can reach those high ISO numbers due to their proprietary noise reduction ” Advanced 3D noise filters using motion compensated temporal filtering (MCTF ) technology reduces noise and jitter.” As to the effectiveness of the technique compared to other traditional sensor noise reduction methods remains to be seen.  It does sound encouraging.

Z  E1 Kickstarter Campaign Video:

The auto-focus performance is claimed to be excellent and the video quality even at night to be professional in nature.  The creator worked on the GoPro and this is a version of a technology refined and improved by a bigger sensor.  The mount is an active MFT compatible with Panasonic and Olympus lenses which makes it ideal for these system owners and those who do not want their expensive GH4, OMD or GH3 MFT camera to be lost in a drone crash in land or water.

The camera looks like a GoPro Extreme with a real lens mount, they have also been working on a waterproof case that may or may not be released in the future.  Even if this is realeased it will probably be limited to short lenses like a 14-42 or pancakes like the 20mm f1.7.  You cannot understate the importance of a large sensor camera with an underwater housing for all sorts of activities. Add to this that the 4k looks to be great in quality and it may very well become a diver  or sports camera of choice.

What about Slow Motion?

As a slow motion choice the Z E1 only real meaningful frame rate will be the 720p HD mode at 120fps in a promised upcoming update. As to the quality we expect it to be a windowed portion of the sensor. It would have been great if this little camera could do higher frame rates at full HD.

There are Kickstarter kits still available on their campaign page if you might be interested in getting one of these for your work. Be it a crash cam or a drone cam on steroids in a tiny package, the trend of smaller and more powerful minimalist cameras continue but that doesn’t necessarily mean that quality has to suffer as it is proposed on the Z Camera E1.

We wish this group of entrepreneurs much success and if they release future models we hope they take some time apart for higher resolution slow motion video. Small cameras are growing up and the Z E1 seems to be a pinnacle in the current state of transition.

For more information about the Z E1 visit their Kickstarter page here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2081787381/e1-camera-4k-uhd-interchangeable-lens-camera

Disclaimer: We have no relationship with Z Camera ; the E1 or any of their future products. If you decide to buy one be advised that as with many Kickstarter campaigns there is a the risk of non delivery. HSC informs and covers high speed options of low cost and we do not recommend any purchase. We do the homework and you decide.