Tag Archives: professional

iPhone 14 Frame Rates Explored!

It has been a year since the iPhone 13 showed that Apple was in a refinement path for the iPhone line with improved video across the board and the introduction of ProRes recording in 10 bits for some modes. The Slow motion capabilities had been capped at 1080p frame rates since the iPhones of old. The iPhone 14 has the same max 4k frame rate of 60p as the iPhone 13 but the sensor, image processor, and lenses have all been refined and improved. 

Are high frame rates relegated to stay at 1080p forever on the Apple line? It has been 7 years of releases of capped 1080p at 120fps and 240fps with no other frame sizes getting a better spec. Most phones are also restricted but Sony, Huawei, and others have been delivering 120fps in 4k video modes for a couple of years now. The iPhone 14 seems to continue the trend of refinement without blowout frame rates at higher resolutions.  → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Panasonic Lumix GH6 does 300fps in Full HD!

We have been expecting Panasonic to deliver a GH5 and or GH5s replacement camera for over a year now. The pandemic and component shortages pushed back the release of almost all high tech imaging equipment. The Lumix GH6 is now announced and it does everything right for Micro 4/3 and then some but will that be enough to make the format survive in a world of ever-decreasing Full Frame camera prices getting cheaper?  

The GH6 has a new sensor, new Venus processing engine, new IBIS with up to 7.5 stops which is bordering on ridiculous, and a body that has active cooling. For HSC however, only one set of specs matters and that is frame rates for video. The camera is now on top of the Lumix and almost all of their pro division cameras by shooting up to 300fps 10 bit Full HDish, 240fps Full HD 10bit, and 120fps at 4k 10 bit.  For slow motion enthusiasts, it looks to be a great camera on paper and at just under $2,200 USD it is not going to break the bank.  But after all of this, should you invest in the GH6 as a slow motion tool or save more for an affordable dedicated high speed camera? → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Xiaomi Mi 11 Slow Motion has a 480fps mode!

Xiaomi Mi 11 Slow Motion

There are many new phones about to be announced including the most awaited Samsung release of the year, the Galaxy S21 which is due in a day or so. However the Xiaomi Mi 11 which was recently announced has been making a great impression on reviewers with a fluid 120Hz display, above-average camera features, 8k video, and our main interest the slow motion recording modes.

The high speed mode includes a 240fps 1080p mode but most interestingly this extends to 1080p 480fps which might be of comparable quality.  The Xiaomi brand has been making cameras and phones for a few years now and while it is usually discounted as a budget brand, the inclusion of pro features like a Snapdragon 888 processor and a whopping 108MP main camera make it stand apart.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Slow Motion Modes:

Main Camera:

  • 4k video at 30p/24p/60p
  • 1080p Full HD: 30/60/120/240/480fps
  • 8K video recording: 24/30fps

Selfie Camera:

  • 720p@120fps
MAIN CAMERA Triple 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.33″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
13 MP, f/2.4, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06″, 1.12µm
5 MP, f/2.4, (macro), 1/5.0″, 1.12µm
SELFIE CAMERA Single 20 MP, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4″, 0.8µm
Features HDR, panorama
Video 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
PLATFORM OS Android 11, MIUI 12.5
Chipset Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 (5 nm)
CPU Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Kryo 680 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 680
GPU Adreno 660

MSRP Price: $739.74

We are happy to see such a plethora of frame rate and a very high-end performance package all for under $1000USD, in fact, it has an under $750 price tag which is very tempting.

We are also happy to see 120Hz becoming commonplace as a default refresh technology for displays on most mid to high end phones. This makes the experience fluid and for slow motion video it allows you to see 120fps live if needed before getting to a video editor.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Slow Motion Samples:

We found what we assume are legitimate samples of the slow motion mode. The quality is not class-leading but not that awful either. You be the judge:

Xiaomi Mi 11 Camera Test Slow Motion. by Mohsin EDITZ:

Xiaomi Mi 11 – Super Slow Motion by INCEPTION SK: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Chronos 2.1 HD Slow Motion Camera use is exploding!

The Chronos 2.1 HD Slow Motion Camera which is the larger sensor and resolution version of the Chronos 1.4c is now being used in a lot of production situations. The material created with it gets better and better and while there is still a small backlog of camera orders due to COVID 19 disrupting part supply channels, most orders are now just a few weeks behind.

We have looked at a dozen videos that we would like to share with our readership showing the Chronos 2.1 HD in full force shooting in exquisite 1080p quality.  We are still waiting for a review unit which was delayed for a shortage of components to get to us but needless to say, the camera is gaining a very good reputation as the lowest price vs. quality option in the 1000fps 1080p camera world.

Chronos 2.1 HD Slow Motion Camera Video Samples:

We have seen a plethora of footage shot with the Chronos 2.1 HD lately which shows how Krontech has been able to ship a boatload of cameras across the globe.  You will find professionals and hobbyists alike shooting incredible material with the camera which is probably the best looking 1080p slow motion footage under $10,000 we have ever seen.  This little camera is making inroads into the market that is probably causing headaches to the higher end high-speed camera manufacturers. We can’t wait for Krontech to use what they have learned here to go even higher and offer a possible 1080p 4000+fps camera or a 1000fps 4k camera in the future.  Congratulations to our Canadian friends! 

Slow motion product shoot behind the scenes – Chronos 2.1-HD by Chronos Cameras:

Macro Room shooting slowmo video on Kron Technologies Chronos 2.1-HD by Chronos Cameras: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Freefly Wave Camera Sold Out, Batch 4 Preorders now Available!

Freefly Wave Camera Sold Out

It seems Freefly systems completely misjudged the demand for their new RAW 4k Slow Motion camera as the first 100 cameras ordered in batch 1 to batch 3 have all sold out. Now they aim to produce an unspecified number going forward with Batch 4 which is expected sometime in Q2 2021. The popularity of a product like this speaks volumes of the interest in slow-motion for video production, especially at 4k.  While the camera is not cheap at $9,995, it is still a bargain considering other options.

You would still need to factor in a field monitor as the camera does not have a built-in screen in the overall cost but these have lowered in value due to competition and wide availability ina variety of sizes and specs.  Freefly has also released a few more videos showing the Wave in action which are frankly inspiring and show what the camera is really capable of doing.  It seems this camera has been received so well by the market that we are sure Freefly is thinking already about an even higher spec camera for the future, maybe one with 1000fps in 4k.

Freefly Wave Camera Sold Out But More Are Coming in 2021!

Batch 1

  • 20 Units (sold out)
  • Shipping starts 11/18/2020

Batch 2

  • 30 Units (sold out)
  • Shipping starts 12/1/2020

Batch 3

  • 50 units (sold out)
  • Shipping starts 2/15/2021

Batch 4 and beyond (PREORDER HERE)

  • Expected to start shipping Q2, 2021

Freefly Wave Camera Sold Out: As you can see the camera’s first three batched sold out in a couple of weeks. For a slow motion camera of nearly 10k USD that is very popular.  The camera software is still in beta and the time to shipping should improve on that. We found some noise issues in the shadows that could be improved but other than that the camera was pretty solid from the samples we saw.

Footage of the Wave in Action:

Here are footage samples of the camera in action. Of note is that dynamic range is not as good as the best cameras out there but 11 stops are still respectable considering high speed CMOS Sensors tend to lower dynamic range when using a global shutter which is needed for high speed imaging.

Introducing Freefly Wave – High Speed Camera by Freefly Systems:

Wave 4K 420fps Bandsaw by Shane Colton: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Wave Camera 4k Slow Motion Released for 10k USD!

The Freefly systems Wave camera has been released and it is certainly a market disruptor. It is not your average high speed camera since it is essentially using an internal SSD M.2 card to continuously record slow motion events it functions more as a live capture device than a shot by shot trigger traditional slow motion camera. This is essentially the idea behind the fps1000 camera line by Graham Rowan which sadly was dissolved last year. A new way of capturing high speed by leveraging the speed of SSD flash storage with ultra-high frame rates.

The Wave is no slouch in specs with a 4k spec of 420fps which is not as good as the Phantom Flex 4k which records 1000fps but costs a whopping 160k USD.  The Wave costs $9,995 and using an E-Mount with no power or AF functions, can be adapted to a variety of lens systems because of the plethora of adapters that can be used due to the short flange distance.  We take a look at the wave specs and why it may be the camera you were waiting for – if you can get one!

Wave Camera 4k Slow Motion Specs:

Continuous Capture Time:

  • 4096 x 2176, 422fps, 1TB 19min
  • 4096 x 2176, 422fps, 2TB 39min
  • 2048 x 1088, 1461fps, 1TB 23min
  • 2048 x 188, 1461fps, 2TB 45min

The camera uses a 4:3 aspect ratio from the sensor which is kind of odd but allows for a variety of frame sizes including anamorphic capture if stretch in post. This seems to be an ideal camera for Anamorphic slow motion.  Of note is that the Krontech Chronos 2.1 HD is also using a 4:3 sensor which in theory can be used with Anamorphic glass. → Continue Reading Full Post ←