Tag Archives: update

edgertronic firing on all cylinders!

edgertronic

One of our favorite high speed camera companies has shared a lot of information regarding it’s COVID pandemic operations as well as unit shipments for their cameras. It looks like Sanstreak corp the parent of edgertronic is considered an essential business to the government which is probably because of the support and software development they do with clients for important government agencies. They have sold thousands of cameras to date and the company seems to be on firm footing to continue solidly into the future.

Their product line has the SC1, which is the 700fps 720p camera that started it all, as well as the SC2/SC2+ 720p at over 4000fps and SC2X over 2000fps at full HD 1080p. Check our page here for full in-depth reviews on these three cameras. Our favorite the SC2X is capable of a beautifully detailed and artifact-free image that can be used for cinema and broadcast. The SC2+ has the edge in frame rates with speed as a primary focus being able to record 6x the frame rate of the original edgertronic. The cameras have Color and Monochrome options if needed. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12k Camera Setup 7 new Frame Rates!

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12k Camera Setup 7

Blackmagic Design has released Camera Setup 7.0 which upgrades the URSA Mini Pro 12k camera in several areas including improved frame rates at different resolutions.  At 12k the maximum frame rate has increased to 75fps from 60fps and at 4k we now have up to 240fps in BRAW format from 220fps on a Super 16mm crop of the sensor. We also get 8k at up to 160fps from a maximum before of 110fps which is improved by leveraging the fast pipeline in the camera and delivering usable frame rates with good multiples.

While the camera is not cheap at $9,995, it is certainly a bargain considering the resolution and frame rates you have access to in BRAW RAW-Like format.  It may be essentially the most powerful camera you can buy today for this price range and available with an F, EF, or PL mount the flexibility is there if needed.  Blackmagic Design are also the owners of DaVinci Resolve and usually bundled it with their cameras. It makes for a hard to beat all in one system for shooting, editing, and postproduction. Dig in for more details…

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12k – Full High Speed Frame Rates After Update:

12K 17:9 full sensor up to 60 fps
12K 2.4:1 up to 75 fps
8K DCI full sensor up to 120 fps
4K DCI full sensor up to 120 fps
8K 2.4:1 and 4K 2.4:1 up to 160 fps

6K Super 16 up to 120 fps
4K Super 16 up to 240 fps

Ursa Mini Pro 12K Unboxing & Footage by Epic Light Media: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Pocophone F1 will get 960fps Slow Motion Mode!

Pocophone F1 Slow Motion

The Pocophone F1 by Xiaomi is an ultra-budget phone about $289 USD on some places for the 64GB model which feels anything but cheap. It has a 4000mAh battery, 6GB of RAM, dual cameras and a Notch screen all powered by a Snapdragon 845.  Now the software updates will include a 960fps mode in 1080p for a very short rec time. Some initial tests put it at 25MB in size which might be about 0.2sec.

So you get a phone that also will shoot the 4k 60fps spec with the update but what about the video quality?  Actually, it is not that bad and quite competitive with some mid-range phones.  It will not be flagship quality like those $800 USD + phones but it will get the job done. When it comes to slow motion 120 and 240fps 1080p mode it does lower quality quite a bit which may be a preview of the quality that the 960fps mode will deliver.

Pocophone F1 Software update in February:

The =&0=& beta update was being pushed to testers in early December and the full update should be released in February with a focus on improving video features.

  • -960fps Slow Motion mode
  • -120 and 240fps Slow Motion
  • -4k 60fps video mode UHD
  • -Interface improvements
  • -Usability improvements
  • -Super Low Light Mode for Photo- 8 image stack for low light improvement!

The update should be pushed to Pocophone F1 owners by mid-February and be a seamless update.

Pocophone F1 slow motion video 240fps 1080p by babaroga73:

The Truth About the Pocophone F1! by Marques Brownlee: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

ASUS ZenFone 5Z Firmware Improves Slow Motion Quality!

ASUS ZenFone 5Z Firmware

The ASUS ZenFone 5Z (ZS620KL) Phone is a new addition to the company line but seems it was a little rushed in the camera department. IT has just started shipping to customers worldwide and there is already a firmware update. The phone is a flagship device with a starting price of $499 which is not bad at all considering it sports some of the best hardware features in Android land. With dual cameras, 6GB of RAM and the latest Snapdragon 845.

The 5Z Phone is a midrange slow motion performer with 120fps and 60fps 1080p recording and the super slow motion mode capping out at 720p 240fps.  The improvements in the new firmware improve the recording quality overall and codec bit-rate of the 240fps 720p mode. Since ASUS does not give out the particulars in the bit-rate department it is hard to say how much better it will be.

ZenFone 5Z Firmware Changes V80.11.37.95 f:

  • Enabled RAW file support
  • Enabled Panorama feature
  • Added on/off button for EIS
  • Enabled flash feature in Pro mode
  • Filters upgraded to Real-Time Filters
  • Improved HDR functionality
  • Improved camera stability
  • Improved auto exposure
  • Improved photo sharpness
  • Improved autofocus functionality
  • Improved slow-motion quality and file size (720p)
  • Increased audio quality in video to 192 kbps bitrate
  • Improved general video quality
  • Improved Wi-Fi stability
  • Other bug fixes

You can find the Firmware update at the ZenFone 5Z ASUS Support page here: https://www.asus.com/us/Phone/ZenFone-5Z-ZS620KL/HelpDesk_BIOS/

ZenFone 5Z Video Features and High Frame Rates:

  • UHD 4k 2160p @ 30fps
  • 1080p@60/120fps
  • 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)
  • 720p@240fps (Now with improved Codec Quality!

ZenFone 5Z Slow Motion Samples: Pre-Update!

ASUS ZenFone 5Z test video slo-mo 720p 240 by Наши Обзоры:

Asus Zenfone 5Z Slow Motion 240fps Video Test || Asus Zenfone 5Z Camera Portraid Mode Test by Mtrick Z: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Galaxy S9 480fps Software Update with Double Rec Time!

Galaxy S9 480fps Software Update

Both the Galaxy S9 and S9+ phones shipped with 720p 960fps slow motion capability but the recording was limited to 0.2 seconds which is just too short a time span.  This made it difficult to capture things in manual mode since the reaction time of your finger is about the same as the recording time making you miss moments.  Pre-record made it easier but still limited to just 6.4 seconds playback in regular 30fps video timelines.

The new S9 update allows for manual high-speed recording to be used in 480fps slow motion mode at 720p for now 0.4 seconds or twice the recording time.  This allows for easier capture of moments but in real time playback at 30fps it is the exact same playback time of 6.4 seconds.  Since only 192 frames are recorded in the 0.4 seconds same as in the 960fps mode of 0.2sec then the only thing you gain is double the time to capture the moment. It would have been ideal to get also double the playback time.  Memory buffer seems to be the limiting factor here!

Galaxy S9 Slow Motion Software Update July 2019:

The new S9 update has been pushed to unlocked devices first “India and South Korea So far” but will be available on all carriers and countries at some point soon.  The update improves, security, stability and camera features that feature AR like Emojis besides the slow-motion improvement.  It is of note that after the update you will not be able to downgrade the software to an earlier build unless you jailbreak the device which is not recommended.

One thing to keep in mind is that the manual slow motion feature of the phone will de-activate the option for 960fps in manual mode and only leave it available for the Automatic mode.  Manual will now be 480fps only which is something to consider if you want 960fps to still be available in manual mode.

S9 plus super slow-mo series Ep. 1 by I’m Random:

We would have loved to see the Galaxy S9’s 480fps mode to really double the playback time to 12.8 seconds at 30p instead of just recording the same short buffer of 192 frames which was already maxed out at 960fps.  The Phone on-chip DRAM buffer seems to be the limiting factor and why it’s capped.   The OnePlus 6 seems to be the leader in recording time with 3.75 seconds of recording which translates to 1,800frames or 60 seconds 1minute of real-time playback. When you look at the S9’s 6.4-second playback suddenly the phone doesn’t look that powerful.  We believe the OnePlus engineers are using the main Flash memory to record the buffer which allows for such a long rec time.  Samsung, in theory, would be able to do the same if needed.  We expect more phones to use the internal Flash memory of the phone to increase recording times in high frame rate video modes which may translate to real jumps in both resolution and recording times for smartphones.  -HSC

Finches flight in super slow motion on Samsung S9 by Daniel Pilcher: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

FUJIFILM X-T2 vs X-H1 Slow Motion Quality Comparison by CVP!

The FUJIFILM X-H1 which offers 120fps 1080p slow motion was a worthwhile effort to offer high frame rates that are usable to their video-centric base. It still was not as good as the Sony or Panasonic slow motion options due to aliasing, moire, and noise but with a little post work, it could be used with success in an edited piece.  FUJI then with a firmware update for their stills flagship the X-T2 allowed the camera to now shoot the same 120fps 1080p slow motion which makes sense considering they use the same sensor on both cameras.

The camera site CVP has done a full comparison review here which pits the X-H1 against the X-T2 to see which camera strengths are ahead on each body and if it makes sense for X-T2 owners who are invested in a FUJI lens system to upgrade.  Their findings are interesting and as far as slow motion it is clear that while they use most of the same imaging pipeline; the X-H1 has the edge with less crop, less aliasing, and better artifact suppression when using the 120fps slow motion mode.

FUJIFILM X-T2 vs X-H1 Slow Motion 120fps Video Test by CVP:

So out of the test, you can clearly see the X-H1 has an edge on quality for higher frame rate recording. Still however if you already own an X-T2 it would not make sense to upgrade to the X-H1 for this feature alone but you could make a case for all the extra video features like 4k, longer recording and better color profiles included in the package.

We do not consider the FUJI cameras to be class leading even at 120fps 1080p recording as Sony especially has a quality lead that is hard to approach and Panasonic is now offering up to 240fps in the GH5s which is still artifact prone.  The Panasonics do excellent slow motion up to 120fps and very good up to 180fps with quality with everything above that 180fps threshold having a heavy quality loss.

The FUJI X-H1 is a pretty remarkable video-centric mirrorless camera in its own right and offers the system owners a real alternative for video capture that can compete with the GH5 and a7 series in creating motion content. It may not be the best at anything video but that does not mean it can’t create wonderful imagery like the samples below -HSC :

120 frames of Snow Motion – Fujifilm X-H1 by Fenchel & Janisch:

XH1 1080P 100FPS Slo-Mo Test Footage by Cam Attree Photography: → Continue Reading Full Post ←