Tag Archives: upgrade

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 ←

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 ←

Mi 8 and Mi 8 Explorer Get 960fps Firmware Update!

Mi 8 and Mi 8 Explorer

Xiaomi is soon releasing a new Firmware Update:  ROM – MIUI V10.1.2.0.PEHCNFI – based on Android 9 Pie and available first in China now.  The 2.1 GB update will include two new features that will make these phones more competitive. Search online for the ROM – MIUI V10.1.2.0.PEHCNFI  and be sure to follow the instructions while updating your phone.

The first feature is the inclusion of a 960fps slow-motion mode which is a big increase from the 240fps max setting before. As with other Xiaomi releases of the past, the slow motion samples are very hard to find or non-existent and there is a huge likelihood that they will use image interpolation from that same 240p to yield the 960fps. In a previous article, we referenced this test that showed the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 using clear software interpolation to reach those frame rates.

Mi 8 and Mi 8 Explorer Feature Samples:

We found the following sample which could be real but we cannot corroborate its authenticity. If it is from the Mi 8 then it clearly shows interpolation in software being applied.

Xiaomi mi 8, cámara super lenta 960 fps by juan gutierrez:

The second feature is called: Super Night Scene which works by taking 8 different photos at very high speed and at different exposure values, then merges the result to create a better per pixel output that manages color and noise very well. This may be close to the Night mode on Google’s Pixel 3 Phone in how it does computational photography. Some were quick to call it a copy algorithm but we think this type of code needs quite a little bit of testing and time to do well. In our view, all phone vendors are using incremental camera computational algorithms to beat the hardware limitations in sophisticated software.

This comparison on Youtube shows the Xiaomi algorithm being close to what the Pixel 3 and Huawei Mate 20 X can achieve but really falling behind.

Pixel 3 XL vs Mate 20 X vs Mi Mix 3 – Night Mode Review! by Frankie Tech → 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 ←