Tag Archives: upgrade

Jvc LS300 Firmware 4.0 Outputs 4k 60p!

Jvc LS300 Firmware 4.0

The JVC GY-LS300 camera had a firmware update last year that permitted the camera to shoot at 120fps full HD. Now the company is releasing a new update that adds the capability of recording of 4:2:2 (8-bit) 4K @ 24/25/30p video to internal storage. The camera previously only recorded at 4:2:0 color space.  Not only that, the camera now can output to the Ninja Inferno external recorder a 4k UHD stream at 50p or 60p for 4k slow motion goodness.

The Version 4.0 firmware upgrade is free of charge for all current GY-LS300 owners and will be available in late May.  This camera seems to continue to be supported by JVC due to its popularity and seems, for now, to be their best bet to offer a camera that competes with the Sony FS5 or Panasonic DVX 200 for example with a low price of around $2600 USD. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Chronos 1.4 Passes FCC & CE Certification!

Chronos 1.4

The Chronos Kickstarter high-speed camera project is getting a big step closer to shipping units with the passing of the FCC & CE emissions certification. It means the camera is working under the guidelines for electromagnetic interference from the device. FCC will be the Federal Communications Commission in the USA and CE for the European Union EMC and Safety.

This is no small feat as many projects can get delayed severely by this testing.  On other notes from the update, the LCD touch panels for the camera are already ready to ship by the suppliers on May 2nd which means the cameras can be now fully assembled and shipped to early bird backers of the project and a little later to batch #2. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Panasonic GH5 Firmware 1.1 Allows 10 Bit 60p 1080!

Panasonic GH5 Firmware 1.1

The Panasonic GH5 ushered the era of 10-bit video recording on a portable prosumer interchangeable lens camera for the first time. Panasonic promised some features which at launch would not make the cut but would be added when firmware was released that would improve the spec sheet.  The new 1.1 version of the Firmware will enable 10bit recording on 1080p 24p, 25p, 29.98, 29.97p, 59.94p & 50p all at 100 Mbps.

While the camera offered 10 Bit recording at 4k from the get go it was not available above 29.97fps which left the 60fps 4k mode out in the cold for the increased color space. The update and all subsequent ones will also do not allow 10 Bit to be used above 30p in 4k so the 60fps UHD spec will remain at 4:2:0 8 Bit color. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

NAB 2017 Sony & Panasonic Firmware Slowmo Updates!

NAB 2017 Sony

There has been a lack of big camera announcements at NAB 2017, with more and more saturation and less camera replacement by TV studios and Filmmakers there is talk of good enough gear already purchased for 4k and 2k/1080p production.  The Alexa, RED, Sony F55 and Varicam LT cameras released in the last few years already exceeds most delivery methods in quality and completely obliterates the compressed cable delivery streams for hove TVs.

However manufacturers like Sony & Panasonic have released information about new firmware updates that will improve high frame rate recording on some of their cameras as free updates. This in turn makes for a practical camera line refresh that gives more longevity to the existing hardware while permitting more high speed latitude to current owners. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Chronos 1.4 Production Update 3!

Chronos 1.4

The Chronos 1.4 Kickstarter Project is advancing forward with FCC and CE approval which is crucial for shipment. Also the battery shipment issue seems to have been sorted out which could have halted delivery. Li-Ion batteries have special shipment requirements that make it hard for such electronics to travel by air for example or in tightly packed containers.  No details on the fix are specified.

There has been a setback however and that has to do with the LCD panels having a quality control issue. So the supplier will take 4 weeks extra to ship them. So all backers will have their camera deliveries pushed back by 3 weeks. The first week has already passed.  Other than that it seems to be ready for mass production. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

GH5 Slow Motion New Quality Footage!

GH5 Slow Motion

The Panasonic GH5 has been the camera darling of early 2017 for video enthusiasts and the addition of 120fps, 150fps and 180fps full HD was one of the most awaited features for the camera. Earlier footage showed a decrease in image quality when using higher frame rates on the camera and the appearance of moire and aliasing was evident. It was still far better than what the GH4s 96fps mode was able to do.

Recent new footage has re-examined the slow motion VFR mode and while there is a drop in quality the 180fps mode is still usable for many applications due to it retaining a lot of detail compared to other cameras.  The image is loosing quite a lot of resolution in the vertical so it will not be true full HD when you compare with the up to 60fps mode. → Continue Reading Full Post ←