EVA1: EVA1 8/3/17 Press Release and Specifications

[Barry_Green]

"In a future firmware update, 400Mbps recording will be added". Future? What?

They said that from the beginning. 400mbps all-I will be added in a firmware update. The initial shipment won't have that feature enabled. Same with RAW output -- it will be enabled in a future firmware update.

 

[Barry_Green]

Or just buy an external recorder.

The specs show that the SDI is a 6G-SDI port, offering 4K and UHD at 10-bit 4:2:2 up to 29.97 fps. The HDMI offers both 4K and UHD at 10-bit 4:2:2 up to 59.94 fps.

Raw is offered on the SDI at the full 5.7K frame size (5760 x 3072) at up to 29.97 fps, and in 4K at up to 59.94 fps.

 

[Barry_Green]

The IR and ND filters are electrically switchable, which means you should be able to remotely control them through the iPad app wirelessly.

 

[Barry_Green]

For high-speed shooting, the full sensor is used for up to 120 fps. When going up to 240 fps, it crops in to a 4/3-sized patch off the sensor. Notably, that 4/3 patch will still be a full (approx) 4096 x 2160 in size, so it's possible that the 2K/240 fps might look extremely good.

Mitch -- any word on how it will make that high-speed 2K? Scaling the 4K sensor pixels down to 2K? Or pixel-skipping?

 

[Barry_Green]

Oh, and 24-bit audio, in case anyone missed it.

 

[Barry_Green]

Phantom power by physical switch or menu?

The spec sheet says that LINE/MIC/+48V is menu-switchable.

Headphone connection?

3.5mm stereo mini headphone jack.

 

[peter917]

What recorder is needed to get the full 5k 10bit raw? Noticed the Inferno only does 4k make resolution from what I read. Also any idea on how long or estimate on when these features will be updated? Until they are this camera is basically just a GH5..

 

[robfilms]

impressive!

(though i wish it did employ a m43 mount so the entire gh5/m43 lens eco system could be used in combo with eva)

be well.

rob
smalltalk.productions

 

[Barry_Green]

3) LCD is 3.5" rather than the 3.2" of the GH5. Does this mean it is a different screen than the GH5 counter to what Nela previously stated?
4) EIS is still not given much description. Can you confirm that this performs better than software "warp stabilizers" that editors use but that are thwarted by foreground elements intersecting with background elements?

On 3), it's definitely not the same screen. The GH5 is listed as 3.2" and 1,620k dots, the EVA1 is listed as 3.5" and 1,150k dots.

On 4), I don't know any details on the EIS, but do remember that EIS has been a staple of home videocameras and cell phone cameras since forever. There's no warping or manipulation of foreground/background elements; it just uses the additional pixels around the image to make a larger canvas from which to extract the video frame. The EVA1 has a 6340 x 3232 pixel sensor, from which it uses 5760 x 3016 to make its video, so it's possible that it's imaging the entire sensor and then extracting a 5760 x 3016 image out of it and that it can choose which section to extract based on its stabilization calculations.

 

[Barry_Green]

Until they are this camera is basically just a GH5..

That's a really silly statement. A GH5 doesn't have a Super35 sensor with 14 stops of dynamic range and full VLOG and V-Gamut, or XLR inputs, or a host of other features.

It looks like this camera and the GH5 only share the recording formats; everything else appears to be different (and better) on the EVA1. Which you'd expect, for the price difference.

 

[Mitch Gross]

So no continuous auto-focus, how it will work with Canon lenses when you switch on the lens autofocus? It will not focus on nothing? I hope that Mitch will clarify this issue, I've hoped that it could work similar to C200 in the same price class, but not the same of course...

There is a One-Touch on demand Autofocus.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Are those 14 stops measured the same way as the Varicam? Just checking because of how Canon and Red come up with their numbers!

Yes, the work was done by the same team in Japan that did the VariCams. Generally our measure is considered conservative compared to the way others measure theirs. Somewhere I have a photo I snapped while in Japan, showing the waveform measuring what was clearly more than 14 stops. When I find it I'll post it.

 

[delete]

Just confirmed that the EVA1 is available on the 0% 12 Month Lease Financing Promo:

Panasonic AU-EVA1 Camera Body $7345

ETA October 2017

AG-VBR59G 5900mAh Battery $195
AG-VBR89G 8850 mAh Battery $295
AG-VBR118G 11,800 mAh Battery $355
AG-BRD50 Dual Battery Charger $230
AG-MC200G Microphone $466

 

[Mitch Gross]

Is the 2k/120fps scaled or cropped?

2K up to 120p uses the full field of view of the Super-35 sensor. Up to 240p it crops slightly to the 4/3 image area, but the sampling always comes from a far greater resolution to yield a very clean image. Part of the beauty of 5.7K.

 

[Barry_Green]

There is a One-Touch on demand Autofocus.

If this works the same way as on the HVX/HPX/AC/UX cameras, then it will be one button press to trigger autofocus that then "locks in" and returns to manual focus. However, on all those other Panasonic handhelds, holding the button in results in autofocus continuously operating until you release the button. That would be an inconvenient, but technically possible, way to get continuous autofocus. Obviously it remains to be seen whether the EVA1 operates that same way, or if it is strictly one-touch.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Mitch, thanks for making yourself available.

1) How is the "expand" function on the touch screen operated? Is there any way to trigger it with a hand still on the focus ring? e.g. from the hand grip on the right? From there is it possible to move the center point around without the touch screen?
2) What are the codecs exactly? EDIT: Found it.View attachment 125566
3) LCD is 3.5" rather than the 3.2" of the GH5. Does this mean it is a different screen than the GH5 counter to what Nela previously stated?
4) EIS is still not given much description. Can you confirm that this performs better than software "warp stabilizers" that editors use but that are thwarted by foreground elements intersecting with background elements?

1 - Expand function can be controlled via the handgrip so you don't have to use the touchscreen.
2 - Answered.
3 - Not sure about the LCD 3.5 v 3.2. I'll have to ask Japan.
4 - I don't have enough data on the EIS system to comment.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Is this going to cut into Varicam LT sales? Seems to check off a lot of boxes. Should certainly pull in a lot of Canon C buyers as the feature set is pretty impressive.

Will it fit a 15mm LWS rail system and meet the 85mm center of rod to center of lens spec.? Looks like it should since the lens mount is pretty low, but worth asking.

Phantom power by physical switch or menu?

Headphone connection?

A little shoulder rig with a remote control handle would be a decent accessory. Would need a real eyepiece style viewfinder but I'm guessing you are leaving that to third parties with the hdmi and sdi outputs being configurable (as mentioned in the press release).

VariCam LT sales:
They are both highly capable cameras and the VLT can do a lot that EVA1 can't. We didn't cripple EVA1, it just would have made it a far more expensive camera to cram more into it. That's why we have different models. Yesterday we confirmed a major sale of a pile of VariCam LT cameras to an important client. These cameras will continue to work on a highly professional level. There is room for all products as long as they offer great functionality.

15mm LWS:
Yes, there is room and we have been working with a number of 3rd party manufacturers to accessorize the EVA1.

Phantom power:
This control is available in the menus.

Headphone connection:
Yes, on the back right above the SDI port.

Viewfinder:
3rd Party viewfinders can be supported via the configurable SDI or HDMI outputs.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Def...I think Panasonic came pretty close to blowing it. These specs make the C200 much less appealing (sorry) and if that camera was shipping full-blast, I think they would have lots of missed opportunities. Still, a lot of Canon preorders might not be easily cancelable at some places, so this information should have really been released in the beginning.

What do I know though, I don't care, ha...both cameras will fly off the shelves.

There is madness to our methods.

 

[hudbl]

Thanks Mitch. I guess there must be a firmware update coming for the LT to do the scaled slow mo otherwise I see little point in that camera any more.

 

[Mitch Gross]

will it power power-zoom lenses like the canon cn-e 18-80mm ?

will the 5.7k RAW / 400 mbps firmware update be free?

how much will it cost in europe?

Zoom power:
Yes, this is the intent.

Update cost:
AFAIK there is no charge. That's not official. I just have not heard otherwise.

EU pricing:
Look around on EU sites. It's being posted all over.