New Cinema Camera this fall?

J

Joshua Smith

New member
Did anyone hear anything about an update Varicam LT or EVA1 this fall 2020? I have been a Panasonic shooter since the GH2 and Af100. Currently using the S1H and a couple of GH5s for our company. I'm ready to purchase a cinema camera but would really like an updated Panasonic inline with the competition's new cameras. I've invested in L mount glass so I really hope that is an option. Otherwise, the new canon C series cameras look great but I would rather buy a new Panasonic. I currently don't own any EF lenses so the LT or EVA1 is less enticing. Of course, I would love a full-frame sensor to match the S1H. Owning an S1H with an L mount cinema camera would be a perfect kit for me. Both stills and video.

To be honest, the image quality of the S1H is amazing and I love the form factor but we have clients that want a true cinema camera on set and will pay for it so it makes sense to buy something in the $10-20K range.
 
The Varicam LT and EVA1 have a different image from the S1 and S1H, it doesn't quite intercut and imo the Varicam image is better. But it's also more saturated and maybe a bit more "video."

I own an EVA1 and often think the next step for me is a 4:3 Alexa. I considered the S1H briefly, but it wasn't right for me. Very impressive camera, though.

A full frame EVA1-style camera would be pretty awesome. But how expensive? F9 level price? I dunno. I'd hope it maintained the same look the EVA1 and Varicam have and the built-in NDs and XLRs, I do like the color a bit more from them, but it's a matter of preference.
 
I shot with an Alexa for the first time in a while today, and it is so nice.
 
Panasonic might be more interested in the streaming hardware/software than in cinema cameras, where ARRI goes (mostly) unchallenged in the high end, while Canon and Sony have been waging battle in the more affordable portion of the market. That used to be once known as "consumer/prosumer" territory but now is good enough to shoot features on.

Panasonic hasn't even updated GH-5 in three and a half years, choosing the S1/S1H route instead. And, with S1 retailing for $2,000, how much room is there for an $1,800 GH-6? At 1.5X pricing structure, it'd have to be released at $1,300 and, given the Olympus MFT struggles, Panasonic might see the inevitable end of the low-mid tier opportunities and just call it a day.
 
DLD said:
Panasonic hasn't even updated GH-5 in three and a half years, choosing the S1/S1H route instead.
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I don't think the S1 cameras were ever meant to be a replacement for the GH5 cameras, so I'm expecting a GH6 to show up once Panasonic has the tech to back it up. Good C-AF is what I'm hoping to see in a GH6 along with better dynamic range.

DLD said:
And, with S1 retailing for $2,000, how much room is there for an $1,800 GH-6?
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The GH5 can do a fair bit more than the S1 can, so I don't see a new GH6 selling for less than the S1 currently does. The GH6 is meant for folks who have invested in MFT cameras and glass, though I'm hoping the GH6 picks up some of the S1H features. ( I don't expect the same DR or low-light as the S1, but I expect a step up from the GH5 )
 
I agree that MFT has certain advantages and a number of invested customers. I think Olympus failed to carve out the video niche that Panasonic did. I dont think the discontinuation of the GH line is a foregone conclusion

I also dont think Panasonic will deliver good autofocus...
 
ahalpert said:
I agree that MFT has certain advantages and a number of invested customers. I think Olympus failed to carve out the video niche that Panasonic did. I dont think the discontinuation of the GH line is a foregone conclusion

I also dont think Panasonic will deliver good autofocus...
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The only thing that stops Olympus from being a much more competitive player is their lack of codec. In most other camera features they are right up there. Aside from higher resolution and the sensor size, they do as much if not more than the R5 for example, but in many ways are faster / better / cheaper / smaller.

JB
 
I just checked out the em1 mk3 again. Nice job with the Watchers JB - looked beautiful. And it's cool how olympus produced a short film to show the camera off (like Fuji)

Yes the codecs must be why I overlooked it. 8-bit even thru HDMI out. 102Mbps internal 4K. Or 237Mbps internal but only in 4KDCI and only true 24.00p - a bit of an odd bird

But incidentally it has both phase detect and contrast detect autofocus points (ie hybrid)
 
MFT has such big advantages in the fast and long compact zoom lenses. Will see if they can design such lenses for s35 short flange cameras, like RF. But we have yet to see anything for e mount that proves they can make anything as compact as they can for MFT.

Some of the more organic looking stuff i’ve see is the DZO cine zooms on the BMPCC4K. But Panasonic has some clean sharp and fast compact zooms too. I bad hope MFT would have allowed for some compelling take over for s16 or 2/3”, yet digital has yet to really settle in on formats.
 
ahalpert said:
But incidentally it has both phase detect and contrast detect autofocus points (ie hybrid)
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Yes, and face detection and tracking, object detection and tracking..pro capture is cool too (a buffer for stills so you can take a bunch of photos from BEFORE you push the button)

60 FPS RAW stills...

JB
 
TheDingo said:
I don't think the S1 cameras were ever meant to be a replacement for the GH5 cameras, so I'm expecting a GH6 to show up once Panasonic has the tech to back it up...
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It's very, very unlikely to have two cameras from the same company at the same price point. Moreover, Sony has APS-C cameras with a great AF for under $1,000 and Fuji is selling a 4K 10-bit APS-C XT 3 for $1,000. The only room for MFT is below them. Sure, some people will buy some upscale MFT cameras but this is a mass merchandising industry. If you can't move a million or so units, you should exit the game.

PS. The whole photo-video industry is being pummeled by smartphones and the diminishing effects of the ever improving technology. Without even counting the BMD Pockets and the Z Cams, the new Canon RF mount models make the high end hybrids superfluous for video. And, for the stills, the new Sony full frame E-mount and EOS RP will delivers specs for $1,000.

And the 2020-2021 totals units sold are expected to be down 50% (Nikon estimate) on top of that.
 
DLD said:
Moreover, Sony has APS-C cameras with a great AF for under $1,000 and Fuji is selling a 4K 10-bit APS-C XT 3 for $1,000. The only room for MFT is below them. Sure, some people will buy some upscale MFT cameras but this is a mass merchandising industry. If you can't move a million or so units, you should exit the game.
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This is why Panasonic has their premium GH5 MFT line and their much cheaper MFT line. So the GHx upscale cameras remain, and the much cheaper MFT line fits into the lower target price range. ( and for FWIW Fuji still doesn't make a mirrorless camera with unlimited shooting time, something I still rely on for live and corporate event shooting )
 
James0b57 said:
MFT has such big advantages in the fast and long compact zoom lenses. Will see if they can design such lenses for s35 short flange cameras, like RF. But we have yet to see anything for e mount that proves they can make anything as compact as they can for MFT.
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What lenses do you have in mind?

Or do you simply mean the "scale factor", where a smaller sensor allows for the the whole system, especially lenses, to be scaled down in terms of S35/35mm equivalence?
 
Seriously, I hope they don’t wait around on updating the EVA1. This is what always happens to Panasonic - outclassed shortly after a release, and then silence. An EVA2 that fixed all the mistakes on the first and packed full of power could go a long away right now for halo effect, so would reducing S1H price to $3500.
 
Adam Fiori said:
I began down the Panasonic camera path with GH4, then GH5 and now have a VariCam LT, the VariCam LT is a breeze to work with and the image is spectacular right out of the gate; skin tones are wonderful and the color science tracks closely with Arri.
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If you mix the Panasonic 709 LUT in at about 70% on top of the Vlog you get a great look.
 
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