EVA1: Panasonic AU-EVA1! Announcement and latest updates

[filmguy123]

More ridiculous questions for Mitch he won’t/can’t answer. Wee!

Anyway, I’d much prefer a camera that likes to be sharp because sharp can be made soft. Soft can’t be made sharp...not very well, anyway. That’s why I use filters in a mattebox in front of my lenses: to dull the edge and make the light dance a bit more for me. Pantyhose? Absolutely. Let them make the image sharp. Let the cadence at 24.00 fps be as analog-looking as possible. EVA1 is looking mightier by the minute.

Given that image look is a preferential thing, it's amusing to me that asking a rep if that camera, outside of noise, meets their intended imaging goals could be seen as a ridiculous question that someone couldn't answer. It's a fair answer either way, don't you think?

Anyway, I’d much prefer a camera that likes to be sharp because sharp can be made soft. Soft can’t be made sharp...not very well, anyway.

yeah... agreed, partially...

here's another thought: so many of us here (self included) are hungry for that more organic cinema look and have reservations about the somewhat overly clinical, digital look. Psychologists have shown that we all "prefer what we are used to." Modern filmmakers are pushing the envelope here. Perhaps culture is already shifting. Hyper crisp clear imagery may be all the rage in the coming years, which could give the EVA-1 a very definitive edge. Also, while it is *not* the same as an out-of-camera more organic looking image (so many variables contribute to that), it is worth noting that softening an overly sharp image is much easier than trying to make it sharper.

Only thing with diffusers is they have affect on other areas of the image as well, which may not be desirable. Radio 88 does have a significantly "better" (subjectively to me) look than the others, but it also exhibits excess highlight blooming and perhaps a little too much softness. There are also post options to introduce some subtle softening as an option too.
However, no solution outside of the raw sensor capture will be perfect - they all introduce some level of compromise. There are certain looks that may be able to be closely imitated, but not truly replicated. The initial footage I have seen so far has a very different feel to it than the LT footage I have seen, and I am not sure how close that can be approximated with extra-camera solutions - but again, it is too early to really tell.

Not suggesting the sharp issue hasn't been beat to death, but I think my questions are very reasonable and would like to see them answered. They are relevant, and fair, despite the existence of pantyhose.

 

[Fahnon]

Just take a 25-30 pound dumbbell put it on your shoulder and walk around with it for 15 minutes that usually cures the urge.

God, not to mention the lenses. Don't think I've ever seen anyone throw a regular old Sigma 18-35 on an Alexa Classic...

I considered an Alexa because I see them going for well under $10k, and I can't think of a piece of gear more aspirational than an Arri Alexa. But it's meant for full productions...

 

[Run&Gun]

Just take a 25-30 pound dumbbell put it on your shoulder and walk around with it for 15 minutes that usually cures the urge.

Pretty much what my VariCam weighs. But I betcha I can keep it on my shoulder longer than you can hold an EVA1 out in front of you... ; )

 

[icarusfilm]

Totally, holding a camera in front of you is total bulls*%t. My FS7 Shoulder mounted set up is by no means light, it has the necessary heft for handheld shooting I can easily swap out the fs7 with the EVA1. It will still weigh much less than an Alexa. I shot a series once on a Panasonic HDX900 all handheld and I don't need to do that ever again.

Pretty much what my VariCam weighs. But I betcha I can keep it on my shoulder longer than you can hold an EVA1 out in front of you... ; )

 

[Sttratos]

Pretty much what my VariCam weighs. But I betcha I can keep it on my shoulder longer than you can hold an EVA1 out in front of you... ; )

Yep. Much prefer the weight of the Alexa on my shoulder than the cumbersomeness which was trying to shoot with the FS7 on my shoulder. Not to mention all the rigging that had to be done before I could even do that. Alexa? Straight from the case to the shoulder and stays there comfortably too.

 

[Sttratos]

Absolutely, it does not. But I’m saying I’d rather have a camera that can shoot sharp, and I know EVA1 also has deep control over the settings so a pleasing, organic image can be had...but you also need filters, the appropriate lighting, etc, etc. No, filters don’t fix everything...and the camera is only a tiny piece of the filmmaking puzzle.

I think you are now talking about a slightly different thing. My reply was to your comment:

Anyway, I’d much prefer a camera that likes to be sharp because sharp can be made soft. Soft can’t be made sharp...

To that I say a sharp camera can be made soft. But soft is not the same as organic. Soft is soft. So soft from a sharp camera is no better than making soft sharper. Both look just meh.

I don't think anybody can say a pleasing, organic image can be had from the EVA1 at this point. Nobody knows yet. None of the footage so far has been. Putting a diffusion filter in front of the lens won't turn them pleasing and organic. Too early to say IMO. We will have to wait for pleasing and organic footage before we know for sure. So far it's looking like any other camera in the price range. No better than a FS5, C200, FS7 etc in being organic.

 

[Sttratos]

Have seen several used Alexa's w the high speed license recently for just a few bucks more than an EVA 1, if you were serious about getting that look. Of course, accessories cost a fortune and if the camera breaks or needs an update, Arri charges a lot for anything. But for now, the older Alexa's are a bargain since they aren't Minis, Amiras or SXTs. Old school Alexas are also huge and heavy in comparison to the EVA 1.

Yep. Having an Alexa is not cheap even if the camera now is cheaper. If coming from something small like FS7 just a good set of sticks and head will cost around as much as a FS7. Then if you have only emount glass PL glass will be the price of another FS7 for some cheap PL lenses. Then the rest will be as expensive. But the image is so worth it.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Mitch,

What specifically other than 2500 ISO and noise are the engineers working on and targeting as primary goals for IQ?

What are Panasonic's thoughts on the image aesthetic looking too sharp or not organic enough? Do they agree, or disagree?

Yeah, not really gonna answer the first one. As to the second one, well, they disagree.

The EVA1 image is not "too sharp". It is high resolving, but there is no sharpening going on. There is a difference. That would be like saying that 65mm or IMAX is "too sharp". Or that steak is too delicious.

The EVA1 out-resolves other 4K cameras. It can clearly define 2000 lp (line pairs). That's because it starts at 5.7K to derive that 4K. That's akin to Alexa starting at 2.8K to achieve proper 2K. High MTF makes for a detailed, rich image. And yes, you can always use diffusion, optics or other controls to lower resolving power.

 

[Mitch Gross]

If this was true Cooke would not sell a single lens over Zeiss and the other clinical glass. You can soften the FS7 for example as much as you want. You can soften it till it's less sharp than VHS. It will still not look as creamy as the Alexa. Believe me I tried. Tried hard till the point I noticed it was not being good for my hair health anymore. Then I saw the truth.

There is a lot more to the look of a lens than its resolving power.

 

[Mitch Gross]

I don't think anybody can say a pleasing, organic image can be had from the EVA1 at this point. Nobody knows yet. None of the footage so far has been. Putting a diffusion filter in front of the lens won't turn them pleasing and organic. Too early to say IMO. We will have to wait for pleasing and organic footage before we know for sure. So far it's looking like any other camera in the price range. No better than a FS5, C200, FS7 etc in being organic.

I must disagree. I'd like to hear the opinion of those in attendance tonight at the Austin EVA1 Roadshow stop. Projected in 4K on a big screen, I thought the films looked terrific and organic, whatever the hell that means.

 

[yoclay]

I must disagree. I'd like to hear the opinion of those in attendance tonight at the Austin EVA1 Roadshow stop. Projected in 4K on a big screen, I thought the films looked terrific and organic, whatever the hell that means.

Terrific and organic.

(Mitch looks pretty good in this shot too.)

 

[Stephen Mick]

I was in the audience tonight at the event, and Mitch is spot-on. The films looked amazing on the big screen. Not for a moment did I think any of the footage looked out of place on a cinema screen. How good was it? Well…I'm planning to talk to TMS about swapping my current camera for the EVA1.

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

I was in the audience tonight at the event, and Mitch is spot-on. The films looked amazing on the big screen. Not for a moment did I think any of the footage looked out of place on a cinema screen. How good was it? Well…I'm planning to talk to TMS about swapping my current camera for the EVA1.

That says all I need to know.

 

[Zak Forsman]

I was in the audience tonight at the event, and Mitch is spot-on. The films looked amazing on the big screen. Not for a moment did I think any of the footage looked out of place on a cinema screen. How good was it? Well…I'm planning to talk to TMS about swapping my current camera for the EVA1.

that's great to hear. I spoke to a rep at B&H this morning and learned my pre-order is first in the queue. I *did* place the pre-order just as it was unveiled at CineGear but was surprised I was number one. Getting HYPED!!!

 

[J.Brown]

There's no shortage of great cameras these days so I see little excitement to be had from new ones unless there's some breakthrough functions and quality within.

 

[NorBro]

I agree. The C200 is capable of some really beautiful images based on some recent samples, and I'm sure the EVA1 is too (it looks nice), but I don't think both are worth the $7500 for me personally.

I know that may sound greedy, but in my opinion you just simply aren't paying for major improvements in video quality with these cameras over any existing tech, especially with the very competitive options like the GH5 and 4K URSA Mini (not 4.6K).

$2K, $3K and absolutely loaded with features.

I have always sacrificed ergonomics/usability, audio, I/O, pretty much anything for pure image quality so my thought process is also a bit different.

 

[Zak Forsman]

sorry, fellas. the EVA1 checks many more boxes for me than anything in its class. easily worth $7500 to me. can't wait to put this sucker to work.

 

[NorBro]

Zak, Blackmagic's going to miss you!!! haha

 

[Zak Forsman]

haha! yeah.... well... I'm not necessarily selling any of my other cameras.

 

[scottfs]

know for sure.

Lastly, I also think that if the EVA doesn't sell well, we won't see another camera like this from Panasonic again.

Ha ha. Not so. Will Panasonic leave a great market segment? Impossible. Companies misfire all of the time. They lick their chops and come back with an improved product. Panasonic sells a lot of stuff. It's a big company with lots of resources. They sell a ton of GH-line cameras.

Why would they just quit a huge segment of the market, forever? The people who buy the EVA are owner-operators. They don't buy C700s or Alexas. They rent those. Hence, there are far fewer $30,000+ cameras sold.

Panasonic is a full-line camera company, everything from a point-and-shoot to the VariCam. There is absolutely no reason to have a huge gap in their offerings between the GH5 and the VariCam LT.

You, Mitch and others may claim Panasonic makes cameras with no thought to the marketplace. It's a nice conceit, but if Panasonic ran their business solely by making cameras regardless of what the consumer will buy, they would be out of business very quickly. I guarantee you that the big boys at Panasonic gave the green light to the EVA-1 with a damned good idea the camera will make them money.

For the record, Panasonic's marketing strategy was brilliant. Just look at the posts on this forum. Closing in on 300 pages of posts before the camera has sold one unit. You want proof? Go back 50 years and study Ford's marketing of the 1965 Mustang. It led to the best-selling car up to that point. Sell the sizzle...