EVA1: Panasonic AU-EVA1! Announcement and latest updates

[Mitch Gross]

How do we know the color science on the GH5 is very easily matched to the Varicam cameras? Who has tested this? Anything on YouTube or Vimeo? How do we know the GH5 will easily be matched to the EVA1? My only experience was trying to cut the GH4 with a 2700 Varicam and the two cameras wouldn't have been farther apart in color science.

Well, you could ask someone from Panasonic.

Oh wait, someone did. Utilizing V-Log, it is possible to match the cameras. The image is not the same coming from both cameras; if it was then why would anyone bother with one over the other? But the EVA1 can be limited so that it is made to match to the GH5.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Mitch- Will the SDI and HDMI both be active at the same time? Something that has bugged me (lack of) using the FS5.

David

I am told yes, both can be active at once. Also, both have the capability of 4K output.

 

[colepat]

Been following this thread since the beginning, but wasn't approved to post until now.

Mitch and the guys at Panasonic;
Thanks for working hard to create a product that I fully believe a lot of us are going to end up loving. Ticks almost all my boxes, but waiting to see some real life footage and of course- the price tag.

With Sony trying real hard to get some people with the $1,000 mail in rebate on the FS5 it is really tempting to go with them (especially to match my current Sony family), but I'm gonna wait it out for as long as I can. Looking forward to more specs/info to be released!!

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

Panasonic should at least include a loupe. Size, weight, features and ergonomics look good for "classic verite" style documentary shooting. Cinema designation or not, I'll bet the EVA-1 will be used hand held/shoulder supported as much as on a tripod. Does Panasonic really expect potential buyers to shell out an additional $1,500-$2,000 for an EVF that should have been included in the package?

Very disappointing (to say the least) marketing decision. Deal breaker for me...2k buys some nice EF lenses.

If you listen to the Erik Naso interview you'll hear Mitch say that they asked quite a few people who shoot and a large majority said that they don't end up using the evf.

 

[indiawilds]

If you listen to the Erik Naso interview you'll hear Mitch say that they asked quite a few people who shoot and a large majority said that they don't end up using the evf.

I use LCD a lot, how ever in documentary situations in crowded places I stick to the EVF all the time. In low light situations, or when stealing shots in no go areas I only use EVF. Several times, I find people using their mobiles to record video from my LCD. So, no EVF in a camera means, it is crippled for many situations - no go in many doc situations.

PS: That red plastic lining at top and bottom of the camera is way too ugly.

 

[vanvideo]

Zacuto will likely have a loupe available when EVA ships, but Panasonic should design the LCD's support bracket so it's strong enough to handle the additional weight.

Yeah, for like $500 or so. Hence my wish to have Panny develop their own. I wonder if Hoodman can come up with one? Or anybody, for less than half a grand.

 

[Thomas Smet]

How do we know the color science on the GH5 is very easily matched to the Varicam cameras? Who has tested this? Anything on YouTube or Vimeo? How do we know the GH5 will easily be matched to the EVA1? My only experience was trying to cut the GH4 with a 2700 Varicam and the two cameras wouldn't have been farther apart in color science.

The 2700 also used 3 CCD 2/3" 1280x720 sensors with pixel shifting so just about as opposite of a GH4 as you could possibly get even if they are made by the same manufacturer. Darn good camera but that sensor is such a complete opposite to the sensor in the GH4. I would not try to match those two cameras to save my life. About the only thing they have in common is the money from the sales of both camera went to Panasonic. Thats pretty much where the similarities end.

 

[Thomas Smet]

Yeah, for like $500 or so. Hence my wish to have Panny develop their own. I wonder if Hoodman can come up with one? Or anybody, for less than half a grand.

I'm sure there will be a lot of affordable loupe options. Give it time. I'm glad Panasonic ditched the EVF to keep cost down or we might be looking at a under $9,000 camera right now.

At this level of production I tend to find people don't mind spending the extra money on a loupe or even external monitor if it helps them.

How big is that LCD on the EVA1? Have we heard yet? Mitch can you tell us the physical size of the LCD or is that a protected spec right now? Not the resolution, just the physical dimensions. There might already be loupes out there that will work perfectly fine.

GRID makes a 5" loupe for the Atomos Ninja Blade and other cameras with a 5" screen and is under $200. They even have a hood for an extra $50 so you can swap between a magnified loupe or hood as needed. I don't know if that will fit since we don't know the size of the LCD yet. I'm pretty sure DSLR loupes will be too small to fit the LCD on the EVA1.

 

[fboonzaier]

The 2700 also used 3 CCD 2/3" 1280x720 sensors with pixel shifting so just about as opposite of a GH4 as you could possibly get even if they are made by the same manufacturer. Darn good camera but that sensor is such a complete opposite to the sensor in the GH4. I would not try to match those two cameras to save my life. About the only thing they have in common is the money from the sales of both camera went to Panasonic. Thats pretty much where the similarities end.

Yes...years ago I made a dance film for my wife's company...shot on an HVX200 and 2 hacked GH2's...almost impossible to "match" the cameras afterwards, but she was very happy...both cameras produced lovely footage in their own way...they just did not match in a way, that I would use them together in paid work.

 

[Gweilo66]

"why make them invest in new batteries and chargers?"
Heh..well..we all know one reason.
But I like the way you think

 

[Mitch Gross]

I'm sure there will be a lot of affordable loupe options. Give it time. I'm glad Panasonic ditched the EVF to keep cost down or we might be looking at a under $9,000 camera right now.

At this level of production I tend to find people don't mind spending the extra money on a loupe or even external monitor if it helps them.

How big is that LCD on the EVA1? Have we heard yet? Mitch can you tell us the physical size of the LCD or is that a protected spec right now? Not the resolution, just the physical dimensions. There might already be loupes out there that will work perfectly fine.

GRID makes a 5" loupe for the Atomos Ninja Blade and other cameras with a 5" screen and is under $200. They even have a hood for an extra $50 so you can swap between a magnified loupe or hood as needed. I don't know if that will fit since we don't know the size of the LCD yet. I'm pretty sure DSLR loupes will be too small to fit the LCD on the EVA1.

Good question and I'll need to check. I think it was in the 3-4 inch range. When I showed it to Zacuto briefly they commented that they thought they had something already that should fit, but we'll be working with various manufacturers directly for such support.

 

[Alpha Beta Omega]

No EVF is better than a really bad one so if it's excluded to shave a cost corner that's good. But a simple viewfinder loupe for the LCD is inexpensive, useful even indispensable sometimes and should be included. A camera should work in practical ways right out of the box.

 

[Gweilo66]

Well..seems odd to feel the need to work with (spending internal resources in process) 3rd parties on something like this instead of just providing one..as an "option", if need be.

 

[Bern Caughey]

Yeah, for like $500 or so. Hence my wish to have Panny develop their own. I wonder if Hoodman can come up with one? Or anybody, for less than half a grand.

Understand the desire for Panasonic to provide a Loupe, but it will add to the cost of the camera.

I replaced the stock Loupe on my FS7 as soon as Zacuto's became available, & it was well worth the price. Went on to add a Gratical EYE when they got released, but held onto Zacuto's Loupe as backup.

 

[Paul F]

Well..seems odd to feel the need to work with (spending internal resources in process) 3rd parties on something like this instead of just providing one..as an "option", if need be.

Third party solutions can often be a good way to go. Having made a decision to have the EVF be a third party solution allows them to have multiple solutions that meet multiple needs. If they had placed a small EVF at the back of the camera, some small percentage of people would use it and the rest would either complain about it or pay for something they didn't need; a waste. If they made a high quality, custom shoulder-mount detachable EVF, it would have been even more expensive than third party EVFs, because it would be a much lower production run; a waste of time and resources.

Having 3rd parties provide solutions allows Panasonic to have multiple solutions that are optimized for each application rather than have one solution that meets the needs of a small percentage of people.

 

[Erik Naso]

Interview with Mitch on EVA1 ay Cine Gear Expo

Interview with Mitch on EVA1 ay Cine Gear Expo

Here is my mini doc I did with Mitch at Cine Gear for newsshooter.com

:happy:

 

[TheDingo]

How do we know the color science on the GH5 is very easily matched to the Varicam cameras? Who has tested this? Anything on YouTube or Vimeo?

...There are folks who are already matching the GH5 with RED, so I would imagine this would be a no brainer for the EVA1.

 

[puredrifting]

Third party solutions can often be a good way to go. Panasonic optimized their efforts on the EVA1 to have it be their latest vision. Having made a decision to have the EVF be a third party solution allows them to have multiple solutions that meet multiple needs. If they had placed a small EVF at the back of the camera, some small percentage of people would use it and the rest would either complain about it or pay for something they didn't need; a waste. If they made a high quality, custom shoulder-mount detachable EVF, it would have been even more expensive than third party EVFs, because it would be a much lower production run; a waste of time and resources. Having 3rd parties provide solutions allows Panasonic to have multiple solutions that are optimized for each application rather than have one solution that meets the needs of a small percentage off people.

I agree. Have you seen the EVF for the Varicam LT, it's $5,400.00. So figure if they took this technology, dumbed it down and made it smaller and less featured, it would still cost at least $2,500.00 to $4,000.00, which doesn't really work for an $8k camera. The alternative would be to make an internal crappy one that's at the rear of the camera. Which I agree, it is really only useful for tripod shooting. The Zacuto Gratical Eye would be a good match if you were running your EVA1 with bricks or the regular Gratical if not. Still not cheap but both of the Zacutos are solid investments that can be used on almost any pro camera and they should last a while. Or if you want to not spend money, the Zacuto loupe will work. Personally, I would use a Zacuto loupe of over a stock loupe from any of the manufacturers.

Varicam LT EVF

 

[graywolf]

I imagine the hardware is pretty much set in stone anyway. They most likely are setting up the production lines, and tweaking firmware at this point.

This, of course, is just my opinion; but an educated one, from the point of view of a guy that used to be an engineering tech who built prototype production robotics.

 

[Erik Naso]

Hopefully the LCD screen will be a high bright. Add a loupe for situations you might need it for a shoulder rig. As many have stated already the stock one on the FS7 isn't very good and you end up spending more on a upgraded one. Might as well save a little on the camera.