It's the only pic officially released as of now. Looks cute. EF mount too. really interesting....
VaricamLT: Panasonic VariCam LT
- Thread starter Camera Expert
- Start date
- Status
It's the only pic officially released as of now. Looks cute. EF mount too. really interesting....
traviswears
Well-known member
Looks pretty interesting to me!
I'm happy with the FS7 for now but definitely curious to see more and hear some reviews.
Has the C300II been selling well? They were really talking up all those pre-orders but I don't know a single DP/Op who bought one or is planning to buy one. To me, this is direct competition, (and likely far superior) than the C300II at a very similar price point.
I'm happy with the FS7 for now but definitely curious to see more and hear some reviews.
Has the C300II been selling well? They were really talking up all those pre-orders but I don't know a single DP/Op who bought one or is planning to buy one. To me, this is direct competition, (and likely far superior) than the C300II at a very similar price point.
C-Mac
Well-known member
Not sure if I agree about "very similar price point"... P2 Express 256GB is $1995 per card and if you want the view finder your at $24,000 start. It still looks like an interesting camera and likely will be superior to the C300 MK II.
Best Regards,
Chris
traviswears
Well-known member
Good point. It'll likely be a good 6-8k more than a C300II to get one of these up and running.
The sensor is definitely superior to the C300 Mk2, if the latitude ratings that I've seen are accurate. Never mind the Dual ISO function. Really interesting camera, definitely superior to the F55, but also late to the party considering how many people already have F55s. Apparently Clairmont's Varicam 35s are all busy working in Toronto right now, so they're getting some sort of action. I wonder how it'll be controlled, hopefully better than the Mini.
reelmaxwell
Member
Seems like a good option for those considering F5, or C300ii, and maybe not too far off from Amira in terms of capabilities and image quality. From the photo, it looks like it should sit on the shoulder pretty comfortably. Maybe ~10lbs or so with lens, battery, and accessories? Not bad. Might turn out to be an excellent doc-style camera.
I'd rate it higher than a FS7/C300 II and even F55 purely on spec and what I know the Varicam 35 can do. Panasonic have a very solid sensor in the Varicam 35 and that Dual ISO function is gobsmacking. 4K AVC-Intra LT and 2k/HD ProRes4444 on board is nothing to frown upon too. The native EF mount IMHO is a clear indication that they are targeting lower to mid-tier productions, and don't want to cannibalise the upper tier , hence why the LT can't do dual sub record (even though it can do proxies, it wont match the workflow versatility of 4K and 2K at the same time that some high end productions require).
FS7 -> F5 -> C300 II -> F55 -> Vari LT -> Dragon/AMIRA -> A Mini, A XT
but that's just my opinion, I am sure some will disagree, but this exact spec is what a lot of people I know in the Uk have been waiting for a long time.
FS7 -> F5 -> C300 II -> F55 -> Vari LT -> Dragon/AMIRA -> A Mini, A XT
but that's just my opinion, I am sure some will disagree, but this exact spec is what a lot of people I know in the Uk have been waiting for a long time.
+1 , the Press release mentions a - detachable user interface - which is on the AC side - if that's the same Control panel as on the Vari 35 (looks like its the same viewfinder too) the LT should rock in terms of operability in both studio and single op type jobs too. I am super excited about this camera, not sure about you guys.
Mike Harvey
Veteran
I could see this doing well with a lot of larger local broadcasters in a non-ENG role, especially those with an existing P2 infrastructure.
Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
If it is as they say the same sensor as the current S35 Varicam it will be a winner. I love that image.
combatentropy
Veteran
The full text, for easier reading:
Panasonic today unveiled the VariCam LT, representing the next generation of 4K cinema cameras. The VariCam LT camcorder inherits the same super 35mm sensor and superb imaging capabilities that distinguish the award-winning VariCam 35, but with significant reductions in size, weight and price.
Incorporating this identical imaging 'DNA' in a more compact rendition, the VariCam LT (model AU-V35LT1G) delivers 14+ stops of dynamic range with V-Log, and the esteemed cinematic VariCam image quality and color science, as well as the VariCam 35's breakout innovation, dual native ISOs of 800/5000.
Weighing just under six pounds and having superior capability to similar sized cameras, the VariCam LT will be the ideal camera for handheld, SteadiCam, jib, crane, drone, gimbal and overall cinema verité work. The VariCam LT is likewise tailor-made for owner/operators, independent filmmakers, documentary makers and corporate production creators.
The VariCam LT delivers superb image handling in multiple formats ranging from 4K, UHD, 2K and HD, and like the VariCam 35, is fully capable of High Dynamic Range (HDR) field capture. The new 4K camcorder offers Apple ProRes 4444 (up to 30p) and ProRes 422 HQ (up to 60p) support for HD recording, as well as Panasonic's AVC-ULTRA family of advanced video codecs.
New codecs introduced in the VariCam LT include AVC-Intra LT and AVC-Intra 2K-LT, both designed to offer capture rates up to 240fps in imager crop mode, ideal for sports and other fast motion footage.
Powerful color management capabilities combined with VariCam's extended color gamut and support for the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) workflow allow for full fidelity mastering of original source material. The VariCam LT offers in-camera color grading, with the ability to record an ungraded 4K master along with all on-set grading metadata. A new color processing feature is 'V-LOOK,' which acts as a blend of V-Log and video, and allows filmic documentary acquisition without the same need for intense color grading.
The VariCam LT differs from the VariCam 35 in being a one-piece, short-bodied camcorder vs. a two-piece camera head plus recorder. While the VariCam LT does not feature parallel sub-recording, it does have an SD slot for high-resolution proxy recording. Proxy files can be wirelessly uploaded via FTP, which facilitates wireless color grading. Variable frame rates are available with LongG6 recording.
There is one expressP2 card for all formats including high frame rate and HD/2K/UHD and 4K recording (the 256Gbyte expressP2 card can record up to 90 minutes of 4K/4:2:2/23.98p content). RAW output from SDI is planned to be supported by a firmware upgrade in early summer 2016.
The VariCam LT features an EF mount (vs. the VariCam 35's PL mount), suitable for the wide array of lenses available for smaller cameras.* The EF mount can be switched out to a robust standard PL mount, expanding the range of compatible lenses that can be used. The control panel can be separated from the camera body to facilitate real-time control and easy menu access. The camcorder has a production-tough magnesium body to assure durability and reliability in challenging shooting locations.
Other features new to the VariCam LT are power hot swap, IR shooting (further enhancing the camcorder's extreme low-light capture at ISO 5000), 23.98 PsF output, and image presets as scene files.
Among the camcorder's top-level production assets are ND filters (CLEAR, 0.6, 1.2, 1.8), an optional OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) with optical zoom functionality, 24-bit LPCM audio for in-camera audio master recording, Focus Assist, anamorphic lens de-squeeze, special REC functions (PreRec, interval, one-shot), IP control via Panasonic's AK-HRP200 camera remote controller, and built-in GPS.
Professional interfaces include: 3G-HD-SDI x 3 (SDI-OUT X 2 and VF), LAN, genlock in, timecode in/out, USB2.0 Host and USB2.0 Device (mini B), and three XLR inputs (one 5-pin, two 3-pin) to record four channels of 24-bit, 48KHz audio.
The VariCam LT will be available at the end of March in two packages, suggested list price $18,000 (body only) and suggested list price $24,000 (body + AU-VCVF10G viewfinder).
combatentropy
Veteran
combatentropy
Veteran
Basically the Varicam 35 has been slashed to half its price and half its size, and yet it's still three times the price of the FS7 (the viewfinder costs more than an entire FS7). And for what exactly? And is that worth an extra $17,000?
Last edited:
Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
Likely more responsivene menus, the Panasonic "Mojo" on skintones, Dual ISO capability and more.
If that isn't worth it to YOU, then fine, but don't think for a minute that it won't sell well, because, imo, it will.
combatentropy
Veteran
I really am trying to put myself in the shoes of others. I've shot all kinds of things with all kinds of cameras for years. I'm not saying, why should I buy it? I'm saying, oh Panny, I really wish you the best (because for one thing, I respect many of Panasonic's efforts; and for another thing, the more competition the better), but I don't see how this will make much of a bump in their balance sheet.
Will they sell a few? Yes, I think so, but mostly to rental stores. I guess there will be some owners out there too with so much money to burn they would pay 300% for a 10% practical benefit.
While this is a step in the right direction, Panasonic will have to make at least one more giant 50% slash in price to really sell a lot. It just goes to show you how much the market has changed since $100,000 digital-cinema cameras first appeared around the year 2000.
Will they sell a few? Yes, I think so, but mostly to rental stores. I guess there will be some owners out there too with so much money to burn they would pay 300% for a 10% practical benefit.
While this is a step in the right direction, Panasonic will have to make at least one more giant 50% slash in price to really sell a lot. It just goes to show you how much the market has changed since $100,000 digital-cinema cameras first appeared around the year 2000.
Last edited:
A better sensor, a better build, better codecs, higher frame rates (though admittedly cropped), and for some users a better broadcast workflow all probably justify the cost relative to the rest of the market. The FS7 is definitely the camera of it's generation, Sony really flipped the market, but it's not the same market.
I really feel like this is an Amira style camera, more especially geared towards Panasonic's broadcast customers of which there is a really large number and who are probably looking into going 4k without having to replace a lot of their infrastructure.
Bern Caughey
Veteran
Those I've spoken too that have used the Varicam LT have been very impressed.
Yes, but my understanding is that it will ship with EF mount . I don't know how the whole PL swapping thing will work. I think it will be similar to how it works on the C300 II - it's a Service Centre thing. Don't think it will be a four screws and you're done type of job as on the Epic.
- Status