Review of the Z CAM E2-F6 Full Frame 6K Cine Camera

While the images look decent, I'm not noticing anything here that looks significantly different than BMD Pocket 6K?
Maybe it's the YT compression but the images just look average to me? Great, in-depth review, but the images don't seem to be
that impressive, at least from what I am seeing here, the roll off to clipping in all of those sun shots isn't super harsh but it also
doesn't look like the higher end cameras look in those situations.

Any idea what they rate the DR at?
 
Any idea what they rate the DR at?

I think it's in the same range as the Panasonic S1H ( probably the same sensor ) so 14 - 15 stops of DR in RAW or LOG.

I agree that the images aren't very striking, but that could be a combination of his subject matter and how he's processing it in post. ( his grading looks pretty flat for most of it )
 
There really aren’t that many FF35 6K cameras.


Especially not in this bracket or form factor.
 
There really aren’t that many FF35 6K cameras.

Here's another one...


So right now we have...

Canon C500 Mk2
Kinefinity Mavo LF
Panasonic S1H in mirrorless form factor ( I expect a Varicam or EVA2 FF in the near future )
Sony FX9
Z Cam E2 F6
Z Cam E2 F8
 
There really aren’t that many FF35 6K cameras.

Here's another one...


So right now we have...

Canon C500 Mk2
Kinefinity Mavo LF
Panasonic S1H in mirrorless form factor ( I expect a Varicam or EVA2 FF in the near future )
Sony FX9
Z Cam E2 F6
Z Cam E2 F8
 
It's becoming obvious that eventually the Chinese will bury everyone else in the low to mid level cameras. Not there yet, both the Kinefinity and the ZCams have major growing pains and some of their limitations make you scratch your head but cheap with good specs will always triumph eventually. I'd be pretty worried for the future of my pro digital cinema lines if I was Canon, Sony and Panasonic.

As soon as good AF, better color science, better perceived reliability than they have now become the perception, cheap Chinese camera sales will dominate. Pro camera buyers are Lemmings if nothing else.
 
Last edited:
Here's another one...


So right now we have...

Canon C500 Mk2
Kinefinity Mavo LF
Panasonic S1H in mirrorless form factor ( I expect a Varicam or EVA2 FF in the near future )
Sony FX9
Z Cam E2 F6
Z Cam E2 F8

Half of which aren’t even shipping yet.

4 belong in the sub $7K bracket

2 belong in the $10K plus

Just surprised we’re already acting like we have too many options.
 
Yep - none of the images from any of the 'cheap ones' really seem special.

I think this is probably down to user grading/subject/lighting.

Been using the BMC 4k and it is nice apart from the SQ button being right by the focus mag button
 
We need an old school camera shootout like the one that Zacuto did in 2012. I really want to see how all of these systems compare when it comes to the actual image they produce.

Spoiler alert. Sony F35 wins, and Coppola asks where the GH is.

Totally down to shoot a few tests. I did an informal one a few weeks ago, felt every camera excelled in their own way. Even ignoring price.

In that Test, the Gemini won for what I was looking for. Normally, F35 and Alexa are the ones that make me go “yeah, ok, i need that”, but this time, the Gemini was the winner, because of the sum of all factors, rather than brute image quality alone.

Once the Kimodo is released, and possibly a little before, there will probably be a “zcam” style shootout, with BM, Red and Zcam being the main entries. Possibly the C500 and S1H in there to mix it up a little.
 
When ZCam ships cameras with PD AF that will be very interesting indeed (hopefully with RF mount like the Komodo).
 
Please - do tell. In these last days of S35 :smile: been thinking of picking one of these up as gimbal cam.

One of the best cameras in history for its price.

$3,000 was pushing it for me personally for a camera in 2020, but I couldn't resist.

This is a no-nonsense approach in which we are witnessing smart people taking very good available technology and squeezing absolutely everything (or a lot) they can out of it (like Blackmagic). Nothing to protect (or very little), and no greed (or at least not yet).

I expected to be annoyed with the ergonomics and menus, but couldn't be more pleased (although some tweaking would be nice). Functionally and programming are perfect (just like most of the modern-day stills cameras). The fun stuff (slow-motion) is available via HEVC (nightmare), but 6K/24p ProRes 422 is nice.

I am in the process of trying to find the absolute smallest/thinnest 5" monitor there is and the smallest wider lens there is to keep it compact. (I've been using the camera's LCD to capture some small tests, which amusingly does a decent job for a 1" monitor with zebras and peaking.)

For a gimbal in this price range, I think the P6K would still be the best option unless you don't work in Resolve or Premiere (like me) and interested in a small 6K camera.
 
So Z CAM are promising PD AF in the future ? ( would be a big jump for them )

Nothing announced by them that I'm aware of; extrapolating based on the availability of e.g. Sony sensors providing PD AF. ZCam's pushing the envelope apparently outside the Camera Cabal's control, so with the Komodo sporting PD AF + RF mount, so could ZCam soon!
 
One of the best cameras in history for its price.

$3,000 was pushing it for me personally for a camera in 2020, but I couldn't resist.

This is a no-nonsense approach in which we are witnessing smart people taking very good available technology and squeezing absolutely everything (or a lot) they can out of it (like Blackmagic). Nothing to protect (or very little), and no greed (or at least not yet).

I expected to be annoyed with the ergonomics and menus, but couldn't be more pleased (although some tweaking would be nice). Functionally and programming are perfect (just like most of the modern-day stills cameras). The fun stuff (slow-motion) is available via HEVC (nightmare), but 6K/24p ProRes 422 is nice.

I am in the process of trying to find the absolute smallest/thinnest 5" monitor there is and the smallest wider lens there is to keep it compact. (I've been using the camera's LCD to capture some small tests, which amusingly does a decent job for a 1" monitor with zebras and peaking.)

For a gimbal in this price range, I think the P6K would still be the best option unless you don't work in Resolve or Premiere (like me) and interested in a small 6K camera.

Post some footage when you have something you really like from it!
 
Back
Top