These Zcam guys are killing it!!

[nutmegger]

Interesting camera. There are numerous reviews of the Z-Cam E2 on youtube but none of them mention recording audio internally. The camera's specs state the camera has built in mics and can record 24bit 48KHz audio internally via its audio connector on the back panel. My question is for those of you who own or have used this camera. How do you control the internal audio record levels? Is this via a menu or can you assign buttons to audio record levels?

 

[Greg_E]

It's an interesting company, think of GoPro in the early days when they were just starting and their cameras kind of sucked. Even the HD(v1) wasn't great, but version after version (and lack of competition) boosted them up to something big. Hoping that Zcam can make their way to better reputation. That said, the price for an unknown is kind of killing them. You can buy a lot of GH5 bodies for that money, or a lot of BMPCC4K for that money. I'd be more inclined to go with a pocket 4k right now, even though there are some things that the E2 will do differently enough to be called better for the application. It's tough to break into this world.

 

[ntouched]

It's an interesting company, think of GoPro in the early days when they were just starting and their cameras kind of sucked. Even the HD(v1) wasn't great, but version after version (and lack of competition) boosted them up to something big. Hoping that Zcam can make their way to better reputation. That said, the price for an unknown is kind of killing them. You can buy a lot of GH5 bodies for that money, or a lot of BMPCC4K for that money. I'd be more inclined to go with a pocket 4k right now, even though there are some things that the E2 will do differently enough to be called better for the application. It's tough to break into this world.

Greg, right on point. That's why I purchased the Pocket 4K (instead of the Z Cam E2). Also, Z Cam E2 a lot of bugs with early adapters, too many unknowns and the FrankenRig extreme syndrome (connect this, connect that, I hope this all works, etc)........ Now if I had to suggest one of the up and coming companies, I'd highly suggest Kinefinity (and not just because I owned the Terra 4K), but because they've been at it for a longer period of time and they are STARTING to figure it all out. AND more online footage and owners around that have GOOD working cameras......

 

[Thomas Smet]

Interesting. Guessing the m4/3rds camera is using the GH5s sensor but the slow motion seems to be better than the GH5s. It shows 240fps in 1080 but does anybody know if the sensor is windowed in this mode? The lack of an LCD or viewfinder is not ideal for non-cinema work imho.

What exactly makes you think this is the GH5s sensor? I read nothing in the article that even remotely matches the GH5s senor other than the resolution which we still don’t really know what the sensor itself can do. Only that it can record 4096 wide.

 

[marvinhello]

Interesting. Guessing the m4/3rds camera is using the GH5s sensor but the slow motion seems to be better than the GH5s. It shows 240fps in 1080 but does anybody know if the sensor is windowed in this mode? The lack of an LCD or viewfinder is not ideal for non-cinema work imho.

What exactly makes you think this is the GH5s sensor? I read nothing in the article that even remotely matches the GH5s senor other than the resolution which we still don’t really know what the sensor itself can do. Only that it can record 4096 wide.

GH5s uses IMX299, E2 uses IMX294, they are essentially the same sensor with only minor differences.

 

[Bassman2003]

What Marvin said... I had read this in a few places.

 

[Kegan]

Great cameras. We used two as part of a custom 360 solution and they worked very well. Was skeptical as well but workhorses for sure.

KS.

 

[NorBro]

These new ones won't be ready until later this year. Which ones did you use?

(Or are you just supporting Z CAM cameras in general?)

 

[nothing]

I own 2 Z Cam E1s for VR use, and have used several of their integrated 360 cameras as well. They work ok when they work, but the image has serious issues - especially when shooting log.

However the real issues come when something goes wrong - good luck figuring out what the problem is or how to fix it. When you have a problem, you are screwed - and the problems happen often.

I can see how one might have a positive impression of them from using brand-new cameras once - but that's not a very good indicator of the quality of a product. Try living with them for a bit - you'll want to chuck them out the window soon enough.

 

[Kegan]

Z Cam E2 4K versions

 

[puredrifting]

Arris aren't like that at all.

Yes and no, an Alexa Mini is just a box w a sensor but I guess the difference is that you don't have to go shopping on the open market as much for EVF, baseplate, handles, etc. you can just buy the Arri stuff but on feature and higher end episodic sets, I just laugh at, "Yes, somewhere in the mess of Teradeks, FIZ controls, AC monitors, handgrips, battery plates, etc, there is a little Alexa Mini brain buried in their somewhere."

You are right on the regular Alexas and Amiras, they are pretty un Franken rigged.

 

[Kegan]

I own 2 Z Cam E1s for VR use, and have used several of their integrated 360 cameras as well. They work ok when they work, but the image has serious issues - especially when shooting log.

However the real issues come when something goes wrong - good luck figuring out what the problem is or how to fix it. When you have a problem, you are screwed - and the problems happen often.

I can see how one might have a positive impression of them from using brand-new cameras once - but that's not a very good indicator of the quality of a product. Try living with them for a bit - you'll want to chuck them out the window soon enough.

To offer a slightly different experience, we shot in 6x different countries from the Arctic Circle to a rural, coastal town in Brazil for 24hr capture lengths in each. We never had one of these cameras go down (E2 4K models). Paid for themselves and can be toss away products depending on the shoot.

 

[nothing]

Glad it worked out better for you than it did for me

 

[John Brawley]

I own 2 Z Cam E1s for VR use, and have used several of their integrated 360 cameras as well. They work ok when they work, but the image has serious issues - especially when shooting log.

However the real issues come when something goes wrong - good luck figuring out what the problem is or how to fix it. When you have a problem, you are screwed - and the problems happen often.

I can see how one might have a positive impression of them from using brand-new cameras once - but that's not a very good indicator of the quality of a product. Try living with them for a bit - you'll want to chuck them out the window soon enough.

Pretty much +1 for me.

The first E1 I bought didn't work out of the box and had to be returned.

They weren't worth the hassle in the end once I did get them working, the app was very buggy and the image was not really useable for what I do.

I'm a fan of m4/3 and wanted these to work, but they didn't(for me). Too early to tell on the next gen I think....

JB

 

[kurth]

Pretty much +1 for me.

The first E1 I bought didn't work out of the box and had to be returned.

They weren't worth the hassle in the end once I did get them working, the app was very buggy and the image was not really useable for what I do.

I'm a fan of m4/3 and wanted these to work, but they didn't(for me). Too early to tell on the next gen I think....

JB

well to be fair to the e1, there's been a quite useful bitrate hack and the dci4k is nice, at over 100mbps. And the guy is still working on the mjpeg codec. See the details at vitaliy's. Of course this doesn't change many of the flaws like AF but certainly helps.

 

[Zak Forsman]

They released some new clips from the E2 shot with the most recent firmware. I think it shows promise. Keeping an eye out for soon-to-be-released footage from their upcoming F6 (6k full frame) cinema camera. Meanwhile, I took a stab at color grading the new clips from the E2. If I wanted a m43 camera, I'd probably buy it.

 

[Erik Naso]

I have the Z Cam E2 in for review and shooting a promo at the station with it on Friday. Includes green screen and news set b-roll. I've only had the Z Cam E2 for a couple of days but feel confident it using it. The camera operation is different but the menu is easy to navigate just very small.
I like the color science. Even Rec709 is usable. Not contrasty. WDR, Flat and Z Log options are nice. ProRes flavors in 4K up to 60p is also sweetness.





I'm really impressed with the plugin for their Z Log and Flat profiles. It has a lot of helpful adjustment options to work with. Available for Premiere Pro, FCPX and Resolve. More camera companies should have a plugin like this that works so well.

The camera is tiny. It's crazy small. I put a SmallRig cage and handle on plus another review kit the Portkeys BM5. It's like a mini-me RED cam. LOL.

 

[Teddy_Dem]

They released some new clips from the E2 shot with the most recent firmware. I think it shows promise. Keeping an eye out for soon-to-be-released footage from their upcoming F6 (6k full frame) cinema camera. Meanwhile, I took a stab at color grading the new clips from the E2. If I wanted a m43 camera, I'd probably buy it.

Hi Zak where did you download the clips from? I would like to try color grading some the clips as well.

 

[Greg_E]

I have the Z Cam E2 in for review and shooting a promo at the station with it on Friday. Includes green screen and news set b-roll. I've only had the Z Cam E2 for a couple of days but feel confident it using it. The camera operation is different but the menu is easy to navigate just very small.
I like the color science. Even Rec709 is usable. Not contrasty. WDR, Flat and Z Log options are nice. ProRes flavors in 4K up to 60p is also sweetness.


I'm really impressed with the plugin for their Z Log and Flat profiles. It has a lot of helpful adjustment options to work with. Available for Premiere Pro, FCPX and Resolve. More camera companies should have a plugin like this that works so well.

The camera is tiny. It's crazy small. I put a SmallRig cage and handle on plus another review kit the Portkeys BM5. It's like a mini-me RED cam. LOL.

Wish it was a bit cheaper, but your testing sounds promising. I wonder if they will license Braw.

 

[Erik Naso]

Wish it was a bit cheaper, but your testing sounds promising. I wonder if they will license Braw.

$1995 is pretty cheap. I don't know of a cinema camera like this other than the Pocket 4K that shoots ProRes and 4K 120fps. Z Cam will be releasing Raw soon as well. Not sure what Raw it will be but if it uses the same plugin it could be a winner.