These Zcam guys are killing it!!

LTC is essentially a digital signal, so they are probably jut treating is as a serial signal and letting it fly, should work pretty good. If that serial port is fast enough (probably not), then they could do SDI from the serial port. Again just serial data if you treat it as a one way data stream.
 
Like batteries, I'd like to minimize how many variants of storage I need, so I would consisder a C-Fast to SSD adapter cable instead of the C-Fast cards. Has anyone used those?
 
Greg_E said:
LTC is essentially a digital signal, so they are probably jut treating is as a serial signal and letting it fly, should work pretty good. If that serial port is fast enough (probably not), then they could do SDI from the serial port. Again just serial data if you treat it as a one way data stream.
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LTC is an analog audio signal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_timecode). While LTC is used to encode what is essentially digital information (timecode numbers), it works differently from a serial port operating at a particular constant baud rate. The effective bitrate of an LTC signal is variable depending on the frame rate of the timecode (but it fits within the bounds of typical audio frequencies making it compatible with most audio hardware). The voltages used are also different, with LTC usually conforming to analog line level audio signal voltages (although mic level is also possible in some cases). For a serial port the voltage range varies based on the serial format, for RS232, negative voltages are used to represent a 0-bit and positive voltages a 1-bit.

Anyway, handling LTC input in digital devices these days usually entails using an analog to digital converter to convert the LTC audio input to a digital format, and then processing that digital signal to extract the encoded timecode information.
 
Thanks Eric. As usual, a great review. You are awesome. After seeing how much this camera can do, I can't help but think - why does it need to be a sensor in a box? Was anybody asking for the most stripped down chassis without any kind of monitoring? Seems like they would be better off adding a viewfinder and LCD to bring more users in. I don't want a sensor in a box as the price is a false number given how much you need to add. Once the GH6 comes out I think this camera will be even less attractive. It is impressive though.
 
There are a lot of people out there who prefer the sensor-in-a-box paradigm. I personally own a few good monitors and a Gratical, so I'm not overly interested in paying for weak included versions of those just so a camera can be marked "complete."

A more complete camera is probably better for run and gun style shooting... but I don't really think that's where this camera is aimed.

That said, excellent review Erik... I always enjoy your review work. I owned this camera for about a month before I returned it for a variety of reasons and I agree with nearly everything in your review. That said, I think they could spend some time with a UX designer getting their menu system worked out a little better. There are a few things in there that are very oddly-placed.

Also, the WDR has a weird artifacting with somewhat-fast motion. You get ghosting. That made WDR nearly unusable for a lot of what I do.

The 120FPS 4K is gorgeous though. I miss that and I may still re-buy this little beast when I have more of a need for a slow-mo camera. $3000 (camera + speed booster + rigging) is a steal for what it provides. It just wasn't for me. Came down to keeping the Fuji X-T3 or the Z-Cam... and the Fuji is just a lot more useful to me (not to mention it makes a great travel camera when paired with the kit zoom, the 55-200 and a faster prime).
 
I agree with all the comments. I think the roots of the E1 transferred over to the E2. Z Cam had an opportunity to change things up with the new S35 and full frame but chose to go with pretty much the same body design. The menu can be a PITA to use. I wish it had a mini toggle as the buttons are hard to work with. Why are menus so dang hard? LOL.

Most video cameras have pretty bad EVF and LCD screens. Like many, I ended up buying a Gratical HD and also have way too many monitors. They keep getting better and brighter!
 
I have a feeling that part of the reason for the sensor-in-a-box design is that it helps keep down manufacturing costs, which is especially useful for smaller companies that don't sell huge numbers of cameras. The more additional components (viewfinder, LCD, etc.) that get added, the higher the production costs go and then it is difficult to stay price competitive with the larger camera manufacturers that move way more units.

This may also be part of the reason for the limited number of buttons and physical controls. It probably simplifies the hardware and physical design effort that goes into the camera because it shifts many of the controls to software menus (that are easier to change via firmware development), rather than physical controls that add to the design and manufacturing costs.

I believe some of the key people involved with Z Cam previously worked for GoPro which was originally kind of a sensor in a (tiny) box camera with limited physical controls. In the case of GoPro that was partly due to physical space limitations, but it's possible that this experience has affected the perspective of the Z Cam developers in terms of camera design. So even though they now have a larger body to work with, the camera design approach is still a bit like an oversized action camera with an interchangeable lens.
 
There are like 20 cinema cameras on the market like this, so this is most likely the best way to build a camera for this kind of purpose or everyone is just copying each other.

The more expensive ones have a really nice external EVF or external touch monitor to control them...but take those away from them and they are practically useless boxes.

IMO, Blackmagic no doubt has the absolute best user interface in the world. Everything makes sense. Just perfect.
 
NorBro said:
There are like 20 cinema cameras on the market like this, so this is most likely the best way to build a camera for this kind of purpose or everyone is just copying each other...
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Or maybe it's a new standard --- now at $1,999. Eat that Alexa Mini.
 
Bern Caughey said:
Read a review of the Z-Cam E2 from the perspective of Creokinetics who is testing the camera as a alternative to the GH5s for “in-car camera systems for shows like the The Grand Tour, & Top Gear”.

https://www.definitionmagazine.com/journal/2019/2/18/z-cam-e2-camera

PS This is a cross-post.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?364621-Tips-for-shooting-inside-car
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Very interesting. If all the cameras can be synced, then there is no need for timecode as each can start and stop at the same time on a single command. As such many corporates are asking for direct recording to camera. So sound guys will have a reduced role I guess.
 
indiawilds said:
Very interesting. If all the cameras can be synced, then there is no need for timecode as each can start and stop at the same time on a single command. As such many corporates are asking for direct recording to camera. So sound guys will have a reduced role I guess.
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Why? We’ve been jamming our cameras together and recording audio straight to camera for decades. We still have audio guys feeding the cameras from the mixer. All that really changes is making someone’s life easier in post.

And you still need timecode in a professional situation like that.
 
These early box cameras tend to have a very likeable image. Digital Bolex, Black magic (in particular the first several models), early Red M and MX, kinfinity, ikonoshop, and now zcam, all have that rough hifi look. A likeable muddiness that the main high end cameras have worked out. And yet, when these companies get too good, like sony and the F65, or red and the hydrogen, they begin to lose something. Sony had to put some mojo back in on the Venice. Arri, Venice, and Dragon all seem to ride the line of hi fi and emotion. Heck Canon does too. Panasonic gets really close, and i cannot believe i don’t use their cameras more.

Anyway, i really like the zcam, regardless of price. If it cost more, i’d still like it. Though, if it cost less, i’d probably still not buy it, as it isn’t a camera for my current work.

Seems like an awesome solution for car mount work though!
 
Let's think about name recognition for a moment...

You have no problem shelling out $4000.00 for a Sony, Panasonic, etc. But what if a relatively unknown company was asking you to shell out $4000.00 for their camera system (minus lenses). If you built up an imager box, viewfinder, etc. would you be willing to take that chance? With a $2000.00 camera box and add on things that you may already have, you can shoot stuff with a lower risk to your money. In the future after they get a couple of really successful products out, then they can start selling complete systems for more money because they will not be a relatively unknown anymore. I think they are doing things the smart way because a lot more people will give them a try at $2000 than if they were competing directly head to head with something like an FS5 or used FS7.
 
Greg_E said:
Let's think about name recognition for a moment...

You have no problem shelling out $4000.00 for a Sony, Panasonic, etc. But what if a relatively unknown company was asking you to shell out $4000.00 for their camera system (minus lenses). If you built up an imager box, viewfinder, etc. would you be willing to take that chance? With a $2000.00 camera box and add on things that you may already have, you can shoot stuff with a lower risk to your money. In the future after they get a couple of really successful products out, then they can start selling complete systems for more money because they will not be a relatively unknown anymore. I think they are doing things the smart way because a lot more people will give them a try at $2000 than if they were competing directly head to head with something like an FS5 or used FS7.
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The interview with the Creokinetics guy impressed me as they do great work and that's all they do (in car work). He really seems to like the E2 a lot.
 
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