FS7: Would You Buy A Panasonic AU-EVA1?

Haven't weighed in on this one yet, but I have to say I am really stoked about the EVA-1. I love VariCam colors and have always loved the clean Panny menu system ever since my venerable HVX200. While Panny isn't yet commenting on the dual ISO range, I concur with and defer to Noel's experience with the LT's dual ISO experiences. Would I dump my FS7 and FS7 II for it? Depends upon which tool works better for me.

I'll definitely get a press loaner when Panny is ready but the question of course is when I'll be ready. I was hit by a car on June 14 and escaped with just a broken leg but still will be immobile up to 12 weeks. Not great for evaluating cameras. At least it's in the family because when I googled the driver, his IMDB came up. Played bit part Italian-character roles.

Ned Soltz
 
Just make sure he wasn't cast because him knowing "the lifestyle" of the said Italian character rolls down didn't require acting- it is Jersey after all.


 
I'll definitely get a press loaner when Panny is ready but the question of course is when I'll be ready. I was hit by a car on June 14 and escaped with just a broken leg but still will be immobile up to 12 weeks. Not great for evaluating cameras. At least it's in the family because when I googled the driver, his IMDB came up. Played bit part Italian-character roles.

Ned Soltz

Holy cow Ned, hope you're feeling better! Rest up and get well.
Best,
Karl
 
We will publish such technical specs as we get closer to the release of the EVA1 in the Fall.

Hopefully the EVA1 announcement are more reliable than they were with Convergent-Design. I have still a bad taste from the "soon to come" "end of the month" "next quarter" features of my 7Q.
 
10bit, 422 with a decent bitrate is really the sweet spot for most users. For me it was exactly why I bought the FS7 and it's been a killer earner. So much so I honestly can't see replacing it due to client demands anytime soon.
 
... a rambling blog post from a famous old-school British DP .


Hmm, old yes, old school, I was at the forefront of the move to digital cinema, shot with Sony HD prototypes in the mid-80's, launched digibeta for sony, launched viper for GVG, shot a fil that was DI and which won a BAFTA in 2001, well before most were working in DI, shot a movie digitally in 2006, again before most were, shot a movie with RED in 2007, a TV series with RED in 2008, an entire movie autofocus last year.
So old yes but not old school unless you include a conviction that you need to learn what you're doing!
10,000 hours to really know your job.
 
So old yes but not old school unless you include a conviction that you need to learn what you're doing!

Sorry Geoff, by "old school" I meant that you've been in the game a long time, well before the digital revolution changed everything about production. ( I got my start as an apprentice in the 80's working in an advertising photography studio on Flood Street in Chelsea. Almost everything was shot with Sinar 8x10 cameras and big BronColor 606 flash-packs, so I am "old school" too. :evil: )
 
Hmm, old yes, old school, I was at the forefront of the move to digital cinema, shot with Sony HD prototypes in the mid-80's, launched digibeta for sony, launched viper for GVG, shot a fil that was DI and which won a BAFTA in 2001, well before most were working in DI, shot a movie digitally in 2006, again before most were, shot a movie with RED in 2007, a TV series with RED in 2008, an entire movie autofocus last year.
So old yes but not old school unless you include a conviction that you need to learn what you're doing!
10,000 hours to really know your job.

Nice to see you here by the way Geoff.
 
The only thing I didn't like - only Canon EF mount, so you're stuck with Canon lens only


It was a massive MASSIVE missed opportunity by the Panasonic company not to offer this in locking MFT mount as well :-/ :-(

One can only hope they will see the light and later on offer it with a locking MFT mount, like BMD with their original BMCC EF then later the much more preferable BMCC MFT.
 
It was a massive MASSIVE missed opportunity by the Panasonic company not to offer this in locking MFT mount as well :-/ :-(

One can only hope they will see the light and later on offer it with a locking MFT mount, like BMD with their original BMCC EF then later the much more preferable BMCC MFT.
Plus 100!!!...not likely according to Mitch but for what it's worth, took the camera off my radar.
 
Yesterday I shot a job on my ex1 - for various reasons including that I needed to have a light package and lens with reach.

I am still convinced that mft could deliver a wonderful cross between s35 and affordable zoom range.

I'm also convinced that canon mount makes construction of rangey zooms impossible.

So yep canon mount is a fail design wise for eng/wedding/corporate camera IMO
 
Yesterday I shot a job on my ex1 - for various reasons including that I needed to have a light package and lens with reach.

I am still convinced that mft could deliver a wonderful cross between s35 and affordable zoom range.

I'm also convinced that canon mount makes construction of rangey zooms impossible.

So yep canon mount is a fail design wise for eng/wedding/corporate camera IMO

I understand your thought process, but vast majority of the Western World market disagrees. Just the way it is.
 
All that said, the Eva does come with timecode input as standard - which could make it significantly simpler to work with with a regular crew on a professional shoot. All the nonsense involved in getting timecode to the FS7 is a big lumbering load of bollocks.
 
I understand your thought process, but vast majority of the Western World market disagrees. Just the way it is.

Yep - the same market that was not badgering Canon for the 5d2 but hoping for a better XL1 - didnt stop the 5d2 getting adopted. Properly marketed the thing would fly.

In terms of proper marketing I have no clue what the EVA is for or why I should trade out of my FS7.

Reasons Id trade out of the FS7..

-4 accessible audio channels.
-save weight
-chunkier codec
-(500 fps burst)
-MFT 2.5k mode and big range affordable (dedicated?) T4 zoom (is this actually 'digital zoom' as per the FS5?)
-lut management
-functioning AF (with the dedicated lens?)
Non baffling menus/findable switches.
Record light in 'display off' mode.

I see the Eva as great/interesting and probably mildly prettier images.. but the loss of speed-booster 'forces' me to buy that canon 18-80.. which works best with a Canon.. unless there is an AF capability you have under your hat.

The fact that I am still selecting my EX1 for certain assignments does not say a lot for current mid level camera design - and the lovely playback 'deck' ! .. the client was happily diddling through shots while I drove him to the next location - I think he really enjoyed that.

S
 
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