Z-Cam E2C?

G

Greg_E

Veteran
So I've been thinking about getting a used BM Micro Cinema Camera to have something small that shoots "better" images than my GH2's, by better most of that would be 1080/60p. Another thread brought up a Z-Cam model that I wasn't familiar with, so I started looking. What I found was the E2C camera for $800 which is pretty close to the used prices on a BMMCC, pretty much half way between used and new. But the big thing is that the E2C should have a wider range of supported SD cards (a current real problem for the BMMCC, OG Pocket, and 5 inch VA). And the E2C now records ZRAW (or so I've read). Yes it is only 11.5 stops of DR, but I can probably live with that.

Has anyone actually used this camera yet? I did read an article from Erik Naso, but this was based on the pre-ZRAW firmware (??) and at the time he did not have a Windows computer to handle the ZRAW software required to "develop" the images to DNxHR or other codec.
 
Mine just arrived. I'll be posting a review and menu guide soon at focuspulling.com.

For limited purposes, it's surprisingly great. I hate ProRes (inefficient for acquisition, really just an intermediate codec for old Final Cut Pro) and dig H.265 for efficiency and 10-bit performance. I couldn't care less about high frame rates: no interest in shooting weddings with bridezillas in slow motion, etc. RAW is on the way via firmware. The auto-focus is at least a little better than the BMPCC4K/6K with active lenses. Battery life is longer than the BMPCC4K/6K too, even though the same battery - and there's no fan either, but a temperature readout right there on the display. Even though the packaging states iOS control only, the beta Android app works great: with the robust Wi-Fi antenna, you really get a solid viewfinder wireless connection with nominal latency, and full touchscreen controls of every function.

As a B- or C-camera during live events/music especially, it's a great (because it's cheap) thing to bring alongside better cameras. But the rolling shutter is the worst I've ever seen (no, seriously): so this thing really needs to be something you just set and forget on sticks.
 
Totally agree. Sometime rolling shutter isn’t an issue.

Just like 12 stops DR gets you through most shots, rolling shutter can too. Only in extremes do you need good rolling shutter performance or more than 12stops DR. You just have to work around the limitations.
 
Rolling shutter doesn't seem to be a problem with these shots. ( might be very different with a moving camera on a gimbal )

 
Hi. How’s the color science compared to bmpcc 4k would it be easy to color match it?
 
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