AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |
Back to Blog
Auto white balance lock on dslr12/27/2023 And to keep with the pattern of repeating the problems that these cameras present on larger productions, those buttons and menu systems are yours and yours alone with which to learn and develop efficiencies. Rolling shutter is not immediately seen as a fatal flaw (heck, you can rotate the Z Cam 90 degrees and shoot open gate and then crop to eliminate it). Footage can be reviewed confidently with an awareness that those files are the low-res proxies. HDMI works fine if you are the one working with it. And with the lack of dedicated side buttons, particularly with the BMPCC6K, some shots in a fast-paced scenario might be fumbled by your grumpy operator due to an unnecessarily long jaunt through the menu systems.īut, and this is a big but, if the production is small enough, say with three people or a run-and-gun solo operator, the above issues are not problematic. Quick whip pans turns to jello, limiting certain shots. Without an optical low-pass filter, there is more room for infrared noise pollution or moire. The absence of internal ND filters on most DLSR-type bodies will require additional equipment, slowing the production down. On the Z Cam in particular, footage as of software version 0.96 can only be reviewed in a low-quality proxy format that, with pixelation and color banding issues, does not inspire confidence from the client. The latency of the HDMI inputs will not be great for one accustomed to pulling focus on those rentable cinema cameras. Inevitably, the lack of SDI inputs will frustrate people hooking up client monitors. ![]() The use-case of the DSLR-type body does not change simply because the image punches above its weight. To put it plainly, these manufacturers have squeezed the image quality of the traditionally expensive cinema camera into a body that, due to budget, shares more characteristics with DSLR-type bodies. And, likewise, the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera series and other DSLR-type cameras are not in the same class as RED. While the Z Cam captures stunning image quality that is fully editable alongside Arri footage and can even trash some RED footage that I have edited, it is silly to compare the operating experience around this camera with that of those much more expensive cameras. Finally, the buttons and menus of these cameras (yes, even Blackmagic’s touch screen menus) are not designed for multi-operator use or for quick muscle-memory operation. Rolling shutter performance is typically abysmal and in no way compares to that of a commonly rentable cinema camera. Monitoring latency and quality are things to be aware of, especially with clients, as they are not perfect, though are not as bad as on the Atomos/DSLR combos I have used. They do not have SDI inputs, internal ND filters, or optical low-pass filters. Let’s start by going over what these sub-$3000 cameras do not offer. I would also say the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera series (4K and 6K), which I have used alongside the S6, and all DSLR-type video-focused cameras are also not good choices. The Z Cam E2 S6 is not a great choice for a production that has a budget for rental RED, Arri, Sony, Panasonic, or Canon cinema cameras. A (slightly controversial) note before the review… ![]() The Z Cam E2 S6 up inside a bridge during a repair. After much use, I prefer the Z Cam E2 S6 over the BMPCC6K and other DLSR-type cameras in the same price range. It will not let you down like Canon’s R5 or R6 will with overheating problems. My main takeaway is that this camera offers seriously impressive image quality at a low price for the small-crew budget videographer. I have fully given it the “corporate footage” treatment, to say the least, and would like to share my thoughts here in a somewhat alternative review less focused on specs and more on user experience. I have used the camera in a diverse range of scenarios - outdoors in rain, inside offices for hours long interviews, in manufacturing facilities with lots of dust, in freezing cold snow, and on melting hot, humid night shoots. These sections have since been updated to reflect those changes.įor the last eight months, I have been using the Z Cam E2 S6. Many of the issues I originally had with this camera have since been resolved. Update: It’s now 2022 and I still use this camera. This review was last updated on March 4, 2022.
0 Comments
Read More
Leave a Reply. |