I trashed my last post because it was in my own opinion far to personal and not judged to be a good post about a new camcorder. As more and more companies are moving over to Panasonic within the Scottish region thanks to having 10bit 422 camcorders like the PX270 and the GH5 lets take a look at their latest offering the super 35mm large sensor EVA-1.
So lets look at the Panasonic EVA-1 in detail. What did we gleam from the information so far…
- The newly developed 5.7 K Super 35mm image sensor achieves high-quality 4K/10-bit 4:2:2 images.
- The wide 14-stop dynamic range, V-Log gamma and wide-color- gamut V-Gamut colorimetry, which are inherited from the VariCam Series, ensure cinema-like pictures.
- Dual native ISO of 800/2500 offers very high sensitivity with low noise. Supports High-frame-rate recording of 4K 60 fps/2K 240 fps maximum.
- The IR (infrared ray) cut filter ON/OFF mechanism provides the ability to shoot fantasy-like IR images with Cinematography mode.
- The main unit is lightweight and compact, weighing only 1.2 kg.
- It is equipped with an EF lens mount. The LCD monitor features a touch-panel function and allows flexible mounting.
- The detachable handle and rotary grip add a new dimension of mobility by enabling the installation of the camera to a drone or gimbal.
- Price £6,215 plus vat
Panasonic have decided EVA-1 is more hi end than we were expecting hence the price £7,458 after 20% vat is added. I am not going to beat around the bush and say I was rather disappointed in the price as I thought we were getting a camera that was a bit dearer than the AF101 £4,200, I plumbed for a price of £5,500 being closer to what I had decided was the EVA’s competition.
Price aside so far we have not yet seen any footage from the camera, that will come closer to IBC 2017 in September.
Running 4K 50p will be the making of this camera for me personally as it will integrate with my GH5’s.
I still think EVA-1 will be a cracking large sensor camcorder, I am personally glad Panasonic went down the super 35mm route and not the micro four thirds. Giving the camera a Canon EF mount will allow us to enjoy a lot of the new Sigma ART lenses especially the 18-35 f1.8 (29-56 with 1.6x crop).
Hi HDW. Bloody well done! I put the previous EVA-1 thoughts down to past medical history, and recognising your post was rather off base is a MAJOR achievement on your part and an excellent indication you are well on the road to recovery. Congratulations. Bob.
Ok, what about weather sealing? Is this thing just as the GH5 weather sealed? Battery life, how long does it last?
I find it difficult to see any real compelling reason to buy this over the FS7 at that price. (Especially with the much talked about lack of any EVF.) Or for that matter the (much cheaper) FS5 in a different market. Both the FS5 and FS7 have become the defacto “norm” in this market sector, and any potential competitor really needs to be substantially better or cheaper to break in. I just don’t see that with EVA-1.
Whilst I tend to think s35 is the way to go for such a type of camera, a friend does not share that opinion as he has a stock of 4/3 glass used with GH- cameras and was waiting for something like this but 4/3. It would at least have been a USP for Panasonic….
Finally, the usage of SD cards is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because they’re common – but I believe that no SD card currently is available that will reliably support the highest modes the EVA1 promises. Maybe eventually, but beware…..
Your comment about price is a good one. I’m no expert here but it would be interesting to see a big player go head to head with BlackMagic Design price point. I think the speed at which technology is moving is creating a challenge in the camera business as it pertains to sales. Camera users are not buying (or replacing) their cameras at the same speed.
Well, the Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro is about £5,200 inc VAT in the UK – basic body and excluding v/f, lens, grip or any battery etc. That’s virtually identical to Sonys FS5 – body only but the Sony does have an EVF.
What I find remarkable is how cameras have now reached a state where basic image quality of even cheap models is now of a standard where it can be hard to tell differences apart. (At least with a naked eye on normal scenes.) To an extent that’s even true of mobile phone cameras, though I hate to say it. What DOES differentiate still are factors such as connectivity, ergonomics, lens options, etc etc.(I’ve recently been taking a lot of photographs abroad and in some cases, it’s hard to tell the difference between mobile phone pictures and ones shot on my RX10. But where the RX10 absolutely won hands down was in terms of telephoto reach of the lens, “controllability”, ergonomics and when outdoors having an eyepiece viewfinder. When you can accurately see what you’re photographing, it’s much easier to take a good photograph! Nowadays high end mobile phones can be capable of high quality results – they can just be a pain to use and be far more limiting photographically.
(And it’s arguably the lack of EVF that most turns me off the EVA1. A fold out screen may be OK in lower light levels – in bright daylight they are next to useless.)