nofilmschool » mirrorless

Panasonic Releases New GH3 Firmware V1.1, Will We See a Hack Soon?

Joe Marine — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:17:06 +0000

The Panasonic GH3, if you’ve been looking to buy one, has been out of stock many places pretty consistently. While it began shipping in November of last year, there have been quite a few shortages over the past few months — not too dissimilar from the launch of the GH2. That hasn’t stopped Panasonic from improving the product, however, as they’ve just released a new firmware update, version 1.1. Check out the details below. (more…)

Could Leica's New Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera Be Shooting Your Next Movie?

Joe Marine — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 23:58:20 +0000

There were rumors that Leica would be announcing a new camera with video capabilities, and sure enough, with their new $7,000 full-frame 24 Megapixel Leica M, they added a video function. There is a lot of love for Leica out there thanks to their sharp and bokeh-licious lenses, and their simple but high-quality digital cameras, and while their pricing is a bit high, adding a video mode means another possible option for those looking for compact and impressive image quality. But what does the video look like? Johnnie Behiri over at cinema5D recently took the Lecia M for a spin. Check out his results as well as some other Leica M videos below. (more…)

Meet Sony's New Budget Mirrorless Camera, the NEX-3N, and a New SLT, the A58

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:53:36 +0000

Sony isn’t about to be left behind in any facet of video technology, be it camera, console, or display. They’ve got a model at every conceivable price point for every person out there. There have been some leaks of a new budget mirrorless camera, and now we finally have our first glimpse. Sony has unveiled the A58, a digital SLT (single lens translucent mirror), and the least expensive E-mount mirrorless camera in their lineup, the NEX-3N. They’re cheap, they’re light, and they’ll render “vivid, ultra-realistic colors” on special OLED displays. Read on for some details and beauty shots. (more…)

Polaroid, Technicolor, Kodak: With the Branded Beast Extinct, What Becomes of the Brand?

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:29:21 +0000

In the whirlwind of hyperactive change that is Moore’s Law, branding can be a prime anchor point. Brand identity fights the tendency toward ‘the new’ with powerful invocations of the past: nostalgia, reliability, simplicity, and the association of that brand name with the creation of very dear memories. Granted, nostalgia alone can’t save anyone from bankruptcy — but it’s a start. Polaroid, Technicolor, and Kodak are prime examples of this interplay, and each is adapting in its own ways — though there’s some overlap. Not one, but two of these traditionally film-based companies are even releasing digital cameras. In whatever the way, each of the three is working toward the preservation of its own historic brand name — which do you think will pull through? (more…)

What's the Best Camera Under $1K? Canon T4i, Sony NEX-6, Panasonic GH2 Shootout

Dave Kendricken — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:39:00 +0000

Kevin Good and the Weapons of Mass Production team are on a sleepless mission to determine the best bang for your buck, and weed out all the rest. Each contender will get its due where it excels, but a clear winner will emerge from the settling dust just about every time — and WOMP will suffer no runners-up, all on behalf of the budget shooter. You know this from the show’s 24-70mm lens shootout — you also know how to shoot with an iPhone, or how others measure up to GoPro as action cameras. Now, WOMP sets out to answer the question of questions in today’s camera market: what’s the best you can do for under a thousand dollars? (Runners-up, beware). (more…)

9 New Panasonic GH3 Test Videos Show the Camera's Capabilities and Limitations

Justin Minich — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 18:20:48 +0000

You’ve seen the test videos and the first short film made with the prototype models, but now the production models of the Panasonic GH3 have been around for almost a month. Those filmmakers who decided to take the early adoption plunge have been out there kicking the GH3‘s figurative tires and uploading their resulting videos. Here I’ve picked out those videos that should answer lingering questions about moire, ISO, the wireless app, overall image quality, and how the GH3 compares to the GH2 (and popular DSLR’s). I’ll also chime in occasionally with my thoughts on the brief hands-on experience I had with the camera: (more…)

Sony All but Promises More Full Frame Video Beyond 2012: Mirrorless, or Otherwise

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 12:41:24 +0000

2012 marked a monumental year for Sony. Not one, not two, but three full frame video or video-capable cameras were announced, and on the same day, no less. One of these constitutes the only full frame camcorder to date, the NEX-VG900, so the historicity really can’t be discounted. Doubtlessly responding to consumer and industry feedback, and before the models the company has announced have even been released yet, Sony isn’t content to let the waves they’ve made in our cozy little pond merely ripple back. Instead, they’ve all but confirmed yet another stills/video camera in production, targeting even more pieces of the market share they’ve aggressively sought to carve out. In this case, Sony’s bringing all the more good news for full frame enthusiasts — especially those looking past the A99 — and those DSLR users with positive mirrorless shooting experiences. (more…)

Panasonic Officially Starts Shipping the GH3 (Plus New Test Videos)

Justin Minich — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 22:30:12 +0000

Some of us have been waiting for this since the camera stat rumors in September, and others since the GH2 was hacked. Despite earlier news of a slightly delayed release date, it looks like Panasonic has officially begun shipping the GH3. If you’re just now learning about the GH3, be sure to check out the camera’s stats and past videos. However, if you’ve been following the news, jump in and check out the latest test videos: (more…)

Panasonic GH3 Uncompressed HDMI Might Be Useless

Joe Marine — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:52:25 +0000

It should be pointed out that Panasonic has gotten almost everything right with the GH3. They have addressed more user suggestions in one version update than most companies do in three. Not only have they given higher bitrate recording modes, but they also seemed to have increased dynamic range (even if only slightly). The other big feature that wasn’t given as much attention is the ability to record the uncompressed signal from the HDMI. There have been rumblings about the color space coming from the HDMI, and it had been noted in many places that the output was only 8-bit 4:2:0. Since the camera isn’t final, and not all Panasonic employees were familiar with the finer details, I had initially been hesitant about posting the information. Now EOSHD has an interview with a senior engineer at Panasonic about the issue. (more…)

Leica and Hasselblad Adding 1080p Video to New Camera Lines

Joe Marine — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 23:27:32 +0000

Leica, known for its beautifully handbuilt rangefinder full-frame 35mm still cameras, and Hasselblad, known for their high-end medium format camera systems, have both announced new cameras at Photokina. While not terribly exciting news on its own, what is exciting is that for the first time ever, both companies now have cameras capable of video. Is this a turning point for manufacturers, where a stills camera is no longer enough? Will all still cameras be capable of shooting RAW video some day? Better yet, can you even afford these still cameras in the first place? Click through for more details on both. (more…)

Panasonic GH3 Gets Uncompressed HDMI for $1,300, New Lenses Coming

Joe Marine — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 02:17:04 +0000

Panasonic did finally announce the GH3 today, even though we already knew most of the details. One of the few that we didn’t know about was the HDMI port, and sure enough, Panasonic has allowed the recording of the HDMI feed while also allowing the camera to record internally to the SD card — doing Nikon one better. The great thing about this option is that you can have a simultaneous proxy or backup if you want it. Panasonic has put a lot of technology into this camera, and it’s the most advanced video recording DSLR (mirrorless) camera under $1,500. There is also a behind-the-scenes of the Philip Bloom DP’ed short Genesis out now where both Bloom and Bruce Logan talk more about the camera. First, here is that short, which you should download in 1080p for better quality: (more…)

More Sony Announcements: Full-Frame RX1 Camera, Mirrorless NEX-6, and Four New Lenses

Joe Marine — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 03:26:55 +0000

I would be surprised if Sony announces any more cameras today. By my count, this is 5. They are introducing another world’s first, a fixed-lens full-frame camera called the Sony DSC-RX1. Along with that camera, they also announced the much-anticipated NEX-6 and also three new E-mount lenses, as well as a new A-mount lens. Check out the introduction videos below for more information on the two new mirrorless cameras. (more…)

Fuji Unveils the Beautifully Retro X-E1, Could This Be the Foundation for a Digital Cinema Camera?

Joe Marine — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 07:31:55 +0000

While I don’t normally show off cameras that will be mainly used as a tool for photography (though it does have 1080p 24fps), the stuff that is coming out of Fuji is incredibly interesting. The new X-E1 joins a family of cameras from Fujifilm that harken back to a simpler time in photography. With that philosophy in mind, the cameras are designed first and foremost to take great images without an overly complicated design (sounds a bit like the Blackmagic Cinema Camera and the Digital Bolex, wouldn’t you say?). Looking at this new camera however, definitely makes me wonder if Fuji would ever make their own digital cinema camera. If they did make a real video camera, would it share this same design philosophy? (more…)

Hands-On with the New Mirrorless Canon EOS M Camera: Are Aliasing and Moire Improved?

Joe Marine — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 20:42:45 +0000

The Canon EOS M was only just announced, but there are some hands-on impressions already floating around. The camera marks Canon’s first attempt at a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, and they’ve gone with a very subtle design both in the body and the new EF-M lenses. Sebastian over at cinema5D was invited by Canon to a pre-announcement event last week, and was able to play with the camera a bit. He gives some of his impressions and his overall feel of the camera below. (more…)

Canon Announces the Mirrorless EOS M Camera with Extended Video Recording Times

Joe Marine — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:03:17 +0000

Canon, after seemingly endless rumors, has finally revealed their mirrorless offering, the EOS M. Though it’s not the retro design some were hoping for, it does pack a nice sensor inside very similar to the new T4i (if not the same exact one). If you’re already a Canon shooter, this body can be as professional or slimmed down as you want it to be, and you can shoot with the lenses you already own, or get into the new Canon mirrorless lenses. The big question is performance, does it stack up to the DSLRs when it comes to video and photos? (more…)

Canon's Mirrorless Camera Emerges, but Why Should We Care?

Joe Marine — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 18:01:06 +0000

It’s been rumored for awhile, but images have finally appeared that show the new Canon mirrorless camera in all its glory. With pictures like this surfacing, there’s a good chance that an announcement is not far away. The new Canon mirrorless mount lenses will use the name EF-M, and it seems they will also be video-optimized lenses based on the STM lettering. Those lenses were first introduced with the new Canon T4i, but they aren’t completely silent as we might have first imagined. With so many other mirrorless stills cameras out there (with the GH2 featuring the best video quality), what makes this one special? (more…)