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The perfect camera for jail-ees? Read the full blog post

Hahaha! Very funny! Does it also come in an ANALmorphic version? ;-)

The more people know about the Ursa's image quality - which blows the c300 mark ii and fs7 out of the water - and the compactness and usermenu system that is 400x easier than either - the more people will rent them. I'm blown away by the ursa mini 4.6k. Blown away.

I'm shooting a documentary right now with 2 GX80 (mostly school-type events), and other than the EVF being difficult to focus with and no punch-in magnification during recording, they are great, small, unobtrusive tools and I like the image quality. The clients and teachers have commented on how they forget that I'm there most of the time and I can fit an entire mobile recording studio including two tripods, a monopod and audio stuff in a backpack with lots of room to spare. The Olympus does have better IBIS, but the GX80 is pretty good too unless you are using a wide lens (distortion wobble) or move jerkily. I switch between the Voigtlander 17.5/42.5 combo, the PL15/1.7 + Olympus 75.1.8, or the Panasonic 2.8 zooms depending on how much space I have, light, or how fast things are moving. I've been really considering replacing the Voigtlanders with the PL12/1.4 and PL42.5/1.2 as it is so much easier to ensure focus with the back button... but then I look at the images.

The only thing I am missing from the NX1 is the focus magnification while recording video. Just that, but it is a quite serious omission. The ergonomics and menus of this camera is out of this world, in my whole life (and career) I haven't ever used anything so consumer friendly, ever. People haven't used one, do not know what I mean. Yes, it is starting to show its age, but the 28megapixels BSI sensor, the H265 codec, the unicorn 16-50 2-2.8f workhorse, and the hack/modding happening in this forum, is keeping it near the top almost 2 and a half years after its first release, truly the first prototypical hybrid camera of the 21st century, equal photos and video.

I wouldn't like to penetrate that market

Among other shows, I'm the DP for a series that runs on Motor Trend On Demand called "The House of Muscle" (it's about Muscle Cars.) This is a fun series to shoot since we travel around the country and drive some amazing cars. Weather is always an issue. For the series our primary cameras have been a Sony FS7 as primary a Canon 1DS Mk2 for secondary and a Sony A7S for rigged and gimbal shots. The A7S was good, but it wasn't perfect. After already shooting several episodes for this season, this past week we filmed in Alabama and I replaced the A7S (typically used with Nikon 20mm f/2.8 or Sony Zeiss 16-35) with an A99II (using a set of Sony Zeiss primes: 24, 50, 135). The show is delivered in HD, so 4k isn't necessary. Episodes 1, 3 and 4 were shot in Slog, and since I wasn't thrilled with the coloring done in post on episode 3 (totally different team handles post), that, plus needing fast turn-around pushed us to going with cooked 709s. Versus the A7S, the A99II delivered a much better shooting experience with negligible difference in quality. Here's some thoughts on how this overlooked camera performed: When rigged for in-car commentary, the rotating screen of the A99II allowed me to run without a second monitor. For exterior mounts the weather sealed body make me feel more comfortable with the occasional splash Much, much better battery life. It's a pain to de-mount a camera just to change a battery. Full support of the dual-channel wireless lav receiver (I didn't use it for the House of Muscle like this, but for a 22-part series I shot for Autoblog last month we used it extensively on the A99II.) It's possible the A7S support it, but I haven't tried. More a plus for running Sony across the board I guess. Since we travel all over the USA to film this series, bag space is a premium and we're already packing 10 cases as it is. With the A99II I don't have to bring a second camera for photos (I always take a few for promo use.) The A7S simply wasn't good for action photos. My FS7 has an A-Mount adaptor, so I can swap my Zeiss prime set between both cameras easily. The 135mm f/1.8 is a beautiful lens. The full-frame video is good. Yes, there is some minor aliasing in FF mode, but nothing the client or the viewers will ever notice. Autofocus in video mode is excellent -- for how I use it. The ONLY time I auto-focus is when the camera is mounted on a Ronin gimbal when we do tracking car-to-car shots. Even with the f/3.5 "issue," the camera performs very well in this situation. To reduce the shutter speed in bright light, I just add the appropriate number of ND filters to hit my target exposure. The full-size DSLR-style body is more enjoyable to use. I found I shot a lot of run-and-gun with the A99II when I could have just as well grabbed the FS7 this past week. Built-in stabilization helped damp vibrations when running with a hard-mount on a chase-car. Like the A7S the dynamic range works magic to "save" exterior details when filming inside a dark car interior. A few areas where the A7S was better: Sharper image overall (negligible as far as the client was concerned.) Smooth aperture adjustments "on the fly" thanks to a manual control on the adaptor we used with the Nikon lens.

It's a location scout, test video... it isn't supposed to be good, but it can still be cool, and it is. Loved the shot of the lone metal chair in the middle of the room... really cool image... creepy. I really like the 1080p out of that camera... they're cheap as shit now too... a shame that 3-axis IBIS doesn't work for video... it would be a great little run and gun cam. It's so annoying Panasonic went so full force with 4K and only gave the high bitrate 1080p to their GH line of cameras.

I think Cinema5D already figured out which lens to get for their ANUS... a big black one. Must be in its erect state, because supposedly it's only 24mm.

Agreed. 7" is more like a set monitor for the director or something. I feel like 5" really is a more suitable size to be mounting it on a camera or rig. SmallHD makes some pretty sexy monitors. But they're way too premo. For that kind of money you're almost thinking Videodevices PIX-E5(H) which is like the best monitor/recorder-combo imaginable. Blackmagic has given the Video Assist some proper upgrades through firmware, but of course it still doesn't take 4K over HDMI. If you're looking for a monitor only, the Lilliput Q5 has some very awesome features, but like the VA lacks 4K support (luckily cameras like the GH4 have a selectable 1080p monitor output whilst recording in 4K). The Q5 as well is availlable as Neway model, there it's the CK550S. What does indeed take 4K is the mentioned Neway monitor CT500HO, which indeed basically is the Ikan DH5e. If you're looking for smaller, consider the Ikan VL35 which is 3.5" and takes 4K. I think the last proper mention goes to FeelWorld who have the FeelWorld G55, similar to the Lilliput/Neway, but to me seems a little crappier made. Another Chinese company seems to be the pretty unknown SWIT, but they're at their pricepoint there's better alternatives. Same for the Korean BON. But yeah, I think that about covers the sub 7"-range. Maybe the Sony CLM-FHD5 if you shoot on Sony cams a lot. Unfortunately a hell of a lot more restrictive than 7" that's just bombarded with all sorts of options. Wish Aputure would make some good value sub 7" monitors, they've been killing it so far, would've been awesome if the '5' in 'VS-5' would've meant '5 inch'. Some more recorder combos would be welcome a well... a 5" 4K recording or to 1080p downsampling BMD Video Assist, Convergent Design Odyssey, Atomos (update to the Ninja Blade?!), or something would be welcome. Of course it would be appreciated to stay south of $1k. If you're just shooting 1080p and want one of the cheapest solutions, maybe go for a Viltrox DC-50.

Wait till you see the new ENDOSCOPE 2X 8K Anamorphic primes, prepare your ANUS for the ultimate stretch.

Oh dear.

Thats what i heard, but from what ive read the gx7 seems a little better in low light (usable at 1600 rather than 800) and the colours may have been better too (gh4 users seem to have often reported a dead, yellowish tint to skin). I had the G6 too and felt the gx7 sensor was significantly better @mercer i mean.. the video isnt well done at all but the places were pretty cool Here

and this is why we don't get nice prototype cameras for pre-review....

Who needs Raw when you got Log?

Yeh I did, thanks The GX7 is a good cam. Loved it when I first got it.

First time posting here but I've lurked this thread ever since andrew started it, which ultimately made me get a GX80. Anyway, Ive been using a Sony a7s (mark I) since it came out and this was the first time I used my GX80 for a shoot. I wanted to use as little gear as possible, so I only took the cam, my lenses (14 2.5, 25 1.7, 42.5 1.7) and my glidecam (which I only used for the walking shots in the beginning). All filmed in 1080p50. In hindsight 4k might have been a better choice, but I'm happy with details, noise, etc.. Just one thing - the video has grain added in post. During filming I wasn't too sure about the footage - especially using the kinda crappy EVF. But editing I realized everything came out pretty much as I hoped. The only times I felt the the camera wasn't up to the task were high-contrast images (see the shot at the counter, handing over the bag). Exposing for the bright parts would have made everything else too dark and otherwise the highlights were blown out. But using my Sony (and even an external recorder) woulnd't have resulted in a more balanced shot. So, not to make this post too long, I'm stoked on this little cam and even consider getting a GH5. If anyone's interested, I'll keep posting as I use the cam more and hopefully notice more detailed stuff (like using adapted nikkors, downscaled 4k vs. HD,...). Just don't expect scientific tests.

I just want to share my experience with getting rid of the blocks artifacts especially on a sky, I've found out that it's all to do with ISO value! when using the gamma DR profile and a low iso this introduces very ugly blocks or artifacts on the blue channel so I tried with a high iso either 500 or 800 and turns out it reduced this by a large margin if not completely. however high iso means overexposure, so ND filter must be used, if you're shooting a talent then you'll need to reflect light on your subject too. The picture shows you the difference, look at top left corner, I've maximized the color grading to be able to see it. I also tried adding grain to the 100 iso image but that still didn't fix the blocky image. The blocks are due to the compressed 8bit only video quality and the nature of h265.

On my EM5II I do find myself taking more stills because of this. I guess that's a big reason why I find the camera kind of fun and enjoyable to work with.

Not watched Max Yuryev's video but it seems like he craptalks the E-M1 II a lot in it. The 4K picture is superb. Moire? Is he talking about the 1080p? The dynamic range is also very good with the flat picture profile. Worse low light than G85 - again doesn't correlate to what I see at all. Can't trust the AF-C - well you can't on anything. As for the codec I guess he doesn't understand how VBR works and hence a lot of other cameras with a H.264 codec. This camera has a ton of positives - Very good image quality in 4K. Nicer feeling body than the GH5, feels better built as well. Best rolling shutter and best stabilisation performance on the market. Ergonomics for video work nicely even though it's primarily a stills camera. Superb colour Superb skintones Excellent codec Very big EVF Amazing battery life Amazing stills features like 60fps RAW bursts at 20MP and very good AF (for stills)

I'm a simple man. When I see NX1, I press like.

Or at the very least use protection. What is the concensus on UV filters these days, does the pope approve?

The A99II every time. For me, the lack of an EVF makes the 1DXII a non-starter. The touch-focus is really, really good, however, and that overcomes a lot. But it's just not my style of shooting. Also, those files sizes are a bit ridiculous on the Canon.

You mean rear view?

Regarding the Cinemartin, check the comments section out here: http://nofilmschool.com/2017/01/cinemartin7-inch-hd-monitor-99-dollars

Gran trabajo.

It certainly is for S-log if you shoot that. Cine for quick SOOTC with little to add in post, but this guy is making me want to try something different:

"Neway's are usually known as rebranded Ikan's. There is a touch screen 5" one that interests me most, it is the same as the 5" Ikan, a bit cheaper, and accepts 4K", just wrote that on the other "Cheap 7" monitors" thread, maybe it is exactly the same as you ask. I do find the 7" too much for my needs.

I knew I wanted this set up because I looked at both the Varicam LT shoulder Pad and the Zacuto...they are both used with the VCT-14 plate...there are knock-offs...but if you're patient, this will last you a lifetime. Below is an old one on Ebay...the Sony's work especially well as you get heavier cameras or rigs on and off...I would not hesitate to get an old one...professional piece of rigging you'll only buy once! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-VCT-14-/182485692194?hash=item2a7cfeaf22:g:Q64AAOSwTM5YxGCt

i need RAW ANUS

Hold your hats ladies and gentlemen, not so fast, the Samsung camera department is not dead yet, with the latest scandals at Samsung there been words that Samsung is once again putting focus on their mirrorless cameras. And also it was the son of head of Samsung groups that decided to lay off the cameras and move the team to focus on smartphone stuff, it clearly has not worked and one of their wonderful smartphones caught fire, a lot of people do not realise either but Samsung never had a proper camera department until they actually bought Pentax tech and people say that their smartphone department made great strides in sensor technology is simply not true, it was a two way cooperation between the camera department and the smartphone department. There still hopes for NX2

OK people, some news here: After long research i dropped the concept of DIY silicone molding and plastic casting because it appears too complicated, requires a lot of additional gear, results are not always predictable, and experiments may take many months. Also i find that those plastic casting materials are not too heat resistant and can deform under extreme sun. It is also problematic to get a neutral deep black color with them. So i return to concept of 3D printed box. I tested few different FDM 3D printers and find that they can produce very different results depending of used material and printer brand. Also instead of unpredictable fragile ABS plastic i find Elastan D70 - new industrial material developed by local manufacturer. It is solid but same time slightly elastic and resistant to impact loads (95 Shore Type D). Usable in temps from -40 to +120 °С. Resistant to UV light, X-ray, wet, oils, fats and many solvents, safe for food contact, low shrinkage durable material. Internal part of the box was also redesigned. It became much stronger now. In day or so i'll get a first test sample of printed box so we can see how it looks, how it feels and do a crash test with heavy hammer.

Because they lightweight and consumerfriendly. Also, everyone's gotta play the segmentation game to some level. Back to Leica... the 15 mil is quite nice on a GX85/80, it's like it belongs there, LX100-like footprint. I do like the Leica rendering. Out of focus areas are Bob Ross paintings that are sprayed down with winner's champagne. It has character. It's not all about sharpness. Sometimes I even like soft Canon footage that just disregards the sharpness of a lens altogether. It's like a gentle smooth wine VS something a little more strong that might make you cough a little. No denying both are pretty good stuff though. To me it doesn't really matter what label is on the bottle or what container they serve me the drinks in... as long as it taste good and makes me feel like 'what the fuck did I do last night?' in the morning, I'm good. Also saw that comment by Andy Lee in the 'Gear for sale' section! Really gotta give that Metabones Speedbooster with dummy C/Y to EF adapter and Contax Zeiss lenses a shot! Did you unlist the lenses to do just that? (btw, you can do a similar thing with Leica (or Leitz) Summicron-R lenses (L/R))

Once you go black, you better get them dual sluts Experiment with it! Just be careful about rolling shitter

I heard they want to release focal reducers to fit the ANUS. Apparently some people had a hard time going real wide with it.

Color Profile is Natural with everything dialed down to -5. I white balance with a small grey card I keep in my bag. But I feel AWB is quite reliable too. About highlight/shadow - I messed with it a bit when I got the camera, but didn't like the results very much. At least turning up shadows made grading a bit tricky. But I'm no colorist by any means, so maybe it might help a bit if you know what you're doing while grading. I'll play with it more for sure. I also didn't have much time finishing the video, so I used filmconvert (GH4, Natural, KD Portra 400) with some adjustments. If I find some time I'll try to get more out of some shots. EDIT: About the shot of the counter - that's basicly what the lighting was. Hard light from top, so I guess it's fine. I just prefer a more balanced look.

old school ones - Don't need 8k

That's the thing about various gear or filmmaking "blogs" out there. Most often it's dipshits like me spouting off on our anecdotal and biased experiences. And there's nothing inherently wrong with that. But when a site purports to be some sort of authority on matters when all they're doing is elevating us fellow dipshits to assert some faux academia and generate ad revenue, damn right readers are going to be skeptical about that nonsense. "Don't bullshit a bullshitter" is the American colloquialism...or "dipshitter," if you prefer. I mean, god bless the kids at a site like nofilmschool for pissing into the wind with their tinkle of naiveté. I think even that sort of blog has a place, but to manufacture cut'n'paste "content" with the priority being the monetizing of it all? No thanks. Too smelly. Fact is, EOSHD doesn't play that "content" game. It's not trying to be something it's not. It has license to be aggravated, satirical, or dismissive because it's willing to pay the price to do so. When I was a kid we'd shorthand such an attitude by simply saying it's "punk rock." If anything, that's the minor-key vibe that keeps me around here. Expecting EOSHD to be otherwise, knowing what we know of the owner of this place, is also slightly ridiculous.

Another example with the GX85. The shoot was a bit of a disaster! Record company said they needed the video for the next week. We had a Sunday to shoot. Only one venue available. Picked up lights on Saturday. Group arrived late on Sunday. Get to the location and plug in the lights...fuse switches off! We could only use overhead fluorescent lights! Arrrrgh! Anyway, the GX85 held up quite well all things considered. Lenses: SLR Magic 12mm T1.6 and Voigtlander 25mm F0.95. A mixture of 4K and 1080 50p

I just got the VS2 Fine HD from Apature and its pretty good, havent tried it extensivelly yet, but it def helps focusing and so on on the a7sII. It supports 4k as well, and I payed 240€ +- for it.

Not one of your better reviews, Andrew... I mean... you didn't even mention if I had too adapt the lens to attach to my ANUS... and is it rectalinear?

I was curious to find out if it did or not. It does very well. Even on an older firmware than most seem to be and works great. Maybe I should make a little video of it in action to show how little I know about using monitors. At the moment I can move my fingers and not much else though. So much for my new bruce lee hobbie. - Anyway, I should have got 2 or 3 monitors when they were 120.

Head Andrew, what's happening you ? You are very hungry now, I suppose because the GH5 fight... Please don't give up,your article are usually very interesting and also technically correct, continue on that way. I found always your test very useful, not supported of charts test and other things... But still very good test.

I thought it was funny. Loved the ending.

What is happening here? Recent articles include how much you love the 1dxii and how the Leica SL is your logical upgrade path, and now you write some sort of attempt at satire against high end cinema? This was very uncomfortable to read.

haha! I am sure they do! Nuh..they are not that sensitive, cameras do not broke that easily, you see in various forums that only a few complain about broken NXes, and usually the top dial somehow do not work properly. They seem very well implemented, plus there are quite a lot new ones from Korea. From various sources around the net (and your Fabebook as well) it seems like there are a lot more NX users than I though they were, just not enough obviously. As it seems, my NX1/NX500/NX3000+all the lenses I need (except the 50-150 I do not have) will keep me good company for a few more years. The things I mentioned above are the only concerns, but a breakthrough in any of these could keep the cameras relative for at least a couple more years (until 2020), do not even want to know what will happen if we can extract raw, somehow, out of these, people are buying 5DmarkII for their Magic Lantern capabilities! We will see, it is an interesting journey nevertheless, and thanks for all your effort, much obliged!

wow... how.. disappointing I wish they compared it with the 180Mbps HEVC of Nx500/Nx1 too

If you're fine with 1080p and the SLR form factor, the D750 is an excellent hybrid.

I think it's a fine reference, since it's how many people will view your work. I always check work on my phone as it gives you an idea of how it will be seen. It shouldn't be your only screen though