markr041

Low Light, Noise and Noise reduction. Everyone is obsessed with low-light and noise. Here's a video with two very low-light scenes shot with a nonfast lens (F4) on the Z Camera E1. For each scene the out-of-camera shot is first followed by the Neat Video NR application. Two observations: 1. The Z Camera noise is visible, but has no chroma content - and there is no smearing of detail (unlike on many Sony small-sensor cameras and Yi action cams), so the in-camera NR is light. 2. The Neat Video NR is quite good - the noise almost disappears, and the detail is retained. See the noise in the first clip around the number 1490 on the car.

I completely agree with your characterization of action cam footage. But I fail to see how it applies to the Z E1: it has 11-stops of dynamic range (or at least as wide as the GH4) and sharpening can be set to very low - it is adjustable. And there is a flat PP setting. Maybe you are using the old firmware, or did not try out the options. The GX85 image is candy and videoish.

I agree the E1 is not your usual camera. But I am not sure I get what you mean by "Action cammy' - the sensor is exactly the same one as in the GH4. I agree that with long lenses you can get nice shallow dof and bokeh, but these are properties of the lenses/sensor size. For wide angle, of course the picture will be similar to that of most cameras, even those with with smaller sensors. But there is no fisheye-look like from action cams unless you actually use a fisheye lens. The GX80 is indeed easier to use (I think the GH4 sensor is nicer than the one the GX85 has), but it is heavier and bigger and more expensive. And its wide-angle look will be exactly the same (though I think the GX85 color is hopped up).

Holiday Time, at the Airport...

Time-lapse, from 16MP images:

Graded from Zlog.

Here is a low-light DCI 4K video: Here is a 4K video shot at a Shenzhen Shopping Plaza:

Original Zlog DCI 4K clip available for download. See for yourself how it grades.

Extreme high-contrast setting: Zlog-graded DCI test video:

DCI 4K graded zlog: True 24.00 fps. Lumix 14-140mm lens.

DCI 4K and Z-log footage coming soon. Meanwhile, The Z returns to its roots - in Shenzhen: Lumix 14-140mm lens.

The stills are jpeg compression applied to the video; who knows what does. Again, again the best comparison is the *video* I posted with GH4 and Z shots in low light with the same lens, where the Z is better. It does not tell us much about the limits of 60 Mbps of course, but it does indicate low light differences directly. A compromise on the Yi 4K+ might be to shoot at 2.7K at 60p. Then you can choose to crop the sensor and avoid fisheye, and get better than FullHD.

The comparison that is relevant is the video I posted above using the GH4 and the Z with the same lens under dim, not low light. The Z colors are more accurate and the shots are less noisy. Comment on that, especially after downloading the original I uploaded. I agree that the sensor is not the only thing that counts, obviously. And i am not arguing the Z is the better camera, but the comparison video suggests at a minium no worse image for the Z, if not better.

You have a video with a direct comparison that I posted. No basis from that to say the GH4 is is better. Same sensor. I agree the very low light examples are not great, but m43 is not great for that in general. They were jpegs from frames, so that may have affected the results.

It is expensive, and that's a really small sensor. You don't want go give up 4K with those other choices!

I don't have c mount lenses. Btw, you can get a modified Yi 4K+ that has a c-mount. https://www.back-bone.ca/product/ribcage-yi-4k-plus/

I only got the camera two days ago, so I will report back as I learn more. On build, it seems solid. The battery/card door is firm and solid. The port door is a little rubber thingy. It won't break. The buttons have the right feel, you know when they are pressed and they are not loose. For the outside sunny videos I shot a little under. The results were a little over and I could pull down in post to retrieve the highlights and color. This presumably reduces noise in shadows. The low light comparison video was shot at 0, with no exposure adjustment in post. Ooc the colors are a bit muted, one can up the sat in camera or in post. I added just a bit in post, and the colors emerged nicely. I am taking the camera on a trip now - I need the portability. I will learn about battery life and if there is any overheating. I will try the Z-log. As I said, with the normal setting, I did adjust exposure and sat in post with no obvious issues.

The Yi 4K+ does 4K 60p at even 200 Mbps. Resolution is excellent, color is nice, and the 60p means you can make 4K slomo. No picture settings except sharpness and a flatter profile. There is no stabilization in 4K 60p, so you must use a gimbal. Not good in dim or low light - excessive NR yields soft results. And you have the usual fisheye distorting effects. It is really for specialized uwa use. The Z can be shot handheld with OIS lenses. I do not know much about the gx850. It is larger than the Z, and may have less manual controls in video mode. It is not a videocentric camera like the Z. 5 minute limit on 4K video - no limit for the Z. The Z has mic port, not the 850. The 850 has focus peaking and magnification and a touchscreen. Confirmed: no manual control whatsoever in video on the gx850. Only autoexposure. Fail.

You are welcome. I am not sure there are any comparable cams - it is $249 at BH. It is the smallest ilc , but bigger sensor. The small size means no dials, just buttons (2 assignable). No focus peaking, but does have auto magnification or push button to magnify. AF is like all Panasonic's, slow. There is push button AF and CAF. DR is 11 stops. No picture profiles except Z log! There are settings for NR , saturation, contrast, sharpness. No zebras or histogram. But the results are at least as good as the GH4. 60 Mbps bitrate though.

Too Noisy? 4K frame grabs from a dim church (no video because it is too shaky - using an unstabilized lens (Lumix 20mm f1.7)).

Lumix 14-140mm lens. AWB, AF, handheld.