Here's a YouTube video from victorbart shot at the Atomos IBC event booth showing off the Sony A7s with Shogun 4K recorder. While the Shogun itself has already been in the news, Atomos is also showing a Powerstation Solution that can power both the Shogun and a camera body. That's definitely going to be required with the small battery size of the Sony A7s. This looks like a clean solution that hopefully will be available for other camera bodies as well.
dslr video
Panasonic Announces GM5 and LX100 4K Camera
Panasonic has made an exciting announcement for two new cameras.
Panasonic Lumix LX100 4K Camera w f/1.7-2.8 Lens
Product Highlights
16.8MP 4/3" Multi-Aspect MOS Sensor
Leica DC Vario-Summilux f/1.7-2.8 Lens
24-75mm (35mm Equivalent)
2,764k-Dot EVF
3.0" 921k-Dot Rear LCD Screen
4K Ultra HD Video at 30/24 fps in MP4
Full HD Video at 60fps in MP4 or AVCHD
Manual Control Rings and Dials
Built-in Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
External Flash Included
Panasonic Lumix GM5 Mirrorless Camera
Product Highlights
16MP Digital Live MOS Sensor
Venus Engine Image Processor
Micro Four Thirds System
1,166k-Dot Viewfinder
Full HD 1080p Video at 60 fps
Contrast AF & Focus Peaking
External Flash Hotshoe
Built-in Wi-Fi Connectivity
Highly Compact Magnesium Alloy Body
LUMIX G Vario 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
Canon Announces new EOS 7D Mark II
Description
The EOS 7D Mark II features a refined APS-C sized 20.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor with Dual DIGIC 6 Image Processors for gorgeous imagery. It shoots up to 10 frames per second at ISOs ranging from 100–16000 (expandable to H1: 25600, H2: 51200), has a 65-point* all cross-type AF system and features Canon’s amazing Dual Pixel CMOS AF for brilliant Live-View AF. It has dual card slots for both CF and SD cards, USB 3.0 connectivity and even has built-in GPS** for easy location tagging, automatically.
Achieve Impressive AF During Video Capture.
Canon’s innovative Dual Pixel CMOS AF enables you to shoot video like a camcorder with smooth, fast, and accurate autofocus and lets you enjoy instant and precise autofocus even when shooting stills.
The EOS 7D Mark II features Canon’s revolutionary Dual Pixel CMOS AF, a milestone in AF speed and accuracy that unlocks the potential of Live View shooting. This advanced technology has truly changed what is possible with a DSLR camera.
Dual Pixel CMOS AF involves a sophisticated rethinking of the CMOS sensor. Traditionally, image sensors have one photodiode per pixel for recording, but the CMOS sensor on the EOS 7D Mark II has two photodiodes per pixel, 40 million in total, enabling each pixel on the sensor to both perform phase-difference detection autofocus and capture light. With phase-difference detection AF, autofocus is achieved quickly and easily on the camera. This unique AF system enables autofocus on approximately 80% of the image plane, vertically and horizontally, and helps ensure virtually no loss in image quality.
Just to recap, the new Canon 7D Mark II has a 20.2 Megapixel Dual Pixel CMOS AF enabling you to shoot video like a camcorder with smooth, fast, and accurate autofocus and for low noise at High ISO. A 65-point* all cross-type high-performance AF system. High speed continuous shooting up to 10.0 fps allows you to capture fast action. The Viewfinder II provides approximately 100% field of view, and now a built-in intervalometer for time lapse.
I get the feeling Canon isn't pushing towards video shooters as much as they are pushing it as a fast stills camera for sports photographers. But for video shooters who want to stick with Canon, one upgrade over other Canon DSLRs is the ability to now shoot 1080/60fps (sorry no 4K talk). The dual pixel auto focus in video mode should make it very easy to track subjects and maintain sharp focus, and hopefully this new sensor and dual Digic 6 processors will offer amazing low light capabilities. For more information about the new Canon 7D Mark II check it out via Adorama (click here).
Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Olympus Announces 40-150mm F/2.8 Pro MFT Lens
Product Description:
With a premium metal construction and a variety of specialized lens elements the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO Lens from Olympus will provide Micro Four Thirds users with a compact, yet durable and sharp telephoto zoom lens. It has a 35mm equivalent focal length of 80-300mm for covering a wide range of telephoto lengths and has a fast constant f/2.8 aperture that matches other professional grade lenses. Additionally, it utilizes a Dual Voice Coil Motor, or VCM, autofocus system that features two separate lens groups that are each controlled by their own linear drive motor. This results in incredibly fast performance that is nearly friction-free and very quiet.
Inside the dust, free, and splash-proof lens body are a variety of specialized elements that feature the ZERO lens coating, including one aspherical, one high refractive index, and five extra-low dispersion elements for improved imaging performance. There is also a floating mechanism that allows users to focus as close as 27.6" for a maximum magnification of 0.42x. Additionally, the outside of the lens body features a manual focus clutch for rapidly switching from auto to manual focus as well as an L-Fn button that can be programmed to change a specific setting. Included with the lens are a lens hood and a case.
Anyone miss the part about Image Stabilization? Looks like this lens is best suited for cameras like the EM-1 where stabilization is provided in-body. For more information check out the product page via B&H (click here).
Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO Lens
Samsung NX1 4K Video Mirrorless Camera
The native 4K Samsung NX1 Mirrorless Digital Camera features a 28.2MP BSI APS-C CMOS sensor that not only produces high-resolution images, but also 4K video at 24 fps, UHD at 30 fps, and full 1080p HD video at up to 60 fps. High Efficiency Video Coding (H.265) is applied so that even 4K and UHD video files remain easy to edit and share. A sharp, 3.0" HD 1036k-dot touchscreen monitor and 205 phase-detection AF points benefit both cinematographers and still photographers, and in instances where it is preferable to use the camera's viewfinder instead, a sharp, built-in XGA OLED electronic viewfinder is also built-in.
Samsung NX1 4K Video Mirrorless Camera
Built for fast shooting conditions, the NX1 provides a 15 fps burst with autofocus plus a 1/8000th second maximum shutter speed. For use in low-light, the ISO range can be expanded from 100 to 51,200. A full complement of shooting modes are available, including Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Program, and Shutter Priority, plus "smart" modes such as Action Freeze, Beauty Face, Fireworks, Landscape, Multi-Exposure, Night, Panorama, Rich Tone (HDR), Sunset, and Waterfall. Images can be saved as RAW files or JPEGs of various file sizes that correspond to user-selectable image ratios of 3:2, 16:9, or 1:1 and according to the user's desired color editing space of Adobe RGB or sRGB.
Saving and outputting large video and image files are accommodated by the camera's ability to utilize UHS-I or UHS-II SD-type memory cards, and a USB 3.0 port. Additionally, a micro HDMI connector allows video to be recoded directly to an external recording device with a 4:2:2 (8-bit) output signal. The NX1 also takes advantage of wireless technology as well. Built-in Near Field Communication (NFC) capability allows individual images to be wirelessly transferred from the camera to a smartphone or tablet. Additionally, 802.11b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi capability coupled with Bluetooth 3.0 technology allows for fast and cordless transfer of files while providing constant and accurate GPS data when the NX1 is paired with smartphone.
Varavon Birdycam2 3 Axis Gimbal FREE Battery Promotion
Here's a little video (below) on how to use the Varavon Birdycam2 Gimbal Stabilizer in a compact low-mode form factor. The DJI Ronin has a setting in which you would turn the handle sideways in which they call this 'Briefcase Mode'. If we are to compare size and weight to the DJI Ronin, I guess for the Varavon it would be more like 'small handbag' mode? I'll leave it up to you guys to come up with a better name..
While I still think the DJI Ronin is worth every bit for anyone working with a camera larger than a C100, the Varavon Birdycam2 should not be left out of the equation. This is definitely a gimbal that should be considered for anyone with smaller cameras looking to travel with the most portable, lightweight, and compact gear. The entire unit is literally small enough to fit inside a normal backpack (including it's own stand). In the video i'm using a Tokina 11-16mm on the GH4 which is still far from the max capacity the Birdycam2 can handle. In fact I had to bring my PID settings down to around 23 for this setup.
In any case, if you are still considering the Varavon Birdycam2 Gimbal they are currently offering a FREE Extra Battery Promotion ($200 dollar value / limit one per customer). You'll need to upload some type of video across a few social networks to qualify, and this deal ends in just a few weeks. For more information you can check them out at their website (click here).
Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS Lens
Sony has announced it's latest Full-Frame FE Mount Lens, and with this range of 28-135mm this could be a great all around lens for video use. Although it's widest aperture is F/4 I don't think Sony A7s owners will have any issues with losing a few stops of light, if you can get over the price of $2499.
Sony FE PZ 28-135mm Lens
Designed for the demands of 4K and HD movie-making and high-resolution still photography, this weather-sealed full-frame E-mount lens features variable-speed zoom, powered by a Super Sonic wave Motor, along with quiet linear motor-driven autofocus and iris adjustment. Lens breathing during focusing and axial displacement while zooming has been reduced and there are independent control rings for zoom, focus, and iris, engineered to provide the right amount of torque for responsive operation. Optical SteadyShot image stabilization controls blur, while aspherical and ED lens elements, along with a Nano AR coating, provide sharp imaging devoid of flare and ghosting.
Bower 16mm T/2.2 Cine Lens Deal
Not a huge discount, but a savings nonetheless. The Bower branded 16mm Cine Lens is currently discounted and available for several mounts including Sony E, Canon EF-M, Canon EF-S, Fuji X, Micro Four Thirds, Samsung NX, and also Sony A mounts. If you've been eyeballing this lens it's currently being offered with an instant savings of $80 bucks (click here).
Bower 16mm T/2.2 Cine Lens Discount
Sandisk Announces Largest 512GB SDXC Card
Sandisk has a few new ExtremePro cards available in 128GB and 256GB. Just in case you felt 256GB sd cards weren't large enough or maybe you were just too lazy to swap it out with another, Sandisk is also making available a new Extreme Pro 512GB SDXC Card.
These new cards look familiar, but are different than previous Extreme Pro cards by raising the bar with a UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) rating. These new cards are listed via Adorama (click here).
Sandisk Extreme Pro 512GB SDXC 95MB/s