Off to the side of Panasonic’s booth at NAB 2017, a display showcased Panasonic’s cinema camera lineup from the high end Varicam Pure down to the GH5. But there was a new mystery camera in between the GH5 and Varicam LT.
The camera is covered under a white cloth and you can see the camera sillouhette in Panasonic’s teaser image. Below the image, Panasonic offers five bullet points for the upcoming camera:
- Cinematic image quality
- Small and light
- Low-cost media and workflow
- Previewed at Cine Gear Expo
- Fall release
Panasonic Varicam LT
At a minimum, we know that the GH5 specs are the baseline for the new camera. Based on the size and shape of the camera and lens under the cloth, this looks like a super 35 sensor camera and could very well end up with a Canon EF mount option like the Varicam LT.
I suspect it will compete along the same lines with the Sony FS7 and the Canon C300 Mark II.
Sony FS7
If not a true replacement, it should be the spiritual successor to the Panasonic AF100. It will probably be priced in that $5,000 to $10,000 range.
The Cinegear Expo happens the first week of June, so we should know more in just over a month. Stay tuned.
How can he suspect it looks Ike a super 35 mm sensor? What because if the build and size? Heck, the Af100 is somewhat same size and that’s a micro four thirds sensor. The Sony A7s2 is a small body, but that’s a full frame sensor. So, as you see, size is irrelevant.
The lens looked too big for a MFT lens. The Varicam LT is a super 35mm camera with an EF mount, so Panasonic already has a history with the EF mount. The AF100 didn’t gain the kind of traction that Sony’s E-mount series (starting with the FS100) did. Panasonic really needs a Super35 sensor to be in the same category as Sony and Canon in the $5k+ market.
Maybe it does have a MFT sensor, but my speculation on what Panasonic showed us, for the reasons above, is that it is more likely a super 35 than a MFT format.
Well, regardless of what sensor it is…I know the imagery coming from an actual camcorder is Stella… The gh5 is great, however, I still see a thin looking image..not quite as robust as let’s say an dvx200, even with its fixed lens.. So, yes, I’m excited. I look at it this way… If it’s 35mm…then, yes, it will also give little more cinematic look as it’s a bigger sensor. But, that means, I don’t think, it’s gonna be 5 thousand. I believe we are looking more around 6, 500..
If it’s a micro four thirds.. That’s okay too. Remember, micro four thirds in cinematography measurement ….is literally, shy under academy 35mm. With speed booster your already up there with super 35mm. If you get the metabones XL 7.1…..well now, your talking full frame field of view, which really is vista vision for cinematography measurements.
So, many people have this misconception about where micro four thirds lies in cinematography world because they are coming from a photography background and it’s very hard for them to not bring full frame into the equation. Even the Alexa, RED, etc…would never use vista vision (full Frame) because it’s too shallow. Not ideal for cinematography.. So, as you see I really don’t mind micro four thirds for FILMMAKING!
Even the vast array of options of vintage lenses you can employ as well, making your story more interesting as you have more creative control because of lens options.. The other benefit is…..if it is micro four thirds…I would only assume they would employ the 4/3 aspect ratio for anamorphic production. Hey, you don’t get more cinema than that.. If it’s micro four thirds…that would allow for shooting TRUE anamorphic like the Alexa xt.. This would make the new mystery camera in terms of anamorphic …..having a greater capture window, than that of the reds or even the Sony F55, because they have to crop from 16 by 9 to fit the 4/3 aspect ratio for anamorphic….. when micro four thirds does it natively!!!
Thus, this makes this mystery camera…..larger capture than reds, or Sony…besides the Alexa 65, xt or GH5… Oh, let’s not forget the cost.. If it is four thirds…I would predict.. Around 5, 500.. Remember, lots of benefits if it’s micro four thirds..