Panasonic has unveiled its new cinema camera at LA’s Cine Gear Expo after trailing it at this year’s NAB. It will be available from autumn this year.
The AU-EVA1 is a new 5.7K cinema camera positioned between the Panasonic Lumix GH5 4K mirrorless camera and the VariCam LT 4K cinema camera and will retail at under $8k.
Panasonic says the camera is “tailor-made for handheld shooting,” but also well suited for documentaries, commercials, and music videos.
“For cinema-style acquisition, we realised there was a space between the GH5 and the VariCam LT,” said EMEA Marketing Manager Nela Pertl. “With its compact size and new 5.7K sensor, the EVA1 fills that gap for a variety of filmmaking applications.”
The EVA1 contains a newly designed 5.7K Super 35mm-sized sensor. By starting at a higher native resolution, the 5.7K sensor yields a higher resolving image when down sampled to 4K, UHD, 2K, and 720p.
The EVA1 will also include dual native ISO. “On the VariCams, dual native ISO has allowed cinematographers to use less light on set, saving time and money, as well as allowing for a great variety of artistic choices. The EVA1 will include dual native ISO, but the camera is currently being tested to determine final ISO specifications,” added Nela Pertl.
Like the VariCam lineup of cinema cameras, the EVA1 contains V-Log/V-Gamut capture to deliver high dynamic range and broad colours.
The camera weighs in at 1.2Kg (body-only) and measures 17cm x 13.5cm x 13.3cm and has a removable handgrip, so it can be used for handheld shooting applications and can also be mounted on a drone, gimbal rig, or jib arm. Panasonic says the camera will have numerous mounting points and it is currently working with accessory makers to allow further customisation with the EVA1.
The EVA1 records to SD cards. It can record in several formats and compression rates, and offers up to 10-bit 422, even in 4K. A complete breakdown of recording formats will be available at the time of the EVA1’s release.
The camera uses a native EF-mount, giving shooters access to the broad EF lens ecosystem, including dozens of cinema-style prime and zoom lenses from various manufacturers. Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS) is employed to compensate for camera shake and blurring, Behind the lens mount, an integrated ND filter wheel in 2, 4, and 6 stops allows for precise exposure control. The EVA1 also allows the IR Cut filter to be swung out of the path to the sensor at the push of a button. Photographic effects and night vision imagery are possible with this control over infrared.
Jon Creamer
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