GEAR GROUP | LARGE FORMAT
Canon EOS R
Panasonic LUMIX S1R
Cinemartin FRAN 8K
Verdict Panasonic’s GH range has been a favourite for professionals mostly in broadcast, where their bulletproof build and non-stabilised sensors make sense. what Panasonic claims are the world’s first full-frame mirrorless ones to support 4K 60p/50p video recording. Also included is a welcome double slot for XQD and SD memory cards. With new full frame mirrorless cameras from Nikon and Canon revealed in the past couple of months, joining established players Sony and Leica in the market, the march to a whole new world of professional low-end cinematography is clearly underway. Panasonic’s big reveal at Photokina was two full frame cameras, the S1R and S1, that would feature Leica’s L-Mount – perhaps not such a huge shock given the relationship between the two companies – which means that there’s already a selection of good quality optics out there ready and waiting. What is more surprising is that Sigma is also included, in an alliance that will see the Japanese lens maker producing L-mount versions of its own well-respected glass. Regarding the cameras themselves, alongside the fact that we know the sensors will be full frame and stabilised, Panasonic would only reveal at launch that the S1R will feature 47 megapixels and the S1 24 megapixels – a similar scenario to Nikon’s 45.7-megapixel Z 7 and 24.5-megapixel Z 6, or Sony’s 42.2-megapixel A7R III and 24.2-megapixel A9. We were told that the S1 and S1R sensors have been newly developed. Other facts revealed at Photokina included that these cameras would be
Verdict As of now the Fran 8k records up to 6K in colour; 8K is achieved in monochrome until next year when a firmware and hardware update will bring colour. three models and pricing starts at €7920. The models available to order now are the Fran LT, Fran (STD) and Fran Plus. All record at 8K, and the Fran Plus is made of carbon fibre. As is becoming customary with our Gear Groups, we regularly provide a ‘left field’ entry. Here it is, the Fran 8k from Spanish company Cinemartin, previously known for their low-cost monitors. Moving from very cost-effective small monitors to an 8K camera is quite a leap, and the basic specs bear this out. The Fran 8k is roughly the size of a RED DSMC camera, a little smaller perhaps. It’s a 50MP 8K camera with a global shutter, VistaVision-sized sensor with a claimed 15.5 stops of latitude, and a data rate of 2.8Gps. Out of the 4:3 8K sensor you can extract 6K, 4K, 4K WS and 2K. Supported formats include Raw, ProRes 4:4:4:4 and 4:2:2, also .DNG. Frame rates are 24, 25 and 30fps for 8 and 6K; 4K is up to 60fps. Fran records internally to a user replaceable m.2 NVME certified SSD. 1 and 2 TB units. There is an HDMI output that can be set up up to 4K, and the output is uncompressed so external recorders can record up to 4K. Interestingly, there is a face detection mode that is based on the image coming from the sensor, not from the lens. This includes object detection, where users can set their preferred form (oval, rectangle, etc) and many parameters, such as size. The new Fran 8K camera comes in
Verdict The ‘R’ isn’t Canon’s top-of-the-line professional model, which will be coming later. That version may well have faster frame rates and 4K without a big crop. it’s disappointing if you want to shoot slow motion. There is no slow motion in 4K, only 60p in full HD. Around 120fps is becoming the norm for super-slow HD in mirrorless cameras. To include the new EOS Canon R in this group may be a little unfair, but we all remember that Canon started all this full frame excitement back in the day. The ‘R’ is their first full frame mirrorless camera and for Canon not just a fresh model, but the introduction of a new system. The camera’s sensor is a 31.7-megapixel CMOS unit giving an effective 30.3-megapixel resolution, with an optical low pass filter to defeat moire patterns and false colours. It is very similar to that in the EOS 5D Mark IV, but the EOS R sensor has been updated and works with the new DIGIC 8 processor. The EOS R gives Full HD at up to 60p and 4K at 30p, although with the latter there is a significant 1.7x crop that makes shooting in tight confines an issue. It pretty much turns the camera into a Super35 size mirrorless camera, so does away with some of the benefits of full frame. Shooting also shows some rolling shutter issues you need to be aware of. It can output at up to 480Mbps, which is why the 4K quality is good, with great colours typical of Canon’s high-end video cameras. There is very little noise at up to 3200 ISO and the Log footage grades as beautifully filmic, especially as you can output it as 10-bit 4:2:2 via HDMI. The image quality may be filmic, but
SENSOR SIZE PIXEL PEEPING
36x24MM
SENSOR SIZE PIXEL PEEPING
37x27MM
SENSOR SIZE
36x24MM
3840x2160
15.5 STOPS 7920x6024
RANGE
TBA TBA
LATITUDE
TBA
LATITUDE
LATITUDE
48 DEF I N I T ION | DECEMBER 20 1 8
Powered by FlippingBook