AWARDS CAMERAS It’s been a landmark year for
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cameras continued to sell, thanks to both performance and affordability. For camcorders, it’s all about the explosion in live events and streaming, with JVC, Canon, Sony and Panasonic offering very capable cams with a wide range of specs. The growth in PTZ cameras shows no sign of slowing down with lots of the latest tech being used on these pan-tilt-zoom machines. Sony’s FR7 is the world’s first PTZ with a full-frame sensor and interchangeable E-mount lenses, to bring a cinematic look to remote- control equipment. Canon’s CR- N700 brings 12G-SDI connections and Dual Pixel CMOS AF. There’s a huge selection of capable cameras, so be sure to cast your vote.
with its full-frame sensor and internal Raw recording. Panasonic’s Lumix S5 II X was launched and became very popular with its filmmaker-biased spec and latest phase detection AF system. Drone specialist DJI released two new versions of its cameras, both featuring three- or four-axis gimbal tech. The Ronin 4D-8K brought even higher resolution to the four-axis, full-frame cinema camera system while the DJI Pocket 3 added a larger sensor and screen for usability. In the cinema camera category, there was a flurry of very high-end camera launches. The full-frame Sony Burano brought the same sensor as the legendary Venice 2 to a smaller, more compact body suitable for run- and-gun use, at a much lower price. While Red wowed the world with its Komodo-X and then V-Raptor X, the first full-frame cinema camera with a global shutter. Blackmagic’s Ursa Mini Pro 12K remains the highest-resolution camera you can buy, while Sony’s FX9 and FX6 full-frame cinema
SPOILT FOR CHOICE With so many top cams on the market, it’s difficult to decide which is best. Have your say and vote for your favourite now!
cameras as the latest technology came down to ever more affordable models. You can now find speedy stacked sensors, as well as global shutters to combat the dreaded ‘jello effect’ of skewed vertical lines, in accessibly priced bodies. Last year’s mirrorless winner, Nikon’s flagship Z 9, was joined in the line-up by the Z 8, which shares all the same architecture and tech but in a form factor more suited to filmmaking at a much lower price. But perhaps the most notable innovation was Sony’s A9 III, the first mirrorless camera to feature a global shutter and great high-speed performance in video and stills. Fujifilm went a different way, making the GFX100 II an incredible filmmaking machine thanks to its sensor, which gives footage a unique look you can’t get any other way. The category for hybrid/crossover cameras is for those models that blur the lines between a conventional mirrorless or pure cinema camera. This year, the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K stirred up the market
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