NEWARK, NJ — At Cine Gear Expo 2017 in Hollywood earlier this month, Panasonic (us.panasonic.com) previewed the AU-EVA1, a new 5.7K cinema camera positioned between the Panasonic Lumix GH5 4K mirrorless camera and the VariCam LT 4K cinema camera. Compact and lightweight, the AU-EVA1 is intended for handheld shooting, as well as documentaries, commercials and music videos.
“For cinema-style acquisition, we realized there was a space between the GH5 and the VariCam LT,” says Panasonic cinema product manager Mitch Gross. “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 for capturing true cinematic images. By starting at a higher native resolution, the 5.7K sensor yields a higher resolving image when down sampled to 4K, UHD, 2K and even 720p. The increased color information results in a finer, more accurate finished image.
The EVA1 will include Dual Native ISO — which uses a process that allows the sensor to be read in a fundamentally different way, it extracts more information from the sensor without degrading the image — but the camera is currently being tested to determine final ISO specifications.
Like the VariCam lineup, the EVA1 contains V-Log/V-Gamut capture to deliver high dynamic range and broad colors. V-Log has log curve characteristics that are somewhat reminiscent of negative film and V-Gamut delivers a color space even larger than film. The EVA1 will also import the celebrated colorimetry of the VariCam line.
Weighing only 2.65 pounds (1.2Kg, body-only) with a compact form factor (6.69-inches x 5.31-inches x 5.23-inches) and a removable handgrip, the EVA1 can be used for efficient handheld shooting applications and can also be mounted on a drone, gimbal rig or jib arm for complex yet smooth camera moves. There will also be numerous mounting points and Panasonic is currently working with top accessory makers to allow further customization with the EVA1.
The EVA1 records to readily-available, lower-cost SD cards, and can record in several formats and compression rates, and offers up to 10-bit 4:2:2, even in 4K. For high-speed capture, the EVA1 offers 2K up to 240-fps. In terms of bitrates, you can record up to 400-Mbps for robust recording. A complete breakdown of recording formats will be available at the time of the EVA1’s release.
As a professional video production tool, the EVA1 offers dual balanced XLR audio inputs and 4K-capable video outputs in both HDMI and SDI. In a future firmware upgrade, EVA1 will offer 5.7K RAW output to third-party recorders.
The EVA1 will ship this fall for under $8,000 (body only).