Panasonic EVA 1 – New 5.7K Super 35, EF mount, 4K 10bit 4:2:2 Camera Unveiled at Cine Gear Expo 2017

Teased at NAB 2017 back in April, the new Panasonic EVA 1 surprisingly have an EF mount and features a ground-breaking newly developed 5.7K Super 35 CMOS sensor with Dual-Native ISO (similar to that of the Varicam LT and 35) and is also capable of 4K 10bit 4:2:2 internal up to 60p, as well as 5.7K Raw output via a planned future firmware update.

The inclusion of a native EF mount isn’t as big of a surprise as the brand new Super 35 sized 5.7K CMOS sensor, which appears to be brand new and NOT the same as the one in the Varicam LT/35. However, the new Panasonic EVA 1, will have some sort of Dual Native ISO support similar to that of the bigger cameras, however at this moment those native ISO’s are still being tested and have not been officially announced.

The new Panasonic EVA 1 is also very compact, similar to the FS5 in size, and weighs just 1.2 kgs. The top handle is removable, which will make it much more gimbal stabilizer friendly.

Panasonic EVA 1 5.7K Camera

 

Panasonic EVA 1 Features

  • New 5.7K Super 35 sensor
  • Dual Native ISO
  • Canon EF mount native!
  • V-Log and V-Gamut from Varicam LT/35
  • 4K Raw (Downsample from 5.7K) output planned as future update
  • 4K 10bit 4:2:2 internal recording
  • 4K/60p
  • 2K / 240fps Super-Slow Motion internal
  • Dual SD Card slots
  • Electronic IBIS – nothing more concrete than that.
  • No EVF
  • There will be some form of AF support, but not confirmed what exactly
  • 4K out via HDMI and SDI
  • Timecode in and out
  • Built-in ND filters – 2, 4, 6 stops
  • IR Cut in / out
  • Varicam Colorimetry
  • Weight 1.2 kgs
  • Price: €8,000 (Approx $7,500)
  • Available in September/October 2017

Other:

  • XLR Audio
  • HDMI & SDI 4K Video Outputs
  • 1.2 kilogramm
  • 6.69″ x 5.31″ x 5.23″ (LxHxW)
  • Proprietary LCD monitor connections

Panasonic AU-EVA1_Side

 

Sensor and camera still in development… full specs and more info to follow soon.

A few more notes on the Panasonic EVA 1:

  • No info on whether the 4K/60p is 10bit 422 or 420 or else
  • No published spec on Native ISOs – still in testing
  • 400 Mbps recording – presumably Intra – and maybe same as the upcoming GH5 update this Summer?
  • Dual SD Card slots – will probably require V90 or V60 very fast SDXC cards.
  • 4K Raw downsampled (from 5.7K Sensor) output will be a future upgrade – who will support it and how much it would cost if any, has not been announced yet.

PRESS RELEASE

Panasonic has previewed the AU-EVA1, at Cine Gear Expo 2017 in Los Angeles, USA, 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 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 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 colour information results in a finer, more accurate finished image.

One of the key features of the VariCam 35, VariCam LT, and VariCam Pure is dual native ISO. Utilising a process that allows the sensor to be read in a fundamentally different way, dual native ISO extracts more information from the sensor without degrading the image. This results in a camera that can switch from a standard sensitivity to a high sensitivity without an increase in noise, or other artifacts.

“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.

The ability to capture accurate colours and rich skin tones is a must for any filmmaker. Like the VariCam lineup of cinema cameras, the EVA1 contains V-Log/V-Gamut capture to deliver high dynamic range and broad colours. V-Log has log curve characteristics that are somewhat reminiscent of negative film and V-Gamut delivers a colour space even larger than film. The EVA1 will also import the celebrated colourimetry of the VariCam line.

Weighing only 1.2Kg (body-only) with a compact form factor (17cm x 13.5cm x 13.3cm) and a removable handgrip, 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 customisation with the EVA1.

Ideal for indie filmmakers, the EVA1 records to readily-available, lower-cost SD cards. The camera 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 utilises a native EF-mount, giving shooters access to the broad EF lens ecosystem, including dozens of cinema-style prime and zoom lenses from numerous manufacturers. Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS) is employed to compensate for camera shake and blurring, which will help smooth out handheld or shoulder-mount shots on documentary or run-and-gun projects. 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. Unique photographic effects and night vision imagery are possible with this control over infrared.

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 3rd party recorders.

The EVA1 will ship this autumn for under $8,000 / €8,000 (body only).

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