CVP Buy link: Sony a7R III Camera Body Was: €2,435.93 Now: €2,240.98 (Savings: €194.95 – CashBack). On the Black Mini, there is only one HDMI input port. The monitor supports a maximum input resolution of UHD at up to 30p and FullHD at up to 60p. My findings are a bit different from the manufacturer’s claim of “4K 60Hz”, but it’s already pretty good.
And that’s it. It is not an overly-complicated bag with tons of zippers and pockets all over the place. Instead, Manfrotto decided to keep things simple, and it just works perfectly. As you can tell, these are minor issues and not a dealbreaker. Manfrotto did a great job at improving their camera bag lineup and they’ll have a hard time competing with themselves for the next generation.
Have you worked with the Z CAM E2? What are your experiences with this camera? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. There is a loupe in front of the display, but it doesn’t look like you can flip it/remove it, according to the pictures. To fit nearly every filmmaker, the loupe of the LEYE features a +8 to -3 diopters adjustment. Also, the loupe’s back is totally round, with a “sponge eye mask” that prevents LCD sunburns and allows users with glasses to look at the EVF easily. However, no “traditional” eyecup is included, which is a little bit of a bummer.
The first batch of both accessories got sold out relatively quickly, the next batch should be shipping by the end of June. It is powered via a single Sony NP-F style battery, and you can use the power output of the BM5 to feed your camera via a dummy battery. Also, you can power it with an external battery by using the Lemo port on the monitor.
Last but not least, you can power the PT5 via the 5V1A USB input/output port. You can use this port to power the monitor with a power bank, for example, but also to charge your camera/power your accessories if you power the PT5 of a Sony NP-F/Canon LP-E6 battery. The concept of a handle that can power your camera is not new, with products like the Soonwell PH70. However, I’m not too fond of products that have built-in batteries. It means that once you run out of battery, you have no way to pop a fresh battery pack and continue shooting. It’s a no-go for me in professional shooting conditions.
Indeed, the Flexloader L comes with a built-in TSA lock that allows you to securely close your bag when you’re commuting, for example. Let’s make it simple here; the PortKeys LEYE II has its predecessor’s same features and specifications. In a nutshell, that includes.
However, if we do some maths: the LEYE II draws around 3W max, a Canon LP-E6N battery has an 1800 mAh capacity and a 7.2V voltage, so you should get a little over 4 hours of runtime (V x Capacity / P = 7.2 x 1.8 / 3) with one battery, which is fantastic. I love the fact that it allows high frame rates, ProRes recording, and many more things. Z CAM is definitely a company to watch out for – also, I am curious to see their new APS-C and full frame cameras (S6, F6, and F8) that are scheduled to arrive later this year.
Finding more information about PortKeys as a company is a little tricky as we haven’t been able to locate much information on the web about them, but the EVF does look promising at first glance. Also, the straps feature an adjustable torso height harness system.
The sun hood consists of two parts: a plastic sun hood and a mounting bracket—the bracket clips onto the monitor, and the sun hood attached to it via some velcro. Color Science of the Z Cam E2C Cinema Camera.
To give you a rough idea, the PT5’s maximum brightness is slightly over the Canon EOS C70’s display, which is also hard to view in bright daylight conditions. Chinese monitor manufacturer PortKeys just released a new budget-friendly monitoring solution to its lineup: the PortKeys LH5H. If you’re new to PortKeys products, we already reported about their BM5 5″ HDMI & SDI monitor, OEYE-3G EVF, or, more recently, the PortKeys KeyGrip handle. I’ve been using the extremely bright (2200 nits) PortKeys BM5 II for several months now, and it quickly became my go-to on-camera monitor.
Did you like that review of the ? What do you think about one of the most affordable products on the market right now? Do you want to learn more about a camera monitor and want us to review it? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!. In theory, this combo should work very well. The Portkeys BM5 monitor (for detailed specs see our article here) is a 5” FHD monitor which allows via a separate cable to display and change settings in the camera’s menu on the touchscreen – on our early prototype this didn’t work though and a newer firmware wasn’t yet available.
Portkeys recently released an updated version of its famous BM5 monitor that can control your camera: the Portkeys BM5 III WR. This new model features a bigger 5.5″ display with a maximum brightness of 2200nits. It has a built-in Bluetooth module to control your camera, and an implemented wireless camera control for the RED Komodo. Let’s take a closer look at it!. Volta Cinema Top Handle real-life test.
I had an enjoyable time using the LH5H in run-and-gun situations, especially with a mirrorless camera. The monitor is light, it has a decent battery life, so it’s perfect for compact camera setups. However, I had a couple of hard times with the UI while trying to adjust some features, but I already mentioned that. The Volta Cinema Top Handle immediately caught my attention when I first saw it. From what I saw, I found this product brilliant, with a simple design and a clear mission: power your camera or accessories via the handle. Other companies have tried this, albeit arguably not as elegantly.
The number of software features included is impressive. Unlike the Gratical X for example, all software features are included for free, and the PortKeys OEYE-3G EVF firmware can be upgraded through the USB port. These features include. I am left a bit puzzled about possible use cases for this cam – by its very name it implies the use as a cinema camera which I definitely cannot recommend because of the mentioned extreme rolling shutter and the limited dynamic range.
Z CAM E2 Cinema Camera in the Wild – Hands-on Review. FilmConvert’s film emulation plugins for all editing platforms are on sale for the lowest price this year. There is up to 60% off on all FilmConvert plugins, including new FilmConvert Nitrate for Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects and DaVinci Resolve.
These tools are pretty standard nowadays on on-camera monitors, but nothing is missing on the LH5P. Also, you can adjust the position and scale of each tool via the touchscreen, but more on that in a second. We plan to add subsequent control to Sony FS5/FS7, Canon C200/C300 II, RED, and ARRI cameras. We even plan to add the Tilta Nucleus N/M wireless follow focus The user can update the monitor’s firmware via the USB port.
To make things even more secure, there is even a side of the battery with a cut-out. I have no worries about inserting the batteries inside the handle or the battery charger. The same type of battery can be used for the Portkeys BM5 monitor as well which is a big plus, and I needed all the spare batteries for the monitor, as its power consumption was quite high.
PT5 case on the left, BM5 III WR case on the right. In terms of construction, the PortKeys BM5 is entirely made out of aluminum. In front of the screen, there is a toughened glass in to protect it against shocks. It weighs only 350g, which is relatively light for a rugged field monitor. The BM5 is daylight viewable with an impressive brightness of 2000 nits and a viewing angle of 178°.
I think that the can unleash its full potential if you’re shooting indoor. Also, if you’re usually doing live streamings or even professional-looking online meetings, it could be the perfect tool for you at a very reasonable price. Music for the above video is courtesy of MusicVine. Get 25% off your next music license with code C5D25 (valid for one use per customer).
email hiring[at]CineD.com to apply. As Jarred said, RED shipped the first batch of pre-stormtrooper Komodos in custom colors to few lucky customers. The first color seems orange to me, but RED calls it “Grossman Gold”. Every batch of these pre-release cameras that get shipped out will have a different color. It seems like the next one will be yellow.
Framing tools: Check Field, Grids, Image Flip, Cross Hair. Then, a sub-menu will pop up at the bottom of the screen, and you can change your monitoring tools’ settings.
In addition, there are multiple exhaust vents all around the monitor, which help with heat dissipation. Talking about heat, I was stunned that the monitor was not warm or hot to the touch even after a couple of hours of being turned on. So that’s a good sign!. Phil also tested the Sensor Calibration (Black Shading) with the Komodo. Black Shading is basically a sensor and pixel check while generating a calibration map to counteract a sensor’s inherent fixed pattern noise. For RED DSMC2 cameras it was roughly 1 minute per “K” for calibration (8 minutes on RED Monstro 8K). RED Komodo 6K is faster in this regard – Sensor Calibration was done in less than 1.5 minutes.
You’ll find a cold-shoe mount at the bottom of the monitor mount with a 1/4 “-20 threaded hole. The hex key is used to adjust the tension/friction of the tilt axis. However, they also closed the door on other monitors who might want access to the latest features from Teradek. BlackMagic, Atomos, PortKeys, and others will have to find their own solutions.
Anyone who has ever set foot on a film set likely saw a half-dozen actors and crew members standing over a camera operator’s shoulder, watching the shot through a screen attached to the camera. As I mentioned earlier, the Portkeys PT5 casing is made out of ABS plastic. It feels like good quality plastic, but I wouldn’t want to drop the monitor just to check if it survives.
You probably got it; I’m not a huge fan of the monitor mount, it works ok, but it could be improved to make it perfect. The $399 price tag of the PortKeys BM5 is outstanding for a monitor with that much functionalities. The field monitor will be available end of April. We will add B&H buy links when it become available.
Buy link: Canon EOS C500 Mark II Bundle Was: €19.452,65 Now: €18.928,94 (Savings: €523,70). We hope you see the opportunities and chances of growth this presents if you feel like we’re looking FOR YOU.
For example, when a monitor’s colors are wildly inaccurate, it can happen that you see orange when you’re supposed to see yellow or red. It can affect how you set your camera’s white balance or exposure, for example. Panasonic S1 is a very capable full-frame mirrorless camera. It can record internally at up to 4K 60fps in 8-bit and output 4:2:2 10-bit signal externally. For more information about the camera please check our Panasonic S1 review and the revisited V-log upgrade review.
Top: four customizable function keys, a power switch, and four buttons to access and navigate inside the menu. Portkeys, a Chinese company specialized in HDMI and SDI field monitors, recently announced an impressive new monitor: the PortKeys BM5. This 5″ monitor features a lot of monitoring tools, but it can also control your camera. Let’s take a look at it.
PortKeys HS7T with NATO clamp at the bottom. Source: PortKeys. Buy link: Canon EOS R5 Bundle Was: €5.321,89 Now: €5.091,22 (Savings: €230,68).
Two antennas: one straight and one right angle antenna. Our first Black friday deals post features interesting cameras from DJI, Canon, FUJIFILM, Nikon, Panasonic, Sony, and Z CAM. Additionally there are FilmConvert, and MZed Black Friday offers. This is the first out of three Black friday posts. In the next post we will take a look at lenses and computers.
Last week, we were the first to report about a new company named PortKeys and their BM5, a field monitor capable of controlling your camera. Ahead of NAB 2019, the company just announced another exciting product, the OEYE-3G EVF. Let’s take a look at this exciting new EVF. Unfortunately, we were told that this information which the manufacturer gave at the show initially, is unfortunately incorrect. The EVF cannot cross convert between HDMI and SDI, it can only output the signal via SDI if it receives an SDI signal, and the same is true for HDMI.
Make sure to check our hands-on and footage article as well as Philip Bloom’s two hour in-depth review of the camera. This bundle will get you the camcorder body with Sony 120GB XQD G-Series memory card and a spare Sony BP-U60 56Wh battery (another battery ships with the camera already). You got it; when carrying the Manfrotto PRO Light Flexloader L, you have choices, and it can rest on your shoulders for hours. The Manfrotto team put a lot of effort into making a comfortable bag. Being comfy is crucial as the Flexloader L can quickly become heavy considering how many compartments and how much stuff you can put in it.
However, the original PortKeys LEYE had one major drawback: you need to power it externally. For example, suppose you have a small DSLR/mirrorless/cinema camera. In that case, you probably don’t want to unnecessarily rig your camera with V-Mount batteries or a power bank only to feed an EVF. USB cables: a mini-USB to USB-C cable, and a mini-USB to Lanc camera control cable. When you purchase the LH5P, you have the option to buy additional camera control cables.
The first bundle includes the full-frame mirrorless camera from Panasonic – the LUMIX S1 (our Review, our Lab Test). With its 24.2MP sensor, the camera can record up to 4K 60P cropped or 4K 30P uncropped video. It offers nice ergonomics, good IBIS, and relatively clean images with high ISO. It even became our camera of the year in 2019. The bundle further includes the Sigma MC-21 adapter and Sony 120GB XQD G-Series memory card. I have tried this option in practice but quickly abandoned it for moving shots, as the motion blur (or partial lack thereof) of the resulting image looks weird. It may work for a static interview though, or a situation where the scene demands a higher shutter speed (1/200 and up).
PortKeys LEYE EVF Announced – 4K HDMI Affordable Viewfinder. The monitor has a contrast ratio of 1000:1, and the panel itself is 10-bit (8+2 FRC), so not “true” 10-bit. An 8+2 FRC panel is less expensive for manufacturers to produce, as it’s based on a “software trick” to simulate 10-bit on an 8-bit panel. I’m simplifying things here, but keep in mind that even some of the most expensive monitors from SmallHD or Atomos (except NEON) use the same technique.
PortKeys, a company specialized in HDMI and SDI field monitors, has just announced a new Bluetooth Module for their PortKeys BM5 field monitors. This add-on accessory screws directly to the back of the BM5 and allows you to control your BMPCC 4K/6K cameras wirelessly. Let’s take a closer look at it!. Up to 50 custom 3D LUTs can be loaded into the FEELWORLD F7 PRO. Source: FEELWORLD.
All the professional tools that you might need to monitor your image are still available, including support of 3D LUTs as well as Histogram, Zebra, False Color, De-Squeeze, and Zooming functions. Moreover, PortKeys claims that a new peaking algorithm will make focus pulling easier with this monitor, even though they do not thoroughly explain how. Z Cam E2C cinema camera rigged up with a monitor (Portkeys BM5) and a ZOOM H2 (not visible, behind the monitor) for audio capture via the 3.5mm input.
The Portkeys PT5 has a glossy and quite reflective screen, so the included sun hood is a must if you plan on shooting outside (more on that later.). The design of the Portkeys PT5 is minimalistic, and I love it. It looks a lot like an Apple iPhone.
I found the Volta Top Handle’s build quality itself to be really decent. All the parts are made out of 7075 aluminum, and it feels solid. The Volta Cinema logo is kind of “engraved” on one side. On most on-camera monitors (the ones that are not OLED), if you crank up the brightness to its maximum setting, the display tends to lift the image’s black parts.
If you are tempted by the price to use it as a cinema camera be aware that the rolling shutter means that you cannot shoot handheld footage without a stabilized lens. It’s an absolute must in that scenario. The headphone volume output, image flip, OSD language/transparency.
Canon EOS 6D Mark II Camera Body with Accessories Kit – $400 Discount. So, you have to rely on the camera’s focus peaking (displayed via HDMI to the monitor).
PortKeys LH5H Released – Affordable 5″ Monitor That Can Control Your Camera. PortKeys LEYE – Display and Loupe.
As Phil Holland wrote, aside from REDCODE RAW files, the camera can also shoot ProRes MOV files for quick turnaround. They are available in HQ and 422 for both 4K and 2K resolutions. According to Phil, the camera can’t record both at the same time. Waveform and Waveform SDI output.
Sony a6000 Camera with Two Lenses and Accessories – $400 Discount. The batteries are best isolated from one another when traveling as long as there are other metallic components in the compartment. We haven’t yet experienced a short after months of use. They have short circuit protection, but as you know, in case it does happen it requires the user to connect them to the charger in order to restore them.
One full-size HDMI input on the right side that can take signals up to 4K30p. Open the lock, put the main compartment’s zippers through it, lock it, and you can be sure that nobody will be able to open your backpack.
If your lens is compatible, you can zoom and focus via the handle. In terms of battery life, I’d say it’s a massive improvement over a Sony NP-F 970 battery on the back of an on-camera monitor. On the SWIT CM-S75F, one Volta36 battery gave me close to four/five hours of continuous runtime. On the PortKeys BM5, my four hours shoot was over, and the top handle’s battery wasn’t dead.
It’s time to talk about my favorite part of the Flexloader L: the straps and back padding. The back padding is out of this world, and even with a fully-loaded bag that is close to 20kg, you’ll not feel it on your back, especially your lower back. It has a firm – yet so comfortable – padding with a mesh design and air tunnels, so you don’t sweat. As a filmmaker, I usually stand by the saying, “you get what you pay for.” So I was pretty surprised with the number of included accessories. Inside the case, you’ll find.
Also, one thing that I found annoying is that the display catches fingerprints quickly. It means that you need to clean your monitor very often, which can be annoying. Handles, shoulder straps and padding.
Lenswise, I opted for two lenses only: the Olympus 12-100mm f4 for the documentary part (it has great image stabilization), and a Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5 – 5.6 version 1 using a Metabones speed booster for the wildlife part. Also, there is a USB Type-A port at the bottom of the monitor that you can use to power the LH5P via a power bank (5V/2A). If you power your monitor with a Sony NP-F battery, this USB port doubles up as a 5V/1A power output that could charge your smartphone at the same time just fine.
When the Black Mini is up and running, you can adjust various display settings inside the menu, including. Let’s be clear: the PT5 is not a rental product; it is designed for owner-operators or filmmakers starting out, and at this price point, you can’t complain that it’s not built like a tank that you can throw at walls.