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Canon XF205
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Go Pro Hero 4K
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Hitachi SK-UHD4000
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Panasonic-AJ-PX270
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AJA Cion 4K
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Blackmagic Design Production Camera 4K
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JVC GY-HM850U
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Sony HXR-NX3/1 Camcorder
With the NAB Show right around the corner, we're starting to hear rumblings about a wide range of soon-to-be-released products. New and innovative video camera features are being revealed almost daily. 4K was “so 2013.” So what's new for 2015? Look for the answer in CPM's NAB coverage coming in mid April.
One feature we know nearly every camera manufacturer is adding is Wi-Fi, NFC (Near Field Communication), or LTE connectivity for monitoring, control, and file transfer. The possibilities this brings to the table are really interesting; the ability to monitor and control your video camera from your smartphone or tablet is pretty exciting. Many of the cameras in this article are equipped with Wi-Fi, NFC, or both. Add to that the wireless file transfer and FTP ability that is available via LTE and Wi-Fi; it won't be too long before recording to any actual hard media becomes gauche.
In the coming months, if they haven't already, most cable providers and streaming content providers will be releasing 4K channels, so it might be time to accept that, unlike 3D, the 4K revolution is for real. While still not cost effective for the church market, or for live production in general, the post production/archive and streaming possibilities are expanding rapidly into 4K. If you don't believe that, you haven't walked into a local big box technology reseller lately. If you do, just check the displays. 4K is everywhere.
Canon XF205
Retail price: $3,999
XF205 has a 1/2.84-inch HD CMOS Image Sensor that produces 5% more pixels than the standard 1/3-inch 1920x1080 sensor. These extra pixels are used for the Electronic Image Stabilization, while preserving the full 1080 image. The XF205 also features Wi-Fi and wired connections for downloading footage from the memory cards.
Another interesting feature is the media recording options. The XF205 can record MPEG-2 on the 2x CF card slots as well as MPEG-4 to the SD card slot. Key features such as focus, zoom, and start/stop recording can also be controlled over Wi-Fi using a smartphone or tablet. Your Wi-Fi devices can also stream the proxy files for live viewing. If you need it, the XF205 also has an IR emitter so it can record black and white images in total darkness.
Grass Valley LDX 81 4k
Contact Grass Valley for pricing
At NAB this year Grass Valley is introducing a 4k camera, which fits the motto the company has used on all of its recent equipment: reduce the tech and focus on storytelling. The LDX 81 4k is designed to do just that by using standard 2/3-inch B4 mount lenses and traditional 3G HD acquisition formats, allowing the user to keep their current investment in glass. Grass Valley also designed infrastructure support for this camera with the XF Fiber XCU 4, which allows for transmission of 3G HD video as well as 4K. The LDX is built around the latest generation of imaging sensor, Xensium-FT. It offers all the low power consumption and high sensitivity advantages of CMOS sensors but includes global shutter behavior, which was previously only possible with CCD imagers.
JVC GY-HM850U
Retail price: $8,500
The JVC GY-HM850U has a growing fan base, and with good reason—this camera has many features not often found in this form factor or price. First, the camera records to multiple formats including XDCAM EX (.mp4); Final Cut (.mov); AS-10 (.mxf); AVCHD (.mts); and H.264 (.mov). It is equipped with dual card slots and can record HD and SD resolutions to each card simultaneously. The SD option is preferred for the small file size and plays an important role with another feature the camera has, a USB 2.0 host connector that supports wired or wireless network adaptors. Once connected, it also allows for secure FTP file upload. In addition, it offers remote viewing and remote control and metadata editing via tablet or smartphone. All the while it can still be recording locally in true HD.
Panasonic-AJ-PX270
Retail price: $5,750
The Panasonic AJ-PX270 offers an amazing array of recording media options. It features 2x Micro P2, standard P2, and SD card slots and records variable frame rates from 1FPS to 60 FPS in 25 steps at 1080P to Panasonic's codex of choice, the AVC codex. The AVC codex has a variety of compression options depending on length of your recording: AVC-Ultra (master Quality 200 Mbps); AVC Intra (100 mbps); AVC-LongG; AVC-LongG25 (low bit rate, extended time); and AVC-Proxy. These files are accessible from the camera via the USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and LAN connections. It can be also be configured with a wireless LAN connection with an optional dongle.
Sony HXR-NX3/1 Camcorder
Retail price: $3,495
The Sony HXR-NX3/1 brings an interesting improvement in zoom technology. Comes equipped with a standard 20x optical zoom and a not-so-standard 2x clear image zoom, giving it a total of 40x optical plus digital zoom. Now big digital zoom numbers are nothing really new, and in the past they didn't even warrant discussion because the digital zoom created such poor quality video. However, with the HXR-NX3/1 Sony is claiming excellent quality and no effective pixel loss. Another interesting feature of this camera is the wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi and NFC. The camera can connect wirelessly by simply touching it to an NFC-equipped device. This enables monitoring, zoom, iris, record/start/stop, and touch AF all from your smartphone or tablet. It records to 2xSD cards with either simultaneous or relay recording via AVCHD 2.0. Just for kicks, it also has a built-in LED light.
AJA Cion 4K
Retail price: $8,995 (body only)
The Cion records ProRes, in all of its flavors: 444, 422, 422(HQ), 422(LT), and 422 (Proxy). If that isn't enough, the frame rate selection is also really interesting, running the gamut from 23.98 fps to an impressive 120 fps, with the option of pretty much everything in between. It has 2x 3G SDI and 2x HDMI outputs for monitoring along with a two-pin power connector that can be used to power peripheries. It also has Thunderbolt and LAN connectors for data transfer and control. In addition, the lens mount is removable, and third-party manufacturers have made replacement mounts for: ENG style B4, Canon EF, Canon FD, and Nikon G lenses, making it possible to use virtually any lens.
Blackmagic Design Production Camera 4K
Retail price: $2,995 (body only)
While the Blackmagic Design 4K camera wins the award for oddest camera body, it packs a lot of features in its slightly strange form factor. It comes with a free copy of the DaVinci Resolve, Blackmagic's award winning color-grading software, a $995 value. This software can be used on a computer connected to the camera via Thunderbolt to grade your footage live. The camera itself offers two choices of lens mount: EF and PL. The Production Camera 4K also features a huge five-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen, and records in CinemaDNG RAW or Apple ProRes on SSDs.
Go Pro Hero 4K
Retail price: $499
Weighing in at 3.10 ounces, the Go Pro Hero 4 Black is the smallest 4K camera on the list. Don't let the small size fool you though, there are a lot of great features packed into this little camera. It supports a variety of formats ranging from 3840x2160p/30 fps/25 fps/24 fps down to 848x480p/240 fps with a great deal of options in-between. It records to MicroSD/HC/XC up to 64 GB and takes 4000x3000 pictures in JPEG format with a 12 Megapixel sensor. The camera is Wi-Fi- and Bluetooth-enabled and the Go Pro app turns your phone or tablet into a remote and viewer, so you can control the camera at distances of up to 600 feet.
Hitachi SK-UHD4000
Contact Hitachi for pricing
Possibly the most future-proof camera on the market, the Hitachi SK-UHD4000, can produce 2K as well as 4K images simultaneously. The 2K image has the option of being a pan and scan of the 4K or super sampled version of the 4K image. Combined with the Hitachi RLAC (Real-time Lens Aberration Correction) system, which eliminates most lenses' lateral chromatic aberrations, the image is higher quality than a standard HD image. It also utilizes a standard 2/3-inch broadcast lens via an innovative, patented optical system. The SK-UHD4000 is making the transition to 4K easier by being usable now: it can output the 2K image while archiving in 4K.
