P+S TECHNIK X35 Announced - wait another 23 days...

[Lawrence Bansbach]

Originally Posted by Brian Drysdale

It seems to be uncompressed HD, rather than RAW. For general work it has to compete with the F3 and later on the EPIC at the lower end of price range, the frame rates seem to be its advantage.

It looks more traditional movie camera than quite a few digital cameras.

I don't see how this will compete with Epic, except maybe on price. Sure, the X35 will do 450 fps, but that appears the only advantage it will have. In virtually every other way Epic looks, at least on paper, to be superior, including 5 times the resolution and at least 5 more stops of dynamic range (in HDR mode).

[Brian Drysdale]

I suspect the high frame rate that will be it's selling point. To compete as a new general use camera these days it would need to have at least a dynamic range of 11 to 12 stops and an ISO of 800. In terms of resolution for HDTV perhaps the Epic is overkill, but it would need to match the current broadcast standard cameras.

[Lawrence Bansbach]

Originally Posted by Brian Drysdale

I suspect the high frame rate that will be it's selling point. To compete as a new general use camera these days it would need to have at least a dynamic range of 11 to 12 stops and an ISO of 800. In terms of resolution for HDTV perhaps the Epic is overkill, but it would need to match the current broadcast standard cameras.

According to its brochure, the X35 does 10 stops.

[Brian Drysdale]

I suspect the camera will of interest to those productions that need the higher frame rates and don't want to use a RAW workflow. Perhaps less so a main production camera, it really depends on how well it handles the highlights and what the skin tones look like.

[Sanjin Svajger]

Hm... Don't really know what to make of this...? If this is going to have a substantial price tag who's going to buy it?

But yes. It all depends on the picture quality.

[Liam Hall]

Originally Posted by Brian Drysdale

I suspect the camera will of interest to those productions that need the higher frame rates and don't want to use a RAW workflow.

Seems like it's target is Alexa...

[Brian Drysdale]

It needs to be hitting 14 stops to do that.

[Lawrence Bansbach]

Originally Posted by Brian Drysdale

It needs to be hitting 14 stops to do that.

And at 3.5K.

[Brian Drysdale]

The actual image area is 2880 x 1620 pixels on the Alexa that allows for a 2k output.

I would take the X35 more as a lower spec Phantom HD. http://www.visionresearch.com/upload...-HD%20GOLD.pdf

At the higher frame rates the Epic is windowed to 2k, so you don't have the full large sensor area on that camera.

[Liam Hall]

Originally Posted by Brian Drysdale

It needs to be hitting 14 stops to do that.

Maybe "target" was the wrong word. They wont match Alexa in dynamic range, but compete with it by offering higher frame rates and a lower price point. Also, I noticed in the Specs it will offer 2K and increased dynamic range at a later date.

[Brian Drysdale]

More here: ProVideo Coalition.com: Camera Log by Adam Wilt | Founder | Pro Cameras, HDV Camera, HD Camera, Sony, Panasonic, JVC, RED, Video Camera Reviews

It costs €64,000 (roughly $93,500), so very much a rental house item or a facility that needs the higher frame rate However, that's half the price of other high speed cameras.

A well known camera operator who attended Cine Gear has commented on how good the form factor is for hand holding.

[Insung Hwang]

Seems like a good product, but maybe a tad late to the show. Sony's 8K F65 will be in the upper 5 digits (probably $99,999).

[Brian Drysdale]

The F65 only shoots to 120 fps. It's the frame rate that will be the X35's selling point and most productions are for HDTV and will be for many years to come. The 4K from the F65 will be more aimed at the theatrical market or future home cinema.

It's the Epic that's the main competitor and there could be a number of factors involved in selecting the camera for a production. These include wanting the full sensor "look" as against a 2k window on the Epic for higher frame rates and the type of post workflow you want to use. Also, if you need 450fps as against 300fps on the Epic. Needless to say there'll more more Epics sold, even the "temporary", more expensive Epic M version has already sold in the hundreds.

It was a prototype body mock up displayed at Cine Gear, but video clips from the camera were shown at the show.

[Brian Drysdale]

Some details:

P+S Technik X35 | Film and Digital Times: News