Internal Pro Res for $799: The Z Cam E2C

Out of studio work I don't see who the maker of this camera is aiming at. Both casual shooters and most pros on budget would balk at having to pay significantly more for batteries (not one in the box unless they are Canon users who already have this particular battery), a monitor like the Ninja V or something around that size, and likely some sort of gripping accessories to help with the actual handling of the camera which, in addition to this bare body, would need to have a lens and an external monitor in field shooting.

Though we probably never know for sure about the sensor inside this camera, it looks to be one of the older generation used in older or budget Panasonic and Olympus cameras. Not the one in the 2-year-old Panasonic GH5 or 3-year-old Olympus EM1 Mk2. The latter also has on sensor phase detection AF that along with the recent firmware works superbly on par (in video) with many Canon Dual Pixel AF DSLRs.

I think the price as being offered is deceptive considering the need to make it really useable though the useability with all the said add-ons and cables etc. may vary from one shooter to another.

P&Struefan said:

Out of studio work I don't see who the maker of this camera is aiming at. Both casual shooters and most pros on budget would balk at having to pay significantly more for batteries (not one in the box unless they are Canon users who already have this particular battery), a monitor like the Ninja V or something around that size, and likely some sort of gripping accessories to help with the actual handling of the camera which, in addition to this bare body, would need to have a lens and an external monitor in field shooting.

Though we probably never know for sure about the sensor inside this camera, it looks to be one of the older generation used in older or budget Panasonic and Olympus cameras. Not the one in the 2-year-old Panasonic GH5 or 3-year-old Olympus EM1 Mk2. The latter also has on sensor phase detection AF that along with the recent firmware works superbly on par (in video) with many Canon Dual Pixel AF DSLRs.

I think the price as being offered is deceptive considering the need to make it really useable though the useability with all the said add-ons and cables etc. may vary from one shooter to another.

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The battery costs $17 on Amazon. It's a standard Canon-type battery, same as used on the BMPCC 4K and lots of Canon DSLRs except this camera gets 80 minutes from it, not 25. You don't need a recorder like the Ninja V. That is the point. You are recording in the camera to a tiny ssd drive like the little Samsung T5 via usb c, if you want RAW or ProRes. Otherwise the same sd card you use in a GoPro to get 10bit H265 HLG. You can use a little ipod touch as a monitor,touch screen works. Fully articulating. Or you can just use the lcd on the camera, it has one.

The sensor is the one on the GH4. You get a tiny GH4 that internally shoots 10bit with better color and DR. AF like the GH4, passable if you work right with it.

I don't know who this appeals to, but certainly not to those with no imagination. Pros love to rig cameras. Modular is what they like, so they can build a rig that suits them. I agree a handle is a good idea, but you can choose what you like.

It mounts on a small gimbal, so great for handheld work, otherwise relies on the OIS in Lumix lenses. Tiny, 10bit, ILC with great customization options that don't bulk up.

Real HDR video not fake like Sony (ahem) from a tiny camera.

Mine just arrived. I'll be posting a review and menu guide soon at focuspulling.com.

For limited purposes, it's surprisingly great. I hate ProRes (inefficient for acquisition, really just an intermediate codec for old Final Cut Pro) and dig H.265 for efficiency and 10-bit performance. I couldn't care less about high frame rates: no interest in shooting weddings with bridezillas in slow motion, etc. RAW is on the way via firmware. The auto-focus is at least a little better than the BMPCC4K/6K with active lenses. Battery life is longer than the BMPCC4K/6K too, even though the same battery - and there's no fan either, but a temperature readout right there on the display. Even though the packaging states iOS control only, the beta Android app works great: with the robust Wi-Fi antenna, you really get a solid viewfinder wireless connection with nominal latency, and full touchscreen controls of every function.

As a B- or C-camera during live events/music especially, it's a great (because it's cheap) thing to bring alongside better cameras. But the rolling shutter is the worst I've ever seen (no, seriously): so this thing really needs to be something you just set and forget on sticks.