NAB 2018: Panasonic To Show New AU-EVA1 Firmware Upgrade
Panasonic released a free firmware upgrade for the AU-EVA1 cinema camera that greatly enhances recording capabilities, including ALL-Intra frame recording formats, RAW data output, timelapse recording, HD 4:2:2 interlaced formats and more. These additions expand the camera’s abilities so fundamentally that Panasonic refers to the upgrade as “EVA 2.0.” This will be a part of Panasonic’s NAB 2018 presentation.
Released in late 2017, the EF-mount AU-EVA1 is a 5.7K cinema camera containing a Super-35mm sensor that features 14-stops of dynamic range, Dual Native ISO ratings of 800 and 2500, and the same colorimetry as the renowned VariCam camera system. Due to its small size and weight, the EVA1 is ideal for gimbal and drone work, as well as handheld shooting.
The free firmware upgrade is now available for download from the Panasonic website HERE.
“When the EVA1 was announced last summer, we promised a major expansion in its functionality in early 2018,” says Mitch Gross, cinema product manager, Panasonic Media Entertainment Company. “EVA 2.0 fulfills that promise with features like RAW output and ALL-Intra recording as well as with such unannounced user-requested features as a 2K at 240fps RAW output and additional interlaced HD recording formats.”
EVA 2.0 allows uncompressed RAW output via 6G SDI. Formats include 5.7K at 1fps to 30fps, 4K at 1fps to 60fps, and 2K at 1fps to 240fps. Atomos has announced that its Shogun Inferno and Sumo monitor/recorders will capture RAW-to-ProRes from the EVA1 in 4K up to 60fps and 2K up to 240fps. Additional announcements for RAW support are to be released soon.
A key feature of EVA 2.0 is ALL-Intraframe (ALL-I) codec recordings, offering 10-bit 4:2:2 at up to 400Mbps. Intraframe recordings require less post processing than the LongGOP codecs also available in the EVA1, enabling real-time editing on more cost-effective high-performance computers.
In addition, remote operation is now available through third-party wired controllers that connect to the EVA1 handgrip port and will allow focus, iris and zoom control of Canon Compact Cine Servo zoom lenses (18 to 80mm and 70 to 200mm). Remote operation of these lenses soon will be available wirelessly through the next update of the EVA ROP application. Interval recording (timelapse) is now available in both LongGOP and ALL-I.
For monitoring, a new feature is partial cloning of the LCD signal to the HDMI output, as well as improved file playback in LongGOP and ALL-I. There are also new home screen controls.