{"id":101012,"date":"2018-04-11T15:01:41","date_gmt":"2018-04-11T20:01:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=101012"},"modified":"2018-04-11T15:01:42","modified_gmt":"2018-04-11T20:01:42","slug":"nab-panasonic-eva1-low-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/nab-panasonic-eva1-low-light\/","title":{"rendered":"NAB 2018: Panasonic Shows Off The EVA1’s Low-Light Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"

At NAB 2018, the Panasonic booth is all about the EVA1 camera. After a relatively low-key release, this camera is now squarely on our radar.<\/h2>\n

All images via\u00a0Todd Blankenship<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

In keeping with\u00a0a somewhat-new trend of releasing cameras with dual native ISOs (including the new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4k<\/a>\u00a0), the Panasonic EVA1 <\/a>(now shipping) is a great addition to this new approach to low light.<\/p>\n

Borrowing the approach from their popular higher-end line of Varicam<\/a> cameras, Panasonic included a dual native ISO of 800\/2500. This is a big deal.<\/p>\n

\"NAB<\/a><\/p>\n

The EVA1 appears to be a true cinema camera, with 14 stops of dynamic range and a 5.7k image sensor. I have to admit, I’m now wondering why more people aren’t talking about this camera. The images that this thing\u00a0captures are nothing short of spectacular \u2014 low-light performance aside.<\/p>\n

This year at NAB<\/a>, Panasonic wanted to show off. Have a look.<\/p>\n

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Dual Native ISO<\/h3>\n

At the Panasonic booth, it was clear that they believed the low-light performance of their EVA1 camera (as well as their Varicam line) was something that you had to see to believe.<\/p>\n

In a small, nearly blacked-out room, they had each of their Varicam cameras and one EVA1 unit pointed toward a small set\u00a0lit by one large LED light mat and a few very small fixtures. All of the lights were probably at about 5% or less of their full output. I\u00a0could barely see anything in the room. The image below\u00a0is what my phone was able to capture.<\/p>\n

\"NAB<\/p>\n

However, the following image\u00a0is how the EVA1 saw the scene at its higher native ISO of 2500. Truly incredible.<\/p>\n

\"NAB<\/a><\/p>\n

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How\u00a0The EVA1 Compares<\/h3>\n

\"NAB<\/a><\/p>\n

In this same room, Panasonic also had a monitor with all of the feeds from the various cameras comparing the Varicam images to the EVA1 images and vice versa. The Varicam\u00a0had a higher native ISO of 5000, compared to the EVA1’s at 2500.<\/p>\n

I’m sure this display was intended to show how well their whole range would perform in low light, but I spent a good while there just comparing the image of the EVA1 itself to its much higher-priced colleagues. Even more than the low-light capability, I was impressed by just how beautiful the color science (and image) was.<\/p>\n

This camera\u00a0stands up extremely well to the Varicam, and if you were shooting with both, you\u00a0could cut between the two seamlessly.<\/p>\n

I really hadn’t\u00a0given this release its due until now. With the great release of the GH5 and now the capabilities of the EVA1, Panasonic has my attention.<\/p>\n

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Looking for more NAB coverage? Check out these announcements.<\/p>\n