One week in LA during awards season inevitably leads to a party and big presentations. Last week, it meant I was able to catch the launch of the new Panasonic VaricamLT at the Directors Guild Auditorium.
The VaricamLT is a lighter, more streamlined version of the 2 part Varicam35 camera that started shipping last year. The LT version has a slightly smaller (7.25 x 9.125 x 9.75in) body and half as light weighting in at just under 6lbs for the body only.
Utilizing the same Super 35 sized sensor as the V35, the optics for this camera default to Canon’s EF mount DSLR lenses. Panasonic does offer an interchangeable PL mount as an option, fulfilling the needs of filmmakers in every manner of budget, the access to the the full 4K camera by controlling their choice of optics needed to match their shooting style or level of production.
The Varicam LT camera utilizes a dual iso, with a ISO base of 800 and an extended ISO setting at 5000, something many filmmakers will enjoy as it can open another hour or 2 of shooting during sunrise and sunset with that extra 3 stops of light found at the 5000 ISO. setting.
The images had that uniquely Panasonic look, creamy skin tones and easily balanced color in 14+ stops of latitude. Currently only recording 4K in the AVHC codec onto P2 media from 24fps to 59.94, 2K up to 240fps in cropped mode, and HD up to 240fps, yet limits the ProRes Capture at 1920×1080 to 60p.
Panasonic’s V-log recording format will be available later this year, with external RAW and additional ProRes recoding options, reportedly expected from Atomos and Convergent-Design.
While waiting for the LT camera to arrive, I am going to head over to Daufenbach Camera and take a closer look the existing Varicam V35 they have in stock just to re-ignite my taste for the skin tones Panasonic was known for.
