The Canon 1D X Mark III has been shipping for quite some time and with its capability to record up to 5.5k RAW video internally, it promises to be a leader in its class. Together with the upcoming EOS R5, Canon is showing muscle flexing and an explosion of technical generosity. To me, it looks like a true come back for the creator of the VDSLR segment and a former leader of that field.   Canon 1D X Mark III (Image: cinema5D) My Canon 1D X Mark III review article and video were created during the beginning of March and originally I was planning to release it back then, but different circumstances led me to delay the publication. First, it was the awfully poor customer service by Apple Japan who miserably failed to supply my new MacBook Pro 16 in time (zero support in the English speaking hotline), and as I needed this laptop for reading and transcoding the Canon 1D X Mark III .crm RAW files, I saw my initial deadline getting further away. Then, we at cinema5D went full swing ahead with producing and publishing videos to our very successful “Virtual Show” and of course, when entering such a project, other tasks are at risk of being delayed, so apologies to you guys as many of our loyal followers were asking about that camera review by sending us private emails. So the original draft of this article was written during the middle of March when toilet paper was still a bit hard to find here in Tokyo (I guess many of us will remember these strange times by having a picture in mind of empty shelves and the absence of toiletry products). And while the world was almost coming to its end, I chose to isolate myself from the stress by exploring the combination of having a short meditation session and drinking a cup of Japanese green tea. To my aid came Rica, a young Japanese woman who developed her own method of reducing stress and help humanity to calm down. Her family roots are heavily tied to the Japanese traditional green tea industry but her independent set of mind drove her to explore an alternative way. Rica contributed from her time by introducing me to her lovely family and agreeing to be featured in this camera review. If you are into exploring her method to reduce stress, I encourage you to visit her homepage by clicking here. Taken from the timeline – Rica and  her 90 years old grandmother (Image Credit: cinema5D) Emiko-san. A 90 years old Japanese lady. Canon 1D X Mark III – Image taken from the timeline (Image Credit: cinema5D) Canon – “Back to the Future” A short lesson in history… The year is 2008 and the Canon 5D Mark II has been announced. It is the second DSLR camera that can shoot High Definition video (The first was Nikon D90 but it was limited to 720p). Canon’s move took the world of filming by surprise and changed the way we produce content FOREVER. Four years later and Canon keeps its dominance in the VDSLR growing market by introducing the first DSLR camera that can shoot 4K internally. The 1D C has arrived, but with its hefty price tag ($10,000+) its success was very limited. Next to introducing a DSLR that can shoot 4K video internally, Canon also took the opportunity to create a new “sub-brand” and during 2012 lifted the curtain over its EOS Cinema line (C500, C300, and 1D C were the first to be introduced). In reality, someone at Canon decided to kill a market they have created by crippling every DSLR camera since then (For video usage). One camera wouldn’t use the full frame sensor when filming video, the other won’t have C-log and such. Maybe (Just maybe), that was done in order not to compete internally with its own EOS C line. We as users moved on to explore other attractive possibilities as more camera manufacturers discovered this emerging market segment. When mentioning manufacturers, one of their challenges is to find out why people are actually buying their merchandise. Is it for photo? Or is it for exploring its video capabilities? The lack of information can lead to crucial marketing mistakes. And as for Canon, without being disrespectful, we saw a huge drop of people from our industry who uses their VDSLRs or mirrorless cameras to shoot video. Canon 1D X Mark III (Image: cinema5D) Canon 1D X Mark III I was one of those who paid $10,000 for the Canon 1D C. I fell in love with the possibility and opportunity to create 4K moving images with such a (relatively) small piece of equipment. I polished my “one-man-band” documentary expertise, earned nice money with it, but felt very much disappointed. This special camera under the EOS Cinema line had been completely neglected by Canon and at the end of the day, without real useful video related updates, it was clear that its days are numbered. And indeed, Canon never released a successor for that camera. And now comes the new Canon 1D X Mark III and a moment before the EOS R5 takes all the possible glory, it shows what a leading camera manufacturer can produce when the inner restrictions are being eased. This camera (or a variant of it) could have easily been under the EOS Cinema roof, but I can only guess that internal discussions prevented it from being so. Instead, Canon chose to market their best ever photo camera with explosive video capabilities to photo journalist. I will touch this topic briefly later, but hard for me to imagine the declared targeted users filming anything in 5.5K RAW… So why this camera has no Cinema EOS badge? The answer might be known to Canon executives only (and yes, of course, I’m aware that the 1D X family of cameras were always at the front of what Canon has to offer photographers, but such a high level of video quality certainly deserves greater attention). Canon 1D X Mark III – Very Flexible Camera. Lots of Frame Rates and Resolutions to Choose From. (Image: cinema5D) Canon 1D X Mark III – What is new I would like to come up front and write in a very transparent way that this is NOT a full review. The 1D X Mark III camera has a lot to offer with its diverse functionality (recording formats and resolutions flexibility) so for the limited time I had it for, it felt almost impossible to check all its video functionality. As such, when filming, I decided to concentrate on a single “winning feature” and chose to explore its’ 5.5K internal recording RAW functionality. For the last days I ran around filming different sceneries and objects, day and night, and I’m happy to report that when it comes to image quality, this 1D X Mark III is truly exceptional. RAW recording is a mixed bag of possibilities and limitations. While it’s great having a 12bit RAW video to work with in post, managing recording on expensive CFexpress media and dealing with a large amount of data is not for everyone and certainly not for every project. Here is a shortlist of what I liked while filming in RAW 5.5K (5472 x 2886): Full sensor readout at 5.5k resolution and internal 12bit RAW recording (CRM file) Exceptional video quality Highlight Roll Off is very pleasing The BT709 view Assist is accurate and helps A LOT in achieving the correct exposure Up to 5.5K/60p recording in RAW mode (Note that some CFexpress media cards can not sustain the required recording high data rate) Dual recording. High quality RAW+4K proxies (the 4K video proxy files are of high quality and can easily serve as “new masters” when very fast turn around is needed) During editing: As expected, manipulating the RAW video files can become very beneficial. In the above video, I chose filming in some challenging places. I think that all in all the results speaks for themselves, especially when it comes to manipulating the highlights. Note: We haven’t conducted a Dynamic Range test for the Canon 1D X Mark III yet. To my eyes, the footage seems to hold very nice also in difficult lighting situations so we will try and get it soon in order to put it through its paces. Original Image taken from the timeline With Reduced Highlights Color corrected Here is a shortlist of what I would like to see being improved: Dual autofocus functionality is disabled when filming in 5.5k RAW at 50/60 fps. Actually it is missing from all other 4K resolution filming modes UNLESS you are filming in Crop Mode. (1.3x crop) Camera RAW video playback in BT709 or BT2020 picture profiles is not supported. It is in LOG picture profile only. As a side note, while filming 5.5K RAW+Proxies in 60p and 24p, it happened that the camera stopped recording without prior indication. I guess that the data rate was simply too high to handle Genius! – AF-ON button (Image: cinema5D) Canon 1D X Mark III – Other Advantages True, the highlighted feature of this camera is 5.5k internal RAW recording, but there are so many other things that deserve applause. Here they are with no particular order: The lowlight capability of this camera is simply great. Not even once that I felt that clips captured at high ISO settings are not usable. Choose any ISO above the native 400 and the camera will respond well. Of course, there is some noise in the higher values, but nothing that will stop you from filming and using the footage The Canon 1D X Mark III is a very flexible camera to work with supporting many resolutions, frame rates, and codecs. Canon moved away from Motion Jpeg, instead, they implemented mp4 recording. There are different recording options depending on if C-Log is enabled or not. Choose any other than C-Log picture profile and you will be recording in H.264, 8bit, 4:2:0. Chose C-Log and the camera will record in H.265, 10bit, 4:2:2. Like with many other Canon DSLR cameras, there is a choice between All-I and IBP compression. The new AF-ON button is simply genius and reinventing joy stick. It uses a similar technology found in an optical mouse. The usability is great as it is faster and accurate. What a great innovative way to control autofocus. Speaking of autofocus, selecting focus points or changing AF points while filming is buttery smooth. Couple this with Canon’s Dual Pixel autofocus technology and you have a true winner. One slight enhancement that I would love to see is the ability to find the AF square faster. Yes, when filming outdoor and the sun is showing no mercy it is very hard to find that AF square at a glance. In this section it is worth mentioning that DPAF (Dual Pixel Auto Focus) will function in 5.5K RAW @24/25/30p, the various 4K resolution flavours up to 30p, and in Full HD at 120fps. Last but not least, the camera supports eye and head AF.  Find the AF Square in less than 2 seconds and win a hug. (Image: cinema5D) Recording 4K, 10bit, 4:2:2 over HDMI is possible (not tested). The benefit is recording straight to an external recorder like Atomos Ninja V. (So longer than 30 minutes of recording time becomes possible and capturing footage in let’s say ProRes makes editing easier). Battery life seems to be similar to the 1D X Mark II and I think that with 3-4 batteries one can easily pass the shooting day. Battery placement: As with all 1D  X cameras, the side battery position is perfect when it comes to flying the camera on a gimbal. In many cases, there is no need to detach the camera in order to change the battery. Great weather-sealed built quality. Really one of the best out there. Built like a tank. Fanless design. Whatever Canon is doing here, they are doing it right! Filming in quiet places should not raise any issues. Canon 1D X Mark III – The limitations As with any other camera, “limitation” is a very subjective thing. As an example, 29:59 minutes of recording time can indeed be limiting, but it really depends on your shooting style and the projects you do. For me personally 30 minutes are more than enough as I don’t film long concerts or sports events. What I do consider as a limitation, is the DSLR form factor… After working for so many years with mirrorless cameras, it was not easy to get used again to the size, absent of EVF, and absent of a true IBIS (well, that’s what the 1D X Mark III is, a top of the line DSLR camera that can shoot exceptionally high quality video, yet I thought I would write it here. Feels better already)… Audio quality: To my none professional ears, the sound quality of the recorded audio was noisy. A small thing that has to do with “usability”: Finding how to increase headphone volume can be a challenge (if you find a fast way of doing it, please share it with me). Exposure meter will despair after starting recording. If you find a method to leave it on during recording, let me know. Editing related: Currently, Canon has a RAW plugin for managing CRM files for FCX and Avid. Blackmagic Resolve 16 is also supporting those 1D X Mark III CRM video files. I hope that Canon will add additional support for editing the material in Adobe Premiere CC soon. Don’t leave Digital stabilization “ON” or your RAW recording options will be greyed out (Credit: cinema5D) Canon 1D X Mark III – At the Field Not touching a Canon DSLRs or a Canon mirrorless camera for quite some time, it took me a few seconds to orientate myself with the visually familiar Canon menu. But when I was on it, I’ve noticed that nothing has really changed. The photo and video functions are still not separated as I would have expected from a modern camera like this. Saying that, in no time I’ve realized I have a “beast” in my hands! The built and video picture quality is simply very impressive. I keep hearing people mentioning that this camera can function as a good  “B” camera, but in all honesty, I would not hesitate to use it during a high profile project as an “A” camera. The thing that might paint the border here is “connectivity” (surly a dedicated “C” line of cameras have the advantage here, but in terms of picture quality, this is an extremely capable camera that only an operator can prevent it from shining). I talked about the RAW video images coming out of it, but as I briefly mentioned before, even more, improvise is the flexibility this camera offers. Unfortunately, it was beyond the scoop of this initial review to check all resolutions and frame rates, but even the MP4, 10 bit, 4:2:2, ALL-I files this camera produces are robust and lovely to watch – talking about video picture quality, the “Low Res” IBP proxy files can give a good run the money for some other cameras out there… I did try shooting handheld with the digital stabilizer enabled and the results are fine, yet of course not as good when using a camera with IBIS. One thing to note: If you enable the digital stabilization option and later try to film in RAW (without turning off DIS), the video RAW recording options will be greyed. As I left the camera and came back to it later that day, it took me some minutes to understand what had happened and why I do not see my RAW recording options. I hope Canon will consider disabling DIS automatically when switching the camera to video RAW recording mode so this “hiccup” won’t happen. If you prefer movements in your production, prepare to have a suitable gimbal to fly the camera with (extra equipment/wight for the individual shooter). Canon 1D X Mark III – Top performer (Image credit: cinema5D) Conclusion Not sure how many times it happened to me before that after finishing reviewing a camera I felt that touching it was only “the tip of the iceberg”. I won’t be exaggerating if writing that this piece of equipment is simply a masterpiece and a great technical achievement. For me personally, and as a documentary filmmaker, I would prefer running & gunning with something a bit smaller that have an IBIS and EVF. Actually, the same video capabilities of the 1D X mark III in an EOS R body will be great to have… Now, one question is left open. Who is this camera for? Photographers for sure as this is one of the best (if not the best photo camera I’m being told). But do photographers really need that kind of high end video capabilities found in this body? I guess that if you are a filmmaker too (event photographers/filmmakers for example), then the answer is yes. You might also love having this camera if you are a proud owner of any other Canon Cinema line of cameras. And last but not least, this is an exceptional demonstration of technical capabilities by Canon. Now that we know what the future will bring (EOS R5), all that is left is to wait and see where this new chapter in Canon’s history is going to take us to. Well done Canon! In regards to the above video: All but the Shibuya crossing scene was shot on 5.5k/24p, RAW, C-Log. CRM files converted in Resolve 16 to ProRes 4444 for finalizing in Adobe Premiere (yes, I need to move on and start using Resolve solely). Graded with FilmConvert. Get a 10% discount when using our link.  Music: epidemicsound EDIT: Adobe Premiere CC is now natively supporting the Canon 1D X Mark III .CRM RAW files. I can presume that many of you guys are already working with the Canon 1D X Mark III. It will be lovely if you can share your experience and thoughts regarding this camera. 

Canon launched its EOS Webcam Utility Beta for macOS as well. Users need a supported Canon camera with the right USB cable. The free app works on Apple computers with macOS 10.15 (Catalina), 10.14 (Mojave), or 10.13 (High Sierra). EOS Webcam Utility for macOS. Source: Canon After many countries worldwide applied strict social distancing policies in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of videoconference calls went through the roof. While most people take built-in desktops or laptops webcams as sufficient, some want to have a better image and sound quality. For those who have a Canon camera, there is an app that turns it into a web camera. When Canon launched its EOS Webcam Utility application for Windows at the beginning of May, it caught the interest of many people. The free app transforms any supported Canon camera into a webcam using only a USB cable. One thing Canon’s customers were asking for the most, was to bring the app to macOS so that Apple users can also take advantage of it. The macOS version is finally here. Canon made a useful Youtube video with instructions on how to use the app on macOS. The Canon EOS Webcam Utility Beta app for Mac works only on Apple computers with macOS 10.15 (Catalina), 10.14 (Mojave), or 10.13 (High Sierra). Interestingly, Canon says that this software is for use in the U.S. and will not be supported outside that area. While I know of many people who use the app outside of the U.S., there might be some compatibility issues with cameras made for different markets. Download Instructions Go to the Canon EOS Webcam Utility Website. Select your camera model from the list. Select the “Drivers & Downloads” tab. Select the “Software” tab. For Windows users: Select Windows 10 (x64), if not already detected, from the Operating System list. For Mac users: Select 10.15 (Catalina), 10.14 (Mojave), or 10.13 (High Sierra)., if not already detected, from the Operating System list. Find “EOS Webcam Utility Beta” and click the “SELECT” button. Click the download button to start downloading. Canon EOS Webcam Utility – Troubleshooting After immense feedback and many questions from Canon’s customers, the company published a list of notes and tips for the use of their EOS Webcam Utility. EOS Webcam Utility Beta. Source: Canon When using the EOS Webcam Utility Beta software with macOS 10.14 (Mojave) and 10.15 (Catalina), the following applications will not list or permit EOS Webcam Utility Beta software to function on the device: Safari (Use Google Chrome), FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, WebEx (Use Web-based Skype, Zoom and WebEx in Google Chrome instead of a native application). When using EOS Webcam Utility Beta software with your camera, the video source image will not be visible if the EOS Utility application is running on your computer.  For EOS Webcam Utility Beta software to perform correctly, you need to “Quit” the EOS Utility. When using EOS Webcam Utility Beta software with your camera set to Still Photo Shooting mode, a black border may appear around the video source image or the video source image may be cropped. Canon suggests EOS Webcam Utility Beta software to be used with your camera set to Movie Shooting mode, if available. When using EOS Webcam Utility Beta software, switching modes on your camera between Still Photo Shooting mode and Movie Shooting mode, or turning your camera to on from the off position during video conferencing, it may take several seconds to recover your video feed. When using EOS Webcam Utility Beta software, only one video conferencing application will receive video feed at any given time. Other applications running simultaneously, where EOS Webcam Utility Beta has been selected as the video source, will display a default title screen. Canon recommends that you “Quit” any other video conferencing application not in use. When using EOS Webcam Utility Beta software, if the USB connection is unplugged during video conferencing, the video conferencing application may not display correctly. If this occurs and you cannot recover video feed after you reconnect the USB connection, you may have to restart your video conferencing application or restart your computer. When using EOS Webcam Utility Beta software with the EOS M50 camera, Canon suggests that the LCD screen be open and faced towards the user to achieve optimal performance. Example of supported cameras. Source: Canon Supported Canon EOS DSLR cameras EOS-1D X Mark II EOS-1D X Mark III EOS 5D Mark IV EOS 5DS EOS 5DS R EOS 6D Mark II EOS 7D Mark II EOS 77D EOS 80D EOS 90D EOS Rebel SL2 EOS Rebel SL3 EOS Rebel T6 EOS Rebel T6i EOS Rebel T7 EOS Rebel T7i EOS Rebel T100 Supported Canon EOS Mirrorless Cameras EOS M6 Mark II EOS M50 EOS M200 EOS R EOS RP Supported Canon PowerShot Cameras PowerShot G5X Mark II PowerShot G7X Mark III PowerShot SX70 HS Canon is collecting feedback from the EOS Webcam Utility users, so if you have some issues or you simply want to say thank you, you can do so on Canon Community Forum (Windows version, macOS version). Did you try the EOS utility already? How do you like it? Let us know in the comment section underneath the article.

Canon EOS Webcam Utility Beta is a free app that allows connecting a select Canon camera to the computer and using it as a webcam. It only requires a compatible USB cable, but currently runs on Windows 10 machines only. Canon EOS Webcam Utility Beta. Source: Canon Since the COVID-19 came and changed the world as we know it, more and more people started working remotely and streaming their videos online. Using a laptop’s built-in webcam, of course, has its limitations – especially when it comes to picture and sound quality. Using a DSLR or mirrorless camera as a webcam can significantly improve the resulting quality. While this workflow certainly isn’t new, it usually requires an extra piece of hardware to convert the camera’s clean HDMI output to the USB-compatible webcam device. There are numerous devices from reputable companies like AJA, Blackmagic Design, Epiphan, Teradek, and others, to do just that. Canon, however, has recently launched the EOS Webcam Utility software to connect the camera directly to the PC. What are its features? EOS Webcam Utility Beta Software Canon claims their new EOS Webcam Utility is an easy-to-use, plug-and-play solution to connect a Canon camera to the computer and use it as a webcam. However, this currently has two limitations – it only works on Windows PC and only for select Canon cameras. The list of supported cameras currently include: EOS-1D X Mark III (includes USB interface cable) EOS-1D X Mark II (includes USB interface cable) EOS 5DS R (includes USB interface cable) EOS 5DS (includes USB interface cable) EOS 5D Mark IV (includes USB interface cable) EOS R (includes USB interface cable) EOS 6D Mark II EOS RP EOS 7D Mark II (includes USB interface cable) EOS 90D EOS 80D EOS 77D EOS Rebel T7i EOS Rebel T6i (includes USB interface cable) EOS Rebel T7 EOS Rebel T6 (includes USB interface cable) EOS Rebel SL3 EOS Rebel SL2 EOS Rebel T100 EOS M6 Mark II EOS M50 EOS M200 PowerShot G5X Mark II PowerShot G7X Mark III PowerShot SX70 HS As you can see, for many camera models, the USB cable needs to be purchased separately. As for the computer system requirements, Canon writes the following: Windows 10 64-bit, Intel Pentium 1.6GHz or faster processor, with 2 GB or greater of RAM, a display screen resolution of 1,024×768 pixels or more and screen colors medium (16-bit). For Apple users, the EOS Webcam Utility does not work at the moment. Canon says on their website that “Mac compatibility currently pending.” That could mean they are working on a version for Mac, but I don’t know for sure. In the end, the current version is Beta only, so I hope we might see an update in this regard. Canon EOS Webcam Utility Beta. Source: Canon Those of you, who have a compatible camera, cable, and computer system, can head over to Canon Website and download the free EOS Webcam Utility Beta. Canon has also put together a PDF file with instructions if you struggle with getting it up and running. Did you try the EOS Webcam Utility already? How did it work for you? Do you prefer a different solution for connecting your camera as a webcam? Let us know in the comments underneath the article.

Zacuto ACT Recoil is a new line of rigs for DSLR and DSLM (mirrorless) cameras. They consist of an Arca-Swiss compatible camera baseplate, Tactical Handle, Right Trigger Grip with flip-up quick-adjust joint, Axis Micro EVF mount, and ACT EVF Pro with a flip-up loupe. The rigs come either with a camera-specific cage, universal cage or without a cage. ACT Recoil rigs for DSLR and DSLM. Source: Zacuto The US-based camera accessories manufacturer Zacuto has been offering their Recoil Rigs for cinema cameras (like the FS7, EVA1, C200, and similar) for a while now. With the launch of the new ACT Recoil, Zacuto is aiming mostly at filmmakers working with DSLR and DSLM (mirrorless) cameras. Let’s take a short look at the features and specs of the Zacuto ACT Recoil rigs. Zacuto ACT Recoil Rigs The new ACT Recoil is not only one new rig. It is a new rigging system, that comes in ten different sets. The rigs are primarily designed for DSLR and DSLM cameras. ACT Recoil Rigs position the camera directly over the shoulder with the ability to slide it forward or back to find the best balance point. The handgrip and EVF are moved further forward for comfortable work. ACT Recoil Rigs are mostly comprised of six main components: ACT Baseplate with built-in shoulder pad – includes Arca-Swiss quick release plate camera cage – camera-specific or universal Tactical Handle – can be used as a top or side grip Right Trigger Grip – comes with a Zacuto flip-up quick-adjust joint Axis Micro EVF mount ACT EVF Pro with a flip-up loupe – 3.5″ LCD electronic viewfinder ACT Recoil rigs for DSLR and DSLM. Source: Zacuto Zacuto offers ready-to-shoot options with camera-specific cages (Sony a7R IV, Panasonic S1H, Z CAM E2 Series, Blackmagic Pocket 4k/6k, FUJIFILM X-T3, Nikon Z6/Z7) or with a universal camera cage. There is an option for all camera sizes – from tiny cameras like the SIGMA fp up to large DSLRs like the Canon 1DX series. There is also a cageless option of the ACT Recoil Rig. Instead of a camera cage, it offers the Axis Curve – a rod-mounting EVF Mount that attaches directly to the ACT Baseplate. ACT Recoil rigs for DSLR and DSLM. Source: Zacuto Extra accessories like a second grip, quick-release plates, and the run’n’gun Marauder Mini are available to round out the rigs. Price and Availability In total, there are ten different Zacuto ACT Recoil Rigs. They are all available for pre-order now, shipping is planned to start at the end of March. Price is from $850 for the basic rig without camera cage till $1,450 for the ACT Recoil Rig with camera cage. Do you rig your DSLR or DSLM camera for video work? What do you think about the Zacuto ACT Recoil Rigs? Let us know in the comments underneath the article.

A new announcement comes from within the Vitec Group: The new JOBY Wavo, a mic for Vloggers. This ultra-lightweight microphone (40g/1.4 oz), with compact dimensions of (HxD) 9.3cm x 7.1cm (3.6 x 2.8in) just entered the stage on February 29th and is available now. It comes with a one year warranty, has a frequency response from 35Hz-20kHz, and a 78db SPL Signal to Noise Ratio. The Wavo is supposed to reach Consumers, Mobile Creators, Podcasters, Vloggers and should combine well with mobile phones (like the Apple iPhone 11 Pro/Pro Max), legacy DSLR’s and mirrorless cameras. JOBY Wavo with GorillaPod flexible mount (Credits: Vitec Group / JOBY) JOBY Environment – Family & Pairing The Wavo (JB01675-BWW) Super-Cardioid polar pattern mic forms a new product family together with the Wavo Mobile (JB01643-BWW) Cardioid mic. There are various available pairing options with pod, rig and stand solutions that JOBY has to offer already. These include the GorillaPod Mobile Rig (JB01533-BWW), the GripTight PRO Telepod (JB01534-BWW) and every other product with a Cold Shoe attachment. It also comes with a 1/4 20 mount for direct attachment to audio stands. With two cables, TRS (Camera) and TRRS (Mobile) already in the package, the Wavo offers multi-device support, unlike some of its competition that sometimes only ships with one of these solutions. JOBY Wavo (JB01675-BWW) with family and pairing options (Credits: Vitec Group / JOBY) JOBY Wavo – Isolation, Materials and Directionality The Wavo consists of the materials Hytrel®, ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PU (Polyurethane). The ABS body provides the product with durability. The Hytrel® Double Point Duo-Lyre® is a concept by a team within Rycote. Like Joby, Rycote is also a member of the Vitec Group and provided the product with this engineered design to isolate or diminish unintended vibrations or shakes. This Hytrel® Thermoplastic Elastomer thereby detaches the microphone a little bit from the camera or support that holds it, which would otherwise straightly transfer movement, handling noise or vibrations to the mic. For extended ambient noise reduction, a foam windshield that helps to reduce distractions and get a more precise reproduction of the voice is in the package as well. (By The Way, if you recognise this microphone shock observer part from Rode microphones, it is worth mentioning that Rycote is the one holding the patent for it and Rode is the one to licence using it). Some of the main aspects when using such microphones as a vlogger are its unidirectional and shock-isolated characteristics. Such a mic empowers the user not to rely on often spherical sound and potentially lower-quality in-built microphones that ordinarily capture more surrounding distractions and ultimately noise or irrelevant audio. It is principally aimed at focusing and isolating the vlogger’s voice from the crowd. JOBY Wavo attached to a headlight on Sony A7II (Credits: Vitec Group / JOBY) JOBY Wavo – Pricing & Availability The Wavo is available now has a price tag of $79.95, alongside the cheaper Wavo Mobile at $39.95 and offers substantial shock isolation as well as a tiny and portable size. JOBY thereby wants to compete with the already small and versatile RØDE VideoMic GO (73g; H 7.9cm x W 7.3cm x D 16.7cm; shipping for 65 EUR) and argues that the new Wavo is smaller and more compact in relation. The flexibility for interchangeable use within a wide range of JOBY products makes this product a viable solution for day-to-day vlogging in the entry-level arena. JOBY Wavo DSLR & mobile phone setup with headlight (Credits: Vitec Group / JOBY) What are your first impressions of the new JOBY Wavo? What are the types of projects you would use such a microphone in? Is this a product that would meet your expectations or professional standards?

We covered the Canon 1D X Mark III when it was first announced, but Canon USA has now released two incredibly detailed white papers outlining the still and video capabilities of the 1D X Mark III. And the details within? Equally incredible. Let’s see what we can learn! Canon 1D X Mark III – Top Line Takeaways To start with, the sensor itself is similar to the sensor on the 1D X Mark II. However, as I understand it, the processor and the storage media are the major upgrades. The new Digic X processor is roughly 3x faster than the dual Digic 6+ processors seen in the 1D X Mark II, allowing for higher resolutions and frame rates, obviously RAW video, noise and sharpness processing, battery life, and more horsepower dedicated to the new AF modes. Independent of any sensor upgrades, this should noticeably improve performance across all modes. In the video whitepaper, it also becomes clear that Canon intends to make the most of its two CFExpress slots. The Canon 1D X Mark III can record 5.5K RAW video, it can record oversampled, uncropped 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 video, or it can record BOTH, one to each card slot at up to 60fps. Canon Log, and WTF is an “OETF”? One of the big acronyms repeated over and over in this paper is OETF. It stands for “OptoElectric Transfer Function,” and is the very technical way of describing the systems and equations that convert light into an image. In whatever way Canon has designed the pipeline from the sensor to the memory card, they have made the specific logarithmic characteristics of C Log an integral part of the journey. This C Log OETF is the primary one used in photo mode as well as video mode. When you are shooting video with the 1D X Mark III, consider C Log your default setting, not an optional feature. You can record video without in regular REC709, abandoning C Log, but unfortunately, that means you will be recording in 8-bit. Otherwise, your options as far as frame rates and resolutions remain the same in either mode. To all of the technically-minded people out there More Miscellaneous details on RAW Video To quote Canon directly: “There are small differences between Cinema RAW Light of the EOS C200 or EOS C500 Mark II, and the RAW video of the EOS-1D X Mark III.” The exact nature of those differences remains unclear, but what we do know is that the RAW video here records in 12-bit depth, up to 2600 Mbps if you shoot 60fps. That is 2.6x higher than the Canon Raw Light output by the C200, which clocks in at merely 1Gbps. The lesson here: get big cards, and get lots of them. Read the Video Whitepaper here Read the Photo Whitepaper here Do these new details change your opinion of the camera in any way? What questions do you still feel are left unanswered? Let us know in the comments, and keep your eyes peeled as we get closer to the release date!

Nikon has announced an anticipated update to its most popular full-frame DSLR. The Nikon D780 arrives with 4K, 1080 120p and N-log & HLG support bringing it up to speed with their current mirrorless range. The Nikon D780 arrives as an update to the D750, which was announced way back in 2014. It’s an as-you-expect announcement in terms of video, simple adding features in current Nikon mirrorless camera into this new full-frame DSLR. The sensor is again 24 Megapixels, the processor gets an update to the Expeed 6 chip. ISO is increased through the sensor’s backside illumination, ISO is now 51,200 max (204,800 expandable). The D780 gets 4K video (UHD 3840X2160), up to 30p and FullHD up to 120p. 10-bit is available via output. There’s a headphone jack, mic jack, the HDMI is the Mini variety, it has USB-C, dual SD slots and the screen articulates up. N-log gamma is in there for log recording, as in HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) for peripheral HDR support. You can shoot 4K in full-frame or DX (cropped) mode, you get zebra and peaking for exposure and focus assist. The announcement certainly doesn’t have the same impact as other current video DSLR news, it is clear that video remains as a consideration in Nikon’s second-tier full-frame line, not a priority. There are features in here that will excite some photos users I’m sure. The autofocus system is enhanced, live view now matches the Z6 with a 273-point AC system. Live View also supports continuous electronic snaps up to 12 frames per second (silent), as well as 7 frames per second mechanical. For video, it’s more of a bringing-up-to-speed affair, nothing new in terms of Nikon tech, but another full-frame 4K DSLR option, with improved low light performance and N-log/10 bit out. Pricing for the Nikon D780 below, full specification found here.

Today, Canon announced they are working on their new flagship DSLR camera, the EOS-1DX Mark III. On top of the improved photography specs, the new model will offer some impressive video capability too – 4K video at up to 60fps, plus the option of capturing RAW video or 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 video with Canon Log both internally to CFexpress cards. The new EOS-1DX Mark III. (Image credit: Canon) The EOS-1 has been Canon’s DSLR flagship line since the first EOS-1 was announced in 1989. That means this year Canon is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the EOS-1 line. How else can one celebrate a product line other than announcing a new addition to the line? Just today, Canon announced the development of the new Canon EOS-1DX Mark III. The last generation EOS-1 camera is naturally the EOS-1DX Mark II. Even despite being targeted mainly at professional photographers, it got fairly popular among filmmakers too. The video-oriented specs of the 1DX Mark II were and still are pretty impressive. Sure, the camera is really big and heavy, but it offered 4K up to 60fps high bitrate video, dual pixel AF, pleasing colors, and other useful features for filmmakers. You can check our previous articles about the 1DX Mark II: First impressions review, Lab test along with Canon 1DC comparison, and Second real-world review. Let’s take a closer look at the features and specs of the newly announced EOS-1DX Mark III. Canon EOS-1DX Mark III – Canon’s Flagship DSLR The EOS-1 line has always been about high image quality, ergonomics, and speed. It is very popular especially among sports and nature photographers and journalists for its unbeatable speed in continuous mode. The continuous stills capture will be really fast with the new Mark III as well. It will offer a 16fps frame rate with the optical viewfinder and 20fps using either the mechanical or electronic shutter in live view mode with full AE and AF. The new EOS-1DX Mark III. (Image credit: Canon) Talking about autofocus, according to Canon, the EOS-1DX Mark III features a brand-new AF sensor with more resolution than its predecessor, using advanced AF algorithms with deep learning technology for unparalleled focus tracking. In Live View and video, there’s the added advantage of Dual Pixel CMOS AF across approximately 90×100 percent of the sensor with 525 AF areas. The camera will offer a new full-frame CMOS sensor along with the new DIGIC processor, which will offer cleaner results in high ISO levels. In terms of connectivity, the EOS-1D X Mark III features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and GPS. It also offers double the transfer speeds of the EOS-1D X Mark II via the built-in ethernet port or through the optional WFT-E9, and with a revised user interface. Video Capability – 4K 10-Bit 4:2:2 and RAW Internally When it comes to video specs, the new 1DX Mark III looks very impressive. It will be capable of recording 4K video at up to 60fps plus the option of capturing RAW video or 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 video with Canon Log both internally to CFexpress cards. It seems the camera will have two CFexpress slots. There are improvements in the ergonomy of the camera as well. It should offer improved battery life using the LP-E19 battery. It will have new illuminating buttons and an all-new AF point selection control within the AF-ON button in addition to the multi-controller. The 1DX Mark III will also have a new bright viewfinder. All these features will be packed in a magnesium alloy weather-sealed body. There is no information about the price or availability yet as this was only a development announcement. The EOS-1DX Mark II is currently selling for $5,500 after discount, so I expect the price of the Mark III to be somewhere above $6,000. According to Canon, the EOS-1D X Mark III will be on display at the Canon booth during PHOTOPLUS, the largest annual photography event in the U.S., held from October 24 to 26, 2019 in New York City. What do you think of the new EOS-1DX Mark III and its video specs? Do you shoot with the 1DX Mark II? Let us know in the comments underneath the article.