American Cinematographer - April 2016 - 100

New Products & Services
Panasonic Unveils VariCam LT
Panasonic recently unveiled the
VariCam LT 4K cinema camera, which
inherits the same super35mm sensor and imaging capabilities that
distinguish the awardwinning VariCam 35,
but with significant
reductions in size,
weight and price.
Like the VariCam 35, the
VariCam LT (model AUV35LT1G) delivers 14+ stops of dynamic
range with V-Log, as well as the VariCam 35's innovative dual native ISOs of 800/5,000. Weighing just under 6 pounds,
the VariCam LT is ideal for handheld, Steadicam, jib, crane, drone,
gimbal and other operating modes. The camera is tailor-made for
owner-operators, independent filmmakers, documentary makers
and corporate-production creators.
The VariCam LT can record in formats including 4K, UHD, 2K
and HD, and like the VariCam 35, it is capable of High Dynamic
Range (HDR) field capture. The camcorder also offers Apple ProRes
4:4:4:4 (up to 30p) and ProRes 4:2:2 HQ (up to 60p) support for HD
recording, as well as Panasonic's AVC-Ultra family of advanced video
codecs. New codecs introduced in the VariCam LT include AVC-Intra
LT and AVC-Intra 2K-LT, both designed to offer capture rates up to
240 fps in imager-crop mode.
The VariCam LT offers extended color gamut, support for the
Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) workflow, and in-camera
color grading with the ability to record an ungraded 4K master
along with all on-set grading metadata. The new N-Look colorprocessing feature acts as a blend of V-Log and video, and allows
filmic documentary acquisition without the same need for intense
color grading.
The VariCam LT differs from the VariCam 35 in being a onepiece, short-bodied camcorder instead of a two-piece system with a
camera head plus a recorder. While the VariCam LT does not feature
parallel sub-recording, it does have an SD slot for high-resolution
proxy recording; proxy files can be wirelessly uploaded via FTP to
facilitate wireless color grading. Variable frame rates are available
with LongG6 recording.
There is one expressP2 card for all formats, including high
frame rate and HD/2K/UHD and 4K recording; the 256GB expressP2
card can record up to 90 minutes of 4K/4:2:2/23.98p content. Raw
output from SDI is planned to be supported by a firmware upgrade
early this coming summer.
The VariCam LT features an EF mount suitable for the wide
100

April 2016

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array of lenses. The EF mount can be switched out to a robust PL
mount, expanding the range of compatible lenses that can be used.
The control panel can be separated from the camera body to facilitate real-time control and easy menu access. The camcorder has a
magnesium body for durability and reliability in challenging shooting
locations.
Among the camcorder's top-level production assets are ND
filters (clear, 0.6, 1.2, 1.8); an optional OLED electronic viewfinder
with optical zoom functionality; 24-bit LPCM audio; focus assist;
anamorphic lens de-squeeze; PreRec, interval and one-shot functions; IP control via Panasonic's AK-HRP200 camera remote
controller; and built-in GPS. Features new to the VariCam LT include
power hot swap, IR shooting (further enhancing the camcorder's
extreme low-light capture at ISO 5,000), 23.98 PsF output, and
image presets as scene files.
Professional interfaces include: 3G-HD-SDI x3 (SDI-out x2
and VF), LAN, genlock in, time-code in/out, USB2.0 Host and
USB2.0 Device (mini B), and three XLR inputs (one five-pin, two
three-pin). The flexible interfaces allow for the use of the Panasonic
AU-VCVF10G viewfinder as well as third-party viewfinder solutions.
For more information, visit www.us.panasonic.com/varicam.

Cooke Optics Furthers Anamorphic/i Series
Cooke Optics has begun shipping the 65mm Macro,
135mm, 180mm and 300mm Anamorphic/i lenses, marking the
completion of the original 10-lens prime Anamorphic/i set. Additionally, the company has introduced the first of two Anamorphic/i
zoom lenses, the 35-140mm, with a longer zoom scheduled for the
end of this year.
The 35-140mm Anamorphic/i zoom is a true front anamorphic with oval bokeh throughout zoom and focus. The patented
optical design brings together a unique combination of attributes
that allows shooting from very wide angle to telephoto with a 4x
zoom ratio. The color and depth-of-field characteristics are matched
to the Anamorphic/i primes, and the lens includes /i Technology for
metadata capture.

American Cinematographer

http://www.us.panasonic.com/varicam

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - April 2016