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Whereas being in Japan I had the prospect to speak to Yosuke Yamane-san, director of Panasonic’s Imaging Unite in regards to the launch of the GH5 II, the upcoming GH6, and extra. I hope that a few of Yamane-san’s solutions will fulfill your curiosity and urge for food to study extra in regards to the ever-evolving movie trade.
What would a go to to Japan be with out taking the chance to evaluate new cameras, talk about new tools, and meet folks in control of creating and manufacturing a number of the tools all of us use each day? Exactly, why I’m so comfortable to have met once more with Yamane-san in Osaka at Panasonic’s HQ.
With out additional ado, here’s a transcription of our pleasant dialog, in case that you simply don’t have the time to observe the interview. (Yamane-san’s solutions have been translated from Japanese to English.)
Johnnie: Very first thing first. I see that Panasonic is now strongly pushing their cameras underneath the LUMIX model identify. Is there a elementary determination to maneuver away from the identify “Panasonic” and market all future cameras underneath that identify? Asking as Panasonic did this type of advertising and marketing transfer earlier than in different fields with Technics and Nationwide simply to call a number of.
Yamane-san: We’ve persistently promoted the LUMIX model for the reason that launch of the digital digicam enterprise. Within the 20 years for the reason that enterprise was launched, we’ve got bought greater than 80 million items, launched many world’s first merchandise as a challenger within the digicam trade, and have been supported by many purchasers.
Any more, whereas conserving this model picture, we’ll proceed to tackle new challenges as a model that carefully helps creators, who create works with explicit consideration to each video and nonetheless pictures.
Johnnie: Speaking about advertising and marketing, I do know that for some it’d look a bit unusual, however how ought to we identify the brand new GH5 digicam. Is it GH5M2, GH5 II, GH5 Mark II? Asking as from an editorial viewpoint will probably be helpful to have a single unified product identify.
Yamane-san: With a purpose to emphasize the place as an orthodox evolution mannequin of the GH5, the advertising and marketing identify is unified with GH5 II, pronounced “GH5 Mark 2”. I’m assured that this mannequin, that inherits the DNA of the GH5, which has many followers attributable to its excessive video efficiency, and has advanced many performances, is not going to solely entice GH5 customers however can even domesticate new clients.
Johnnie: Speaking post-pandemic, is the scarcity of digital elements and better international transportation charges affecting the LUMIX mirrorless division?
Yamane-san: The worldwide scarcity of semiconductors and hovering transportation prices are affecting the digicam trade, and we aren’t any exception. I actually negotiate immediately with suppliers each day, and at Panasonic as a complete, I attempt my finest to soak up the influence and never trigger any inconvenience to clients.
Johnnie: OK, let’s consider the brand new digicam itself. What was the principle purpose for creating such a digicam? Is it due to the numerous methods we presently produce content material, or, Panasonic is making an attempt to fulfill many with one single product?
Yamane-san: The GH5 is utilized by a variety of customers, from skilled video manufacturing to non-public video streaming comparable to Youtube. In contemplating the successor mannequin to the GH5, we grasped the wants of many creators from the capturing websites, utilization scenes, and workflows. With the purpose of getting extra creators use it, we got here to the conclusion that the optimum mannequin and optimum operate are required for every utility and due to this fact proceeded with the event of two fashions, GH6 and GH5 II.
The GH6 is a flagship mannequin outfitted with a newly developed picture sensor and a newly developed picture processor that allows cutting-edge video expression.
The GH5 II is a mannequin that, whereas bettering the fundamental efficiency as a digicam, permits simpler and better high quality dwell streaming with a purpose to reply to the quickly increasing video streaming demand. With these two fashions, we’re assured that much more creators will be capable to use LUMIX in comparison with GH5.
Johnnie: The unique GH5 was a legendary digicam that supplied filmmakers rather a lot for a really aggressive worth. The place do you see the energy and positioning of the brand new GH5 II?
Yamane-san: The strengths of GH5 II are video capabilities, dwell streaming operate, and reliability. Cinema 4K 60P 4:2:0 10 bit recording is realized, and V-log L can also be pre-installed in order that it may be used even in skilled settings. As well as, additionally it is outfitted with L. Traditional Neo and L. Monochrome S, which had been first put in in Cinelike D2, V2, and S5, and it possesses prime quality even when capturing with out post-production. Moreover, we’ll meet the rising demand for dwell streaming by a brand new wi-fi dwell streaming operate put in for simply performing dwell streaming with excessive picture high quality. On prime of inheriting the DNA of the GH5, it’s outfitted with a USB charging/energy provide operate (Energy supply appropriate) that helps long-term capturing along with limitless video recording time. It inherits the capturing help capabilities of our full-frame digicam S1H and is a digicam that’s carefully supporting creators.
Johnnie: Did you and your crew contemplate at any stage through the improvement of the digicam to merge the GH5 and GH5S cameras into one successful product and supply a very good lowlight functionality subsequent to a nice stabilization system? If sure, why it didn’t materialize on the finish?
Yamane-san: After all, we’re contemplating all potentialities. Presently, we’ve got developed the GH5 II together with the 20 MegaPixel Picture sensor, which might present high-resolution movies and images in a hybrid method whereas responding to new demand for dwell streaming. We thought that this would supply the UX of this GH5 II to a variety of use instances, particularly to new clients.
Concerning your proposed mixture, I can’t say something in regards to the future. We are going to proceed to discover completely different potentialities whereas maintaining a tally of trade traits, market reactions, and desires.
Johnnie: Lots of our followers would like to know why Panasonic just isn’t shifting away from “distinction base AF” to “Part-detection AF” particularly in video mode. From the skin it seems as if Panasonic is absolutely conscious of the necessity to implement a dependable AF system in its mirrorless cameras by dedicating LOTS of assets to realize this, but, clients (Particularly single operators) would like to have an much more dependable AF system inside LUMIX cameras. Why the transfer to “phase-detection AF” just isn’t taking place?
Yamane-san: As you’ll be able to think about, we’re persevering with to analysis numerous focusing approaches, however distinction AF with DFD know-how nonetheless has technological potential to offer sensible efficiency to our clients.
Within the first place, from the perspective of distance measurement efficiency, distinction AF with DFD know-how covers an arbitrary space in your entire display in comparison with the image-plane phase-detection methodology that measures the gap from part distinction pixels organized at a specified location on the display. Since it’s potential to measure the gap, I believe it’s potential to offer correct focusing whatever the place of the topic. As well as, for the reason that distance is measured from the video sign itself, the picture high quality potential of the picture sensor could be maximized with out worrying about pixel loss, and the efficiency in darkish locations is adequate. Moreover, it’s extra probably that we can supply the identical stage of efficiency to as many fashions as potential additionally by way of worth, no matter the kind of picture sensor.
After all, we’ve got obtained numerous opinions from our clients, and we acknowledge that image-plane phase-detection AF is superior by way of topic monitoring. Alternatively, as represented by deep studying, we’re bettering AF efficiency by strengthening algorithms that make the most of the video sign processing know-how which we’re good at.
We’re presently creating the next-generation system with the purpose of creating it much more sensible, so please wait till the day we will present it.
Johnnie: Subsequent to the GH5II Panasonic additionally made a improvement announcement of the GH6. Logically considering, this new digicam must have a “deal-breaker function(s)” with a purpose to differentiate itself from the GH5 II and extra ever, take the M4/3 system a giant step ahead with a purpose to maintain it related in at the moment’s onerous competitors. Is there something you’ll be able to expose already with a purpose to set off the creativeness of filmmakers?
Yamane-san: Sadly, I can’t offer you extra data right here than we’ve disclosed, because the GH6 remains to be within the improvement announcement stage, however I’m assured that some elements will encourage these folks’s creativeness. We’re additionally working onerous on improvement, so please look ahead to it.
Johnnie: Most different respected digicam producers have already got 8K cameras out there. Final we spoke, you indicated the 2020 Olympic Video games as a potential time to current a brand new LUMIX 8K digicam. Are you able to please be form and share with us the place Panasonic is with that particular plan?
Yamane-san: Once we met final time, I talked about making an attempt (to ship) 8K on the timing of the Olympics. We’ve been creating the know-how with the purpose of reaching this, however wanting on the present state of affairs, I believe the fact is that the penetration of the 8K tradition itself has stagnated. We are going to contemplate the timing of commercialization after anticipating the rising wants of our clients for 8K.
Johnnie: One query relating to lenses…Inexpensive anamorphic lenses are very onerous to search out. (In addition to one firm, we don’t actually know of any others doing so). Panasonic is consistently bringing new inexpensive fastened focal size L-Mount lenses to the market, however did you ever contemplate doing anamorphic lenses too? In spite of everything, it may give an enormous push to the L- Mount system altogether!
Yamane-san: Panasonic gives capabilities that assist capturing on the physique facet, comparable to anamorphic mode and anamorphic de-squeeze show, for creators who shoot works utilizing anamorphic lenses.
Alternatively, an anamorphic lens itself requires engineering design know-how and manufacturing know-how which can be considerably completely different from atypical lenses, so we want to contemplate what sort of worth Panasonic can present along with market wants for full-frame anamorphic lenses.
Johnnie: Lots of our followers are questioning what has occurred to Panasonic’s skilled digicam line. Do you continue to plan to launch new Varicam or EVA-like cameras within the close to future, or, for now, the trouble of the division is to boost and strengthen the LUMIX line of mirrorless cameras”?
Yamane-san: Since my division develops LUMIX, sadly, I can’t reply, as a result of Varicam and EVA are completely different classes.
With a unique form than Varicam or EVA, LUMIX plans to additional strengthen its merchandise, which can be utilized for skilled functions comparable to cinema pictures.
Perception
Listening rigorously to what Yamane-san needed to say, it appears as if Panasonic is working onerous to ship succesful instruments for all types and ranges of content material creators. Additionally, it’s fascinating to see that Panasonic is much from giving up on its present autofocus system as they imagine it may be improved even additional for higher efficiency. Final however not least, we must always in all probability not look ahead to a Panasonic 8K digicam anytime quickly.
Guys, what’s your opinion in regards to the LUMIX line of cameras? Is there one thing you might be lacking and need to see of their subsequent batch of fashions? Please share with us your ideas within the remark part beneath.
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