MasHD Blog

Unless you have been living under a rock, its no secret that mirrorless cameras have basically ended the era of DSLR's, but if you were a working professional who shot sports-action-wildlife chances are that, though compelling, Mirrorless cameras looked and felt fragile when compared to workhorse cameras such as the 1DX or Nikon's D5 and didn't have the same endurance or ergonomics of the top tier DSLR's. Canon being a brand which has taken a different approach to Mirrorless (unlike Sony and their angular/flat design language) has now basically made a compelling offering to those who would otherwise have not considered switching to mirrorless with the announcement of the new EOS R3 - a model that sits above the current EOS R5 and is almost en par with the status held by the EOS 1DX Mk3 but Canon does say the R3 is a tier below the 1DX and therefore we can expect a proper flagship someday in the future (EOS R1?). The camera, unlike the top tier 1DX Mk3 is lighter than th...

Zhiyun has announced their new Weebil 2 gimbal - a replacement for the original compact system designed for fast paced movements and mirrorless cameras.  The new Weebil 2 , which is now lighter at 1.5kg has one major improvement over its predecessor - that being the addition of a 2.9" monitor which now lets you control all parameters without the need for an app - and when paired with Transmount Image transmitter AI, the display can be used as a reference out eliminating the need for a external mounted display. But if the need persists (such as a 1st camera assistant  requiring a display) - Zhiyun does sell the Mastereye visual controller with its pro kit and this can output 1080p footage to a monitor at a delay of 60m/s upto 150m . Batterylife on the new gimbal is 9 hours and it charges in 1.6 , the gimbal is also compatible with most modern Mirrorless cameras from small systems such as Z Cam E2 - all the way up to mid size full frame DSLRs such as the Nikon D850/5D series and...

Nikon - Once a dominating power in the Camera duopoly and a pioneer in optics has been faithful to its F mount since its inception in 1958 and all cameras from the SLR film era and right upto the modern flagship D6 used this with optics and the electronics within them being the only factor of change. But in the age of Mirrorless, the F mount seemed to be "too small" and thus it was replaced by the Z mount with cameras sporting the new mount receiving mixed response from the shrinking Nikon fanbase.  But as with all modern changes, change is never fast and many prefer to remain in the DSLR realm as long as possible unless Nikon "kills off" production - which was certainly expected but now  with the current "crisis" affecting the industry hard, Nikon is accelerating the process by listing the following lenses as "Old product"  - Which would indicate that the following lenses are no longer in production and are available till stocks last.   AF-S Nik...

According to rumors, Panasonic - even in the world of full frame sensors, is still said to be working on a successor to the GH5. But in a strange twist, the GH5 successor is not said to be called the GH6 but the GH5 II (Mk2). The camera however shares a lot of specs similar to the current GH5 and even the predecessor and to be honest - feels a bit of a downgrade. The specifications according to Nokishita Camera are" Panasonic “LUMIX DC-GH5M2”  20.33mp  4K60p   3.68 million dots 120fps EVF  DMW-BLK22 battery  size 138.5x 98.1×87.4mm  weight 647g   $1697($ 2297 with 12-60mm kit). Update 1 - (un)Official Spec sheet leaks out. GH5M2 by sonyalpharumors Update - According to 43rumors, the GH5 II is said to be a a more affordable option between the entry level G Series and the GH6 (Yes, the GH6 still might happen) Update 3 - GH5 II is said to be announced on the 17th of May ( 43 rumors. )

Sony has officially announced the new FS5 II , Building upon the foundation laid by the Sony FS5 , the new camera features incremental improvements such as a new color science , Instant HDR and dual card slots, while keeping the core FS5 features mostly intact. The new FS5 II at first glance, looks quite similar to the older model, the camera features a Bayonet style camcorder layout with top handle accessories and a rear EVF , although it looks similar to the older model externally , the camera does pack some improvements in the sensor department as the new module is tuned for high frame-rate recording to an external recorder , therefore the FS5 II can output DCI 4K RAW in 60fps and shoot 4K RAW at 120fps for a short sequence , the camera is also capable of shooting 2K RAW at 240fps. Internally the FS5 II is limited to 4K 30fps ,2K 30fps and 1080p at 120fps continuous  , the camera can also record 1080p RAW in 4:2:2 10bit quality for about 8 seconds at 240fps and the same ...

GoPro has officially announced the GoPro Hero 2018, the new model , designed to replace the Hero Session line of cameras, offer a Hero 5/6 chassis and an affordable $200 price tag. The camera, designed around a GoPro Hero 5 /6 chassis, offers water resistance out of the box with no added casing - a major selling point as no special accessories will be required to make it waterproof. The camera also features compatibility with existing GoPro Hero 5/6 accessories as well as the ability to use GoPro Hero 5 batteries -making the camera a great backup for someone who already owns a flagship GoPro camera . The rear features a touchscreen display and this is same as the one found on the flagship models. The Hero 2018 also features support for GoPRo's voice commands and Quik stories (Automatic video rendering). The similarities with the Hero 5 and 6 end when we take a look under the hood as the new Hero features an older generation 10MP sensor with  1440p at 60fps or 1080p recordin...

Canon has officially announced their first Full Frame cinema camera - the C700 FF .  The camera , which sits at the top of Canon's cinema lineup ,  offers a 35mm (38.1 x 20.1mm) which can be used in either 35mm , Super 35 (APS-H) or Super 16 modes,making the camera more adaptable than the "Older" C700 model which comes with a Super35 sensor . Set to capture 5.9K at 60fps in RAW , the camera is quite capable as it can even shoot 4K at 72fps with a slight crop in either ProRES or XF AVC , other recording options include 2K at 168fps .The sensor also features Canon's industry leading Dual Pixel AF if you plan to use the camera on autofocus or subject tracking. The sensor boasts 15 stops of dynamic range and it also supports Anamorphic de-squeezing. The camera body , which comes with 2x CFast cards for recording , is also capable of directly recording to an external recorder such as the Canon CDX 36150 recorder as well . The EF lens mount , which can be changed to a...

Kinefinity has officially announced the Mavo - a Super 35(24x16mm) cinema camera capable of shooting 6K, the camera, priced at $14000 with all accessories is quite a bargain considering that equvalent cameras cost the same for just the body. The Mavo ,which is capable of shooting 6K wide (6016x2520) at 60fps in ProRes or RAW (KineRAW) can also shoot Cinema 6K at 50fps, 6K open gate at 40fps , 6K anamorphic 4:3 and 6:5 , 5K at 74fps and 4K UHD at 100 fps (there is also support for 192fps on 2K ) Lens mount options for the Mavo includes PL , EF , FE and Nikon F and they can be interchanged thanks to the Mavo's KineMOUNT which allows for easy modularity , There is also an option for a variable ND carousel if needed.The camera is also said to come with an option of a removable OLPF - optical low pass filter , which would improve sharpness (but introduce Moire a bit). The rest of the chassis includes the usual interfaces (SDI , HDMi ,Mic in and out etc..) as well as a slot for a 2...

Sony has been on a roll recently , the A9 , launched as a Nikon D5/Canon 1DX rival has so far been the darling of many reviewers and professionals alike , and on the other hand , we have the recently announced Sony A7RIII which has also been making headlines as it changed the playing field which otherwise would have been mostly a duopoly between the Nikon D850 and the Canon 5DMk4 . With Mirrorless sales slowing chipping off DSLR sales ,its quite evident that Sony will release more Full frame cameras in time to come , the rumor mill , which so far consisted of only the upcoming A7SIII suddenly went into overdrive as news of a successor to the "Basic model" A7II were leaked , the camera ,which was initially thought to be a watered down version of the A9- with one SD slot and no rear joystick are all "fake news" as they are all present in the new A7III. The camera , designed around a new 24MP - Full frame BSI image sensor with 5 Axis IBIS image stability ,f...

Canon has officially announced the cheapest DSLR ever produced – the EOS 4000D . The camera , aimed at beginners and bargain hunters who want a reliable starter kit ,feature an easy to use interface , an almost basic button layout and a bargain price of GBP 330 ($385) . The camera , designed with polycarbonate/ABS plastic – including the lens mount (strangely) is durable and mostly resistant to the knocks and scratches most beginner users may subject this to . The camera is , like most Canon bargain bin offerings , feature mostly obsolete hardware including the 18mp sensor technology from the 9 year old EOS 7D and the Digic 4+ processor from 2014 , this list also includes the 2.7” LCD which was last seen on Canon entry level cameras from 2011 , although the camera is mostly assembled from the parts bin , there will be an audience – especially beginners who may enjoy using the camera to its highest potential . Video features include 1080p recording and don’t expect any Dual Pixel...

Canon has officially announced a speedlight with brains – the new Canon 470EX-AI . The new speedlight , designed for both beginners and professionals , determines the distance to the subject and the ceiling by measuring reading based on a pre flash , then based upon the reading , the flash will automatically reposition itself to the best suitable position for bounce flash . The flash also has a orientation sensor which can detect whether the user has shifted from portrait to landscape orientation , once the orientation of the camera is changed , all the user has to do is double tap the shutter button to allow the flash to position itself to its previous bounce setting . The flash also has a memory setting where you can automatically set the flash to a pre-set position set manually . The flash also supports manual override so if you want to bounce it manually , all you have to do it turn the head . The flash , which is expected to go on sale for $400 (in April 2018) has a gu...

Canon has finally decided to include 4k in one of their entry level cameras , the new M50 , a spiritual successor to the EOS M5 from last year is now the latest Canon mirrorless camera (and the only one currently) to shoot the much requested video format . The camera , on the outside , looks similar to previous EOS M cameras as It has a 3” vari-angle LCD with 1.04 million dots and a 2.36 million dot EVF similar to most EOS-M’s of the past , but this time , the camera features 4K UHD (with a 1.6x crop) and 1080p at 120fps thanks to the new Digic 8 processor. The rest of the camera specs include Canon’s trusty 24MP APS-C sensor with 143 AF points , the camera also supports EF/and EFS lenses with Canon’s proprietary adapter , which will allow you to have almost perfect autofocus capability even with glass made for DSLR’s . Pricing for the EOS M50 starts at $780 body only , this , with the EF-M 15-45mm f3.5-6.3 IS STM lens will go on sale for $900 or $1250 for the 15-45 kitle...

Pentax has officially launched the Pentax K1 Mark II - a successor to the original K1 from 2016 , the camera ,designed around a 36.4 MP full frame sensor , features a  SAFOX 12 image processor and PRIME IV image processor which help the camera achieve better autofocusing thank the pervious model . The ISO range , which is set from 100 - 819200 allows better low light performance and even video ISO has been raised to 25600 . The sensor , which is housed inside a magnesium -alloy body , is fully weather sealed and this also includes the new 3.2" Tilt-able display unit at the back which has a 1027k dot resolution.  . The camera also has a optical viewfinder which has 100% viewfinder coverage . Rest of the specs include support for K mount lenses such as the  KAF4, KAF3, KAF2 (power zoom compatible), KAF, KA mount lenses as well , the sensor features 5 axis image stabilization therefore the camera will have a definite advantage over other DSLR peers when it comes...

Fujifilm has officially announced their first cinema focused Mirrorless camera – the X – H1 . This model , which supplants the X-T2 as Fuji’s current flagship offering , gives users the ability to shoot DCI 4K in 23.97P or 24P and UHD 4K in 30 P along with Fuji’s F-Log profile , the 24MP APS-C - X-Trans CMOS III sensor, which is supported by a 5 axis IBIS stabilization system , gives users the ability to shoot stabilized video with any lens or shoot in slower shutter speeds with minimum vibration . The camera is capable of 14 fps on its electronic shutter and it can shoot 8 with its mechanical one (11 with an external battery grip) . Fujifilm has officially announced their first cinema focused Mirrorless camera – the X – H1 . This model , which supplants the X-T2 as Fuji’s current flagship offering , gives users the ability to shoot DCI 4K in 23.97P or 24P and UHD 4K in 30 P along with Fuji’s F-Log profile , the 24MP APS-C - X-Trans CMOS III sensor, which is supported by a 5...

Zeiss has officially announced a new compact -manual focus prime lens for their FE mount Loxia range , the new Loxia 25mm f2.4 is the fifth member of the lineup which consists of a 21mm F2.8, 35mm F2, 50mm F2, and a 85mm F2.4. The lens , designed with great precision , features 10 elements in 8 groups and features 1 APD element and 2 Aspherical elements with a special T* nanocoating . The new Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is expected to retail at $1299 and will be available from March 2018 . Written by Rakitha for MasHD Source - DPreview

Leica has announced a special edition Leica Q variant with the Olympics in mind , designed with creative cues from Iouri Podladtchikov,a Swiss Olympic and professional halfpipe snowboarder brings all the goodness of the full frame 24.2MP sensor and the Leica Maestro II Image Processor which gives the camera a maximum of ISO 50000 and 10fps shooting . Priced at £4,300 , the camera is limited to 300 units - making it more of a collectors item than a standard off the shelf Leica Q . Source - Trustedreviews

Panasonic has officially announced their latest M4 / 3 mirrorless camera – the Lumix GX9 , this camera , designed with compact mirrorless shooters in mind , is somewhat related to the Panasonic GH / G lineup as it shares a similar 20MP Micro 4 / 3 sensor with no low pass filter . The camera ,unlike its predecessor – the GX8 , is now capable of delivering reduced shutter shock ( 90 % reduction from its predecessor ) and this is achieved  thanks to a new electromagnetic drive system . The camera , in some regards is still capable of 4K 24 / 30p like the previous model , and this , combined with the IBIS allows 5 axis stabilization for video and photo . Another improvement is the viewfinder which  is now upgraded to a 2 . 7 million dots ( good news for those who want to shoot video or photos with it ) , there is also an improved Vari - angle LCD unit which has a 1 . 2million Dot resolution   . The GX9 sadly lacks wea...

Panasonic has unveiled their official successor to the ZS100 . The new Panasonic ZS200 , armed with a 1" CMOS sensor and a Leica Vario-Elmar F3.3-6.4 24-360mm equivalent lens  with a 15x zoom  and 5 axis image stabilization. The ZS200 , which is capable of 4K recording in 30 or 24fps is also capable of recording 1080p in 120fps as well . The camera , which has a maximum ISO range unto 25600 and a hybrid AF system with 10fps when AF is locked . The camera is also capable of 4K photo (8mp still) from a burst . The camera also has a 0.21" OLED viewfinder and this is paired with a touch capable 3" 1240Dot LCD giving sharp touch AF and control over the camera menu . This , combined with the in camera RAW processing for the 20.1mp stills shot from the camera , makes this an ideal option for those who want to pack light and still have great image quality . Pricing for the Panasonic Lumix LS200 is $800 ,almost in the same ball park as Sony's RX100 series of cameras . ...

Blackmagic has officially announced the URSA Broadcast - 4K camera . The system , designed on the successful URSA Mini platform is now optimized for Studio and broadcasting environments and therefore it has a smaller 13.056mm x 7.344mm (Somewhat close to the Nikon 1's custom sensor) and a B4. mount for broadcasting lenses (But there is support for PL, EF and Nikon F mounts as well) . The camera , which has an internal carousel ND with 1/4, 1/16th and 1/64th stops works in the same way as the Ursa Mini . The camera records 1080i and goes all the way unto UHD 2160p in DNx145, DNx220X or ProRES with record formats in .Mov or .Mxf. The camera is also capable of recording to two CF cards or 2 SD cards as well . Pricing for the camera is $3500 which makes this quite a bargain if you want a Multicam set up without breaking much bank. Written by Rakitha for MasHD Source - news shooter

Lomography has officially announced 3 new camera models for their 25th anniversary . The new Lomography LC-A 120 , LC-Wide and the LC-A+ are designed to work with 35mm film with the exception of the LC-A 120 which shoots medium format . The LC-A 120 , which is their flagship model , features a 38mm fixed lens with a variable aperture with f4.5 f16 and features a maximum shutter speed of 1/500 and has a hotshot for manual flash support . The LC-A+ on the other hand , shoots the smaller "35mm" full frame film. The camera has a 32mm fixed lens like the 120 , but it has a faster 2.8 aperture which can be dropped down to f16 as well , like the 120 , this too features a hotshot for flash support and has an optical rangefinder-esqe viewfinder . The LC-Wide , designed to work with 35mm film(like the LC-A+) features a wider 17mm fixed lens with an aperture of f4 to f16 . The specifications are almost identical to the LC-A+ with the only difference being the lens...