The Panasonic Varicam LT is a powerhouse of a camera, no doubt about it. It’s as high-end pro as you’d expect from a solid top-end product. Sporting many of the awesome features that sets the Varicam 35 apart from the competition and bringing a few of its own to the table, the “Lite” Varicam just got even better with the latest firmware update released by Panasonic. Firmware update Ver. 20.42-00-0.00 is free of charge for LT owners and it includes major updates to the audio control and other improvements relating to proxy recording that will surely benefit those who’ve been putting the Varicam LT through the paces on various broadcast, drama, docu and corporate productions.
Varicam LT Firmware Ver. 20.42-00-0.00 Improvements
- Improvement in AUDIO UI (in EVF)
Direct Volume Control function added – can be assigned to ASSIGNABLE BUTTONS 1-3 and GRIP.
Level Meter Display function added - Support for ProRes Recording in Interlaced Mode
When FREQ = 59.94i / 50i is set, recording is possible using MAIN CODEC = ProRes422 HQ. - Support for AVC-Intra 100p
Using MAIN CODEC = AVC-Intra100, recording is possible with FREQ = 59.94p / 50p / 29.97p / 25p / 23.98p and MAIN PIXEL = 1920×1080 / 1920×1080 CROP.
At the same time, recording on F series P2 memory card is possible in spite of VFR = ON (with any setting value for fps) when MAIN PIXEL = 1920×1080 is set. - Additional Lens Compatible with EF Lens Mount
http://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/varicam/lt/ef_lenses.html - Additional Function to store CDL / LUT on SD Card
- Additional function to beep when operating REC button
- SURROUND VIEW function added to VF
A menu item is added to display the outside of effective area on the viewfinder screen. (SURROUND VIEW is also displayed on the VIEW screen of control panel.) - Support for Proxy AVC-LongG6 24.00p recording
Improvement
- Improvement to VariCam-LOOK Colour Reproduction
Gamma Curve [V-452080] and setting values of LINEAR MATRIX will be changed by this update.
The improvements in the area of audio control are welcomed additions especially for documentary shooters, as the Panasonic Varicam LT is positioned as a single-shooter camera for everything from commercials, to documentaries and narrative drama. Having quick and easy access to major audio controls is vital, and since the Varicam LT lacks traditional audio gain pots.
Panasonic Varicam LT Features and Highlights
- 4K Super35 CMOS Sensor
- Native Canon EF mount (PL mount extra option – easily user swappable)
- 2K/Full HD 240fps Slow-Motion (uses sensor crop)
- 4K/60p and Full HD ProRes 4444 & 422HQ
- 4K/60p Raw to Convergent Design Odyssey7Q+
- Built-in ND filters: 0.6/1.2/1.8
- User Removable IR Cut filter
- Single ExpressP2 card Slot for Main 4K/2K/HD recording
- SDXC Card slot for Proxy Long GOP recording
- Dual Native ISO – 800/5000
- Optional OLED viewfinder ($5,400 at B&H)
- 3 x SDI Out (dedicated one for Viewfinder)
- Support for 3rd Party Viewfinders like Zacuto Gratical and BMD URSA Viewfinder
- 2 x XLR inputs – 4 x Channel Audio 24bit/48kHz LPCM
- PreRec / Interval rec / One Shot Rec
- V-Gammut – exceeds BT.2020 HDR colour space
- 14+ Stops Dynamic Range with V-Log
- V-Look and BC-Look Presets – similar to WideDR on Canon C300 (mix between V-Log and Rec.709 for faster turnaround)
- Weight: 2.7 kg / under 6 lbs.
Order links:
Here are the 4 Packages available for the Varicam LT:
- Varicam LT Basic Kit – $16,500
- Camera Body
- Control Panel
- Top handle
- Canon EF Mount
- Varicam LT-VF Package – $21,600
- includes all of the above + OLED Viewfinder
- Varicam LT-PRO Package – $25,100
- Camera Body
- Control Panel
- Top handle
- Canon EF Mount
- OLED EVF
- Shoulder Mount
- Side Hand Grip
- User-Swappable PL mount
- Varicam LT-PROEX Package – $27,600
- CameraBody
- Control Panel
- Top handle
- PL and Canon EF Mount
- OLED EVF
- Shoulder Mount
- Side Hand Grip
- 2 x 256GB ExpressP2 cards + reader
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Really hoping they implement a firmware update that allows some sort of pixel binned or line skipping slow motion mode instead of a crop (like the FS7). Not sure why camera companies keep doing the sensor crop. Sony seems to be the only ones that are getting it right in terms of slow motion.