Z CAM E2-M5G 5K Micro Four Thirds Global Shutter Camera - First Look

During IBC 2023, camera and lighting manufacturer Z CAM has just introduced the E2-M5G cinema camera. It features a 5K Micro Four Thirds global shutter CMOS sensor with Dual Gain architecture and Dual Native ISO, can record in 5K60p or 4K96p, plus it has a user-interchangeable MFT lens mount, and a claimed dynamic range of 16 stops.
Read more: www.cined.com/...
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[@Lofyne]

This would be a perfect replacement for my Z Cam E2 that I've been using for over 4 years now. And I don't know why people are complaining about M43? With a Speedbooster XL, my Canon EF 24-105mm f4 becomes a 31-135mm f2.5 lens. Such a great range, and more than Super 35. Then with 16 stops of dynamic range, the global shutter and high frame rates, this thing's a winner. Great work Kinson!

[@gusatvoschiavon]

Yeah, the MFT sensor is way more versatile

[@travisfreeburg2352]

E2G 4K now available from Z CAM - 4k 30 FPS with global shutter for $2500

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

The frame rates spoken about aren't that high - the Cion had Global Shutter and does Uncompressed Raw DCI4K at 120fps in 2014. The big improvement since then has been the speed of the recording media - Where the Cion had you dragging around a PC or Mac Pro with a Kona4 card and raid array, the newer cameras can access media that will record those rates internally, albeit still in Compressed Raw. The M4/3 sensor enables smaller bodies, add a classic film era prime lens that might be 7cm diameter and 5cm deep, like a Nikkor, Pentax or Contax-Yashica, and that makes this much more useable inside a vehicle in an action sequence, or half the size and mass of a RED under a Drone.

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Add on that, where the longer end of the lens is used, Rolling Shutter skew gets worse and worse, Global Shutter looks the same, Wide or Zoomed.

[@angeloplayforone]

Nice to see that there are companys still investing in m43 sensor.

[@CallMeRabbitzUSVI]

True but not for $4000 dollars geezus

[@kelloxx]

why tho?

[@mpell66]

That was a very pleasant conversation. I appreciated the quality of the interaction there. Though I generally don't film fast moving subjects or move the camera around a lot - mainly due to the limitations of having a rolling shutter - given the option I would always prefer a global shutter over a rolling shutter, and more dynamic range is always very welcome.

[@smarthalayla6397]

This is outrageous! Where is the consumer global shutter camera that costs less than $1000? Even a smartphone form early 2016 have a global shutter!

[@andreasbulowhansen9413]

Zcam is very underrated. They produce very capable cameras

[@CallMeRabbitzUSVI]

They have lost their way, releasing cameras than are more expensive than their competitors

[@pilsplease7561]

What are you talking about they are half or a third the cost of a competitors camera. @@CallMeRabbitzUSVI

[@dbrazierr]

i really liked this interview it felt so genuine for some reason. very great introduction to zcam and cined content, excited to see footage from the camera, even though it’s m43 it seems promising.

[@rk_bullet]

3999 ? I was expecting 1999. My Expectation + Their Reality = 5998 So here enters the Komodo😂

[@ioanandrei8814]

People still think the m43 worth this amount of money 😅

[@nightdonutstudio]

Their camera price drop very fast. Just look at theor s6, f6.for example e2-f6 announce price is 4999. but soon drop to 3999 and now it is only 2999.

[@simonyoung1339]

It’s a dual gain output global shutter. It’s not for you.

[@rk_bullet]

@@simonyoung1339 You need that but can't afford

[@simonyoung1339]

@@rk_bullet so u can’t afford it, ok too bad for you

[@jordan6891]

I was hoping they would put this kind of thing in the new "pro" body. I have the E2-M4 and the E2-S6 and freaking love them! But I want that "pro" body with the extra outputs to be set up for future bigger sets with SDI(lower lag). I can say, I love what ZCAM is doing and will stick with them as long as they keep focusing on what the users want. Keep it up.

[@jordan6891]

He mentioned that global shutter on the new platform. Part of my comment is null haha

[@pragmaticfilmmaking]

After an excellent interview with CineD, I, a BGH1 shooter, am very excited about the possibilities. Despite the perception that MFT cameras may be inferior, the price point of this camera may be a bit of a stretch for some.

[@ozielmelendez]

Same here love my BGH1 great colors

[@JT_16]

Is going from gh5 to bgh1 worth it? I might do that, but they are expensive and it needs extra gear to be useable, but the box style set up would be ideal for my uses because it’s easily portable and interchangeable.

[@dangerrayy]

​@@JT_16maybe not. Nice image but pricey to rig. Not really easy to use for me shooting raw. Id wait for a new bmpcc mft offering with a flippy screen. BRAW is awesome. I think a big bright screen is very helpful. But your needs/wants may be different

[@JT_16]

@@dangerrayy the rigging is pricey, but I already have a-lot of the rigging needed. just need a cage and monitor. monitors are a money grab tho.

[@dangerrayy]

​@@JT_16i don't really use autofocus but i think its better than anything panasonic pre phase detect. It does not include a battery which may add a couple hundred odd US, unless you already have a battery solution

[@AlanChunkyMunky]

so much for m43 being dead! this and the new lumix g9ii is a very good sign to the future of this system!

[@katemagwala]

I believe in Zcam💯🔥

[@Photographicelements]

Thank you Johnnie!! ZCam, once again, changes the game!! 16stops of dynamic range?! on a MFT sensor??!! I can't image what's that'd be scaled up to full-frame/large format, 20stops of dynamic range????!!!!!! Even the M4 with 14stops at WDR is cool. Recording internally is ALWAYS better; I've lost clips when recording with Ninjas before. It's not a total loss if the camera can output internally and externally at the same time, but most mirrorless cannot do that. ZCam is always outperforms any mirrorless camera; why? it's a cinema camera! Not the "cinema camera" that lots of youtube & camera sellers call mirrorless, a real cinema camera. Using a ZCam is an amazing experience, I highly recommend!

[@VertexChannel1]

Just go and check Cined tests when ZCam with 15 stops completely lose to Blackmagic full frame with 13 stops.

[@MrTaco-ei5hl]

Very much looking forward to a Hands-On review of the Z cam e2 M5G. Thanks Johnny

[@fthprodphoto-video5357]

Next step would be to integrate HDR video on the fly on a micro 43 sensor : this would help keeping the blow highlights/skies while exposing perfectly on the subject

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Sounds like they've already done that. It's what they mean when talking about the Dual Conversion Gain - it's rolling off the amplification (gain) where the pixel buckets are allready full (clipped) until the highlights are back inside the silicon's dynamic range.

[@baijunatarajan]

Good news to see that Zcam introduced a global shutter camera >>>

[@saeidimadali8853]

They already have a global shutter camera

[@baijunatarajan]

@@saeidimadali8853 Ma y i know the model name

[@tonytech5520]

@@baijunatarajan ZCAM E2 S6G . The G stands for global shutter. It is a 6k Super 35 sensor camera.

[@incee_netinai]

Wow, it's impressive to see global shutter from Z Cam.

[@sotocine99]

A real high quality channel.

[@ottogarza]

This is an amazing proposal, cfast is the only thing is dissapointing, but the SSD recording is a good old friend, i really hope for a real test footage from you guys

[@XIGuyIX]

I'm a Z-cam user. I love my Z-cam e2-s6 and have captured tremendous footage with it. The biggest draw back for me and these Z cam's are the media. Cfast is disgustingly expensive. However, my work around has been an external recorder/monitor. I do think the next line of Z-cameras need to use cfast-express though.

[@O.W_Films]

what a cool camera, the future of mft!

[@akhtarnadeem621]

Awesome !!!!!!!

[@dimitrimoonlight]

I'm zcam user. I didn't need a new canera. Just need great MF assistant function 🙏

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Awesome & Thanks :)

[@Behnam_Moghaddam]

very interesting kind of reminded me of the axiom beta with its 4k 300fps global shutter sensor really looking forward to a proper CineD Lab test and see how the 16 stops look like in "real life" thank you

[@bbrunorocha]

highly unlikely that it will hit 16 stops, especially since the alexa 35 hit 17.5 and it's the best on the market, in second place is the older alexa with around 14.5 stop if i'm not mistaken. This camera should hit around 13 stops, but i'm hoping to be proven wrong.

[@visual-hype]

Sick, I want one so bad

[@dragonstone6594]

If this turns out as good as he says, it will be an incredible camera! The price though hurt me. Too close to Red Komodo and kinda insane for a MFT camera. Great interview Johnny!

[@PanteraRossa]

They also launched the S35 version of this same camera with Global Shutter, the E2-S6G for 6 grand so that's pretty much comparable to Komodo in every way except built in raw.

[@simonyoung1339]

It’s a dual gain output global shutter. It’s not for you.

[@frannyfranman]

What is going on with this camera? I haven’t heard a whisper since the original announcement. It’s not even on Z-Cam’s website 🤨

[@fredr.]

$4000??? Big disappointment. I was looking for this one.Thinking that it would competing with BlackMagic. But I get it: Z Cam wants to move into the big field via sport and action movie production. Wish them good luck though.

[@corwingarber]

yea it should be 3.000 or under IMO

[@corwingarber]

I do want it tho NGL

[@Ryukushin]

Im getting this , lovely price for global shutter

[@EpicAdrian3D]

Big month for MICRO FOUR THIRDS!

[@vladbox1]

Kai is always very honest "the 13 Stops of DR can be achieved by pros like cine D" To the point......

[@TrapPhoneLoveMelodiesss]

Excellent interview, what about file formats?

[@FrankValchiria]

Global Shutter is great 16 stop dr great if true but 3990 it's simply too high for m43

[@ContraflowPictures]

interesting, my f6 said slow recording time when it was cfast but when I went to ext ssd I've never had an issue since

[@Serson]

I got a S6 camera by a very funny mistake from a guy who never used and basically became y A camera, is VERY POWERFUL!

[@FIRUFILMS]

When arrive to the market? Is no available on B&H on pre-order

[@Dezdirectz]

Abandoned

[@DynamicPhil84]

Kin Soon is such a down to earth guy. Z-cam listens to their users and develops great cameras with a wide range of features for really reasonable prices, and none of the cheap parts that Blackmagic uses (enough of that plastic junk).

[@spritual_enlightenment]

Rolling shutter less? Huray~! I just wish they had employed an image sensor made by Sony so we could end up with PDAF.

[@JeffHanesworld]

Any footage from this??

[@peterrichards1989]

Very interested in this or the ZCAM E2 S6G for stop motion animation. Does anyone know how it works with taking one image at a time? I wish they would also make it in monochrome.

[@NAIVEBOYANDY]

I really like his cantonese english!

[@angryrabbitproductions1690]

Two things that really stand out here: • He claims it’s great for lowlight • Dynamic range is claimed to be 16-stops These are two things we have never seen on a sensor of this size. I’d love to see a S35 version of this with a more upscale body and larger top screen.

[@Dezdirectz]

Coming next

[@ArnhemPictures]

Look up the GH5s, amazing low light, good dynamic range and MFT mount with raw available through HDMI recording. Biggest upgrade here is global shutter. i might buy this camera

[@potatorigs2155]

zcam always clame stupid high dr they must count unusable dr stops it's going to be a 12-13 like all other camera in that range

[@chicobraz4335]

Mid November and no cameras

[@Battle_Angel_future]

I think a lot of us use the Ninja V, V+, Shogun and now the Ultra line, so recording media shouldn’t be an issue if SSD is available.

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Unless you want Raw on the Atomos products - As an original Shogun owner, don't ever expect Atomos to finish the firmware and support Raw properly.

[@Dezdirectz]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@tonytech5520]

Global shutter is not only good for fast action scenes and sports events but also for special events where there is a lot of flash photography and strobes. I dislike the look of partially exposed frames, especially at high frame rates. CFexpress Type B should be the new standard in all cameras; it offers the best balance when it comes to size, storage capacity, and price per GB.

[@corwingarber]

agreed. wish it was type b

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

CFast needs to die. CFExpress is better, but still not as affordable as NVMe. It's only advantage over NVMe is the insert cycle duruability.

[@Shuttterbugg]

This is what im talking about

[@CLIFFLIX]

OK,...where in the heck does this MFT sensor come from? Is this the same fab that makes the GH6 sensor? (dual gain conversion layout for HDR) T he GH6 sensor maker is one of the best sensor secrets in the business.

[@potatorigs2155]

look at the g9 mark 2 sensor ;) fixing all the problem the gh6 had

[@chicobraz4335]

Footage ?

[@georgitushev]

Gyrosensor?

[@tlopez5069]

Cine D only had one mic. Dios mio!

[@peterkominek2681]

Make it full frame and I'm in

[@AL3XFPV]

where is this camera? :P

[@Dezdirectz]

Coming this year

[@Lambda_official]

BUT DOES IT RAW

[@sacredk1]

Anybody knows the weight?

[@impatrickt]

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning used Z Cams for all the car chases, I can see the applications for this. KZbinr's want it to be a solo operator cinema camera but that's not what it's for. Just like Lumix BOX cameras.

[@timhamlinofficial]

The Kommodo Killer, exciting!

[@potatorigs2155]

lol no

[@nahlene1973]

This camera is not for average user, decent DR, good slow motion global shutter, a rig cam or crash cam.

[@chicobraz4335]

Where is the footage ? ? From what he is saying this is the best next thing to the Alexa 35!! Seems like a lot of talk to me

[@smarthalayla6397]

This is outrageous! Where is the consumer global shutter camera that costs less than $1000? Even a smartphone form early 2016 have a global shutter!

[@PlacesToVisit]

Which smartphone from 2016 have a global shutter sensor?

[@travisfreeburg2352]

E2G 4k for $2500 USD now available on z cam's website. 30 FPS 4k with a global shutter. Any thoughts? How important is global shutter for most shoots? Seems like a big tradeoff in fewer stops to be able to have the global shutter. When Red announced the Komodo I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. But now I think this is more of a cash cow fad like manufacturers going Full Frame (looking at you, Panasonic/Black Magic).

[@kthalas]

Its always the way u will use it. As the guy said, sports, action takes for a project. I’ll be taking close attention to the DR maybe it will make me change my old e2. I’m waiting for the gh7 specs so mft has nice cinema contenders

[@MrKermitt71]

Blackmagic RAW or Prores RAW please !!! Because your Zraw is unusable !

[@raredreamfootage]

No this is not the highest Global Shutter camera. For example the Freefly Wave, Freefly Ember and Chronos 1.4 and 2.0 are global shutter and can do 1000+ fps.

[@lavidaloka.]

I just bought a ring to fix an anamorphic lens 4/3 on my E2 S6. I can't buy every new IPhone release each year on the market

[@EugeneMaynard]

👍🏾🙏🏾

[@PanteraRossa]

The F6 Pro seems like it has much more valuable features not to mention the LF sensor aesthetic, also built in ND for the same price. Yeah lenses will be a major difference but there's very nice affordable large format glass coming out every few months. Seems like Z-Cam is trying to compete with Sony's FX dominance in that sub-10K content creator market. These sensors may hold their own but Sony's software and R&D budget makes it clear they're the leaders and everyone's following. Plus you may spend similar amounts on your kit but having a Sony FX6 will probably make you more "legit" and pro to people hiring. Has nothing to do with image quality, which I'd argue is very comparable, but Sony just has much more brand reputation.

[@thatcherfreeman]

I don't think the F6 pro has internal ND. It's got that option that when you put in the EF mount, there's a slot where you can insert a filter. True that that F6 Pro has the LF look whereas on this camera you'd have to choose between a focal reducer and the insertable END. I think the biggest selling point of the F6 Pro is the better I/O though.

[@chicobraz4335]

Is the f6 pro same sensor as f6? Or is it an improved sensor . Because that sensor have been used by many cameras already (recently new ff Blackmagic) and it’s limited in terms of dr (12stops via cine D testing )

[@thatcherfreeman]

@@chicobraz4335 IIRC from zcam's communications is that it's the same sensor, with a slight improvement in DR compared to the F6. I wouldn't expect a large difference in the benchmarks, maybe the F6 Pro just has better noise reduction or amplifiers compared to the F6 model.

[@kentjensen4504]

Why still MFT?

[@dangir1783]

Semplice perché il sensore è più facile da produrlo non sottovalutare il micro quattro terzi

[@marcodimartino2810]

@dangir1783 says: easy, it's te easiest to produce sensor, don't underestimate mft

[@yesthisisdonut]

MFT does have its uses, you can use some pretty cool glass on it. broadcast lenses only work on larger formats with teleconverters but mft is often just small enough for b4 lenses to work with little to no vignetting. pair that with the high iso capabilities and DR this sensor offers and you have a pretty nice setup for lower light scenarios

[@ivanrzhanoy9389]

@@yesthisisdonut Yeah, but then why not buy Red Komodo and shoot in crop mode. It's exactly 2 times and equal in size to super16. Then if you want to use bigger lens, you could shoot in super35. It's 2000 more, buy you get a way better codec that is supported by all NLEs. I at least would expect this camera to use CFExpress, because it's 2023 and it makes no sense to use format that is both slower and more expensive. Alternatively you could go for something like Sony FX3, which may have worse image (no internal RAW, but I think s-log 3 is capable of great results), but is waaaaaay more versatile.

[@simonyoung1339]

It’s a dual gain output global shutter. It’s not for you.

[@loudandclearmedia]

Wait...is he saying that's a global shutter DGO?!

[@phoenixfunny4517]

Yes

[@chrisjenkins9978]

And they still have that useless postage-stamp size screen on the top of the camera. It’s clear to me that they aren’t listening to customer demand. They have great potential but, they continue to half-azz it with their finished products.

[@castielvargastv7931]

I guess its the gh6 sensor

[@KeshenMac]

10:11 $3999

[@Bigcookfilms]

The price is too high for a m43 camera

[@simonyoung1339]

It’s a dual gain output global shutter. It’s not for you.

[@rami.nguyen]

Tracking AF?

[@FantasticPyroclastic]

productions will destroy them faster than Z cam can produce them

[@Meatyowlleg]

Global shutter + m43 is a bad combo tbh, so either you use speedbooster to shoot high frame rate but you will need lidar for focus since the auto focus will get slower with speedbooster. Or you dont use speed booster also dont have enough light for shooting in high frame rate.

[@phoenixfunny4517]

You don't use cinema cameras for auto-focus and you can still use lidar with a speedbooster or just have a focus puller. They say it has the highest DR of all their cameras and will also be dual native ISO. The Z Cams have a Low Noise mode, if this model has it as well then just shoot in the 2nd native iso in low noise mode with a fast lens on a speedbooster and actually light your scenes and you'll be good to go

[@potatorigs2155]

@@phoenixfunny4517 zcam claim high dr but underdeliver

[@phoenixfunny4517]

@potatorigs2155 that's literally every camera company except ARRI. If the sensor is even close to 16 stops that would still be an achievement for a global shutter with DGO and dual native ISO

[@mike4visuals501]

Realise date 2024

[@potatorigs2155]

Dead on arrival most mft have very low rolling shutter and shot 5.7k

[@NewestGLeePD]

16 stop? That's a total bluff. Look at his eyes after talking about dynamic range😂

[@phrasalsyntax]

It could not be a total bluff if the camera has a good implementation of Dual-Gain Output technology (it takes two captures with different ISO exposures at the same time and merges them in one)

[@NoSuRReNDeR001]

drone camera for 1.... global is so much better on fpv etc for cinema etc

[@raquetamalvada]

Why buying this instead of a KOMODO?

[@alzibaba]

Most likely cos of lack of high frame rates on the Komodo, though the Komodo X now has these. Bit of a jump price wise tho, $4k M5G to $10k Komodo X.

[@raquetamalvada]

@@alzibaba maybe your are right; i didn´t though at frame rates, neither i thought about the Komodo X. For sure, adding GS to a 4/3 sensor are great news, but the form factor sensor, seems a little bit dissapointing. I have this sensation that the prosumer market is a battlefield those days...

[@alzibaba]

@@raquetamalvada it sure is! Not sure what you mean by the form factor sensor? The form factor of Z Cams is fabulous. You can build them out or strip them down, so flexible. After a couple of years with an E2F6 I now dislike shooting with mirrorless body cameras ;-)

[@raquetamalvada]

​@@alzibaba ím sorry! I mean to say sensor size!, btw i love what z-cam doing! What do you use you z-cam for? What kind of projects?

[@alzibaba]

@@raquetamalvada no worries, yes, I understand re sensor size ;-) I use the z-cam mainly for documentaries, promotional shorts, educational content and snow sports (mainly ski racing). The M5G *might* be interesting for ski racing, though I've actually found in 6k 2.4:1 and 5k 60p, plus even 4k 24p lo jello, the F6's rolling shutter is fine. At 60p and above it's barely noticeable, and with the new 4k 4:3 anamorphic too even at 24p it's hard to spot, which surprised me. Less sensor height used so quicker scan I guess. So maybe no need for a global shutter cam for me. Often smaller sensor sizes are easier for tracking focus on high speed objects so that might be a positive for the M5G, but I just love the image the F6 creates. Let's see how the DR of the new cam stacks up...

[@kylehaggard7348]

Just so anyone who was interested in this is aware they cancelled this camera's development

[@WesleyClouden]

meh still same body the io is lacking upgrade in location

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

All looks nice, but,... CFast Media??? Come on, over priced and way slower the NVMe based media. CFast needs to be kicked to the curb.

[@potatorigs2155]

4k$ !!! meh pass

[@Skapo]

Unfortunate that it's using non-standard framerates. 94fps instead of 96fps. 116fps instead of 120fps. Means that on most displays & in most standard workflows it's gonna exhibit dropped frames. Basically makes the entire camera non-functional for professional use cases. Such an absolutely weird decision.

[@phoenixfunny4517]

It'll most likely get those extra frames squeezed out later

[@Shuttterbugg]

Every red is global shuttee goofball..theres quite a few most cimera cmaers are global shutter and they have higher frame rates..ghe question is price

[@AaronCastillo]

Only the RED Komodo/X line is global shutter. It's not as common as you think. Not even ARRI cameras are global shutter. There's a couple older Sony cams(like the F55) and some lesser used Black Magic cams.

[@kelloxx]

immediately sold it, horrible system & workflow, dont fall for it

[@Dezdirectz]

Wow

[@Shuttterbugg]

It says sdi right on the msrketing behind him...this guy is adumny im sorry i love cheap cine cmaeras like ecams and more competition is great but they need competent interviewers man..cuz this guys kneos nothjng about the camera hes showing

[@alzibaba]

What are you talking about? That marketing is for the E2F6 Pro, not the M5G - you can see it's a different camera body with vents on the upper image in the marketing. That's the F6 Pro with SDI, not the camera he's introducing here. Please check your facts before making such disparaging comments about others. Oh, and he's way smarter than the majority of us, and solves customers' challenges in a much more proactive way than any other CEO you're likely to come across.