I don't have an exposure chart handy. I shot some awful shaky footage in my living room, though, where the windows are pretty bright and there are some pretty heavy shadows. I don't see a huge difference, but it does look like there's a little bit more detail in the highlights/shadows when recorded over HDMI. In particular, at 0:15 (internal, you can match based on the time on the recorded overlay), the keys have a bit more detail on the external recorder. @jazzroy - please let me know when you've downloaded this so that I can reclaim my precious gigabyte on gdrive. The internal footage should be 4kp30 h.264 and the external should be 1080p60 prores 422.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1908S8gUUkYswiSLLhA9fteRl6C10daAc

Another thing worth noting is that when I went to record that, the E1 randomly decided to start outputting at 720p60 and when I went to the menu and tried to force it to 1080p60 or 1080p30, it would just jump back to 720p60 without saying anything. Reseating the cable didn't work. I had to completely power off the e1 and turn it back on again. Then it quietly went back to 1080p60. If you're planning to record externally, you'll want to keep a close eye on your recorder to make sure that you're getting the signal that you want/expect. For the money, I'd probably just buy a used BMPCC and have reliable 10-bit internal recording.

That would be a good test.. unfortunately I don't own the E1, I did the test on @markr041 file.

back to the E1, I tried what @eatstoomuchjam suggested under linux, following the instructions on ffmpeg forum by David Rice:

I pipe the data to xxd for this, such as: ffmpeg -i v210.mov -c:v rawvideo -f rawvideo - | xxd -c 2 -b

Since the rawvideo of v210 is 16 bits, I use -c 2 to show the output in 2 bytes per row (-c 2). You’ll get an output that looks like this:

008322e: 11011101 00000001 0083230: 01001000 00000010 In the case I’ll see the last two (right most) bits of the first byte toggling indicated that it is actually using 10 bits of detail. If the v210 was 8 plus two zeros then the last two bits of the first byte would always be zero. Unfortunately there is a lot of video hardware that works as 8 bits so often those who are intending to digitize analog video to 10 bit are actually creating 10 bit files with the least significant bits simply being padding. Some digital videotapes also decode to 8 bit but are received over 10 bit SDI so this same process can be used to verify if the SDI contains actual 10 bit video or some amount of padding.

And I got the attached result for the first lines. But, not being a programmer, I wonder if things must be differntly, because atomos records in 10 bits and not 16 as the above example by David Rice.. Someone can give any hint?

@mikerandy

Good thing to understand that it is all hardware limited.

As a current E1 user, I think we should be pushing for the raw go pro cineform update stated by @mei. 50 mbps 4k raw. Shouldn't be a problem bit rate wise. My Hdmi on my e1 is shaky at best. Def needs a firmware update for cheaper monitor solutions i.e lillput and feelword monitors if possible.... I like this camera for some reason. When i look at the 4kdci playback next to the ursa, I think "its really not that bad" lol. I'm just praying for about another 20 to 30 bits. I will post some footage soon but, We Really should bother kinson on Facebook about the Cineform!

Of course I'm taking about an update.

Building brand loyality.

Do you really.think that is going be very.good compared to the other?

Beautiful the e2, but what about 12 or 14 bit modes and a professional video codec like the free cineform or $20 licensed cineform raw Bayer? Those would be good. Also BM has people making attachments for the interface on it's micro camera. If the same could be supported, those attachments could work with this? The attachments make a proper handheld camera rig out if the micro. A lot of stuff being designed by users.

Anyway, back to the E1. How difficult is it for them to upgrade the firmware to produce a clean 4k output 10 bit+, maybe 50fps, or to overclock the data rate and frame rate? If it could also be made to work with the BM.micro equipment, it would be fairly descent too. Just upgrading a clean 4k hdmi makes it suitable to use with the BM video assistant series or other, as a camera rig.

E2 looks very promissing for live brodcast, he said $1999???

@Firworks

Need to ask Alan to make such video :-)

Good to hear another firmware update is coming for E1 owners, I wonder what it will be.

Check E2 interview closer to the end it has very nice news to E1 owners

Here is the charger for the Z Camera E1, now available directly from Yi (this has the two batteries already inserted). Nice and compact and light. Comes with micro-usb cable. The $75 kit (with two batteries) comes directly from Yi in Shenzhen by DHL, and I received it in three days after ordering (US). Shipping is free.

I don't think it ever was on the start page, at least from the time I bought it for $199 Iast November. I would not be surprised if they stopped production even then. But the NX1 stopped production long ago, and it's still a good camera. Given the new battery availability, Z is evidently still providing support.