Panasonic dropped a bombshell with news of the Varicam LT and Convergent Design quickly follows up, announcing support.
This week, Panasonic unveiled the Varicam LT, a new version of its high-end Varicam cinema camera, arriving with a smaller footprint and a few less features. Depending on how you look at it, the Varicam LT sits either in the middle or low-high end of budgets. At around $18K for the body, you'll get a dual native ISO 4K (UHD & DCI) camera with purported high sensitivity, low noise, exceptional colour science and at least 14 stops of dynamic range (when shooting in V-log), along with other goodies.
For you raw shooters, Panasonic will be adding raw output for the LT in a firmware update tentatively scheduled for June. Convergent Designs hasn't wasted any time in response, announcing support for the Varicam LT's V-Raw codec (when it arrives).
Note: this is NOT a free upgrade. Instead, V-Raw support will be added to the Odyssey 7Q+ Raw Record Bundle, which is a paid support package for recording in a plethora of raw formats for different cameras.
The bundle costs $995 and includes all codec support (there's no a la carte option). For those that only occasionally shoot raw, you can rent the package for $99/day.
For more info, check out full press release on Page Two!
(Colorado Springs, CO - February 10, 2016) Convergent Design today announces that Odyssey monitor/recorders will support the Panasonic VariCam LT digital cinema camera's RAW file format. VariCam V-RAW is the newest format to be supported in Convergent Design's Odyssey RAW Bundle for Odyssey7Q and Odyssey7Q+ monitor/recorders along with Canon Cinema RAW, Sony FS RAW, ARRIRAW and more. The Panasonic VariCam LT, announced today, will add RAW output in a firmware upgrade from Panasonic this summer.
"The Odyssey supports RAW from more cameras than any other device in the industry."said Mike Schell, President, Convergent Design. "The VariCam LT is a great camera and an important one in the Panasonic line, and we're proud to include it in the Odyssey RAW Bundle for the Odyssey7Q and Odyssey7Q+. Odyssey will support all frame rates and resolutions available for output from the Varicam LT. In addition to our RAW record capabilities, we can integrate the Odyssey's Image Analysis Tools for focus, color and exposure, as well as its accurate OLED monitor and comprehensive Odyssey LUT System. Together the VariCam LT and the Odyssey make a complete professional image capture package."
[Click here for Odyssey RAW Bundle Info]
About Convergent Design
Founded in 2000, Convergent Design started as a manufacturer of SD/HD signal converters and evolved the product line to include video recorders, RAW data video capture devices and professional monitors. Convergent Design's progressive technology design means that each new device includes the features and technology of the ones that preceded it. Convergent Design products are designed and manufactured in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and sold through our worldwide network of dealers and distributors.