Wetpixel Live: Guide to New Cameras

There have been a plethora of new cameras announced over the last few months, so in this episode of Wetpixel Live, @Alex_Mustard and @adamhanlon chat through the latest camera options for underwater image-makers. Specifically, they discuss the EOS R series, Nikon Z9, Sony a1, OM Digital OM-1, and Panasonic GH6 and how their specifications suggest that they are useful for underwater image-makers. 

Nice coverage, to clarify a few of the points being discussed.

The Z9 has no mechanical shutter, only electronic so it has different limitations on sync speed.

Electronic shutter is different to mechanical and the ability to increase is limited by read out speed.  This is because while you can turn a sensor on or off, CMOS sensors are turned off by reading out the each line of pixels.  This means you need to stagger the start of the exposure so all pixels get the same light it also means flash sync speed is limited to the time available when all pixels are in play.  You need very fast readout speed to get very high electronic sync speed.  This is also related to rolling shutter

Electronic first curtain is another option you start the exposure electronically avoiding shutter vibration but end it by closing the shutter second curtain.  This allows slightly faster sync speed I believe.  This links discusses: https://www.dpreview.com/articles/5816661591/electronic-shutter-rolling-shutter-and-flash-what-you-need-to-know

The EOS R3 I believe has pretty much the equivalent sensor to a 1D MkIII, there has been some discussion about what an R1 might look like.

The OM-1 still has Olympus name on it as it coincides with 50 years since the release of the Olympus OM-1 film camera, it'll be the last to carry the name.  It will be interesting to see if the OM-1 achieves the claimed 2 stops of noise and 1 stop of dynamic range improvement.

The 20 MP m43 sensor has 3.3 micron pixels which is about the smallest pixel among non-compact cameras.  25MP takes you to 2.9 micron pixels which is starting to approach 1"RX100 style pixel sizes.  It seems like it might be around the limit for now.

The OM-1 sensor actually has 4 photodiodes per pixel which are all read and feed into the AF calculations before being combined to create the image file.  This stresses the readout rate and is what limits things like sync speed with electronic shutter.  I think electronic shutter is only used at very high drive rates above 10 frames per second when flash can't keep up for long anyway.

I think some misunderstanding has been created regarding sync speed with electronic shutter because the Nikon Z9 website and others show sync speeds of 1/200th to a 1/250th max. So an assumption has been made that the Z9 will sync at 1/250th and it can but only in APS-C mode.  The same is true with the Sony A1 with electronic shutter in full frame the camera will sync at 1/200th and in APS-C mode (21MP) the camera will sync at 1/250th. It appears that when covering a smaller area you can increase shutter speed.

In mechanical shutter the Sony A1 will sync in full frame up to 1/400th sec. and in APS-C mode it will sync at 1/500th sec. This is not some special setting it works just like any camera that syncs to 1/250th just higher so 1/320, 1/400th and 1/500th in APS-C. If you set the shutter speed to 1/500th and use a single housing control to toggle between FF and APS-C as I do the sync will default back to 1/400th if you shift back to FF and forget to reset shutter speed to 1/400th. The 1/400 and 1/500th speeds also work with both TTL flash triggers like Turtle and UWTechnics as well as manual flash triggers like the Nauticam, Marelux and other triggers when the flash settings is correct.  

It appears that in full frame the Canon EOS R3 will sync at 1/250th mechanical and 1/180th in electronic. 

The conclusion is that while the stacked sensors in Z9, EOS R3, OM-1 and Sony A1 all move information much faster this does not always result in higher mechinacal shutter speeds. Prior to the stacked sensor shutter speeds in electronic shutter were more in the 1/30th sec. area. 

It will be interesting to see if the OM-1 stacked sensor with be able to squeeze more information out of 20MP and/or increase auto focus speeds. 

I love you guys but you really have a big problem with filmmaking. For the GH6 you failed to say one thing that makes sens for a videomaker.

basically here underwater image-maker == underwater photographer

I do not expect you to become video experts but at least have a teammate who can help you with these issues. With due distinction, take for example how DPReview has changed.

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