The Best Cine-Cam You've Never Heard Of | Panasonic EVA1 Review 

I'd love to know what you think about the EVA1 after watching this? Also, do check out my V-log colour grading tutorial series - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-g8gtbsJLIAY.html

They just need to make an EVA2 with the S1H sensor in L mount with the new PDAF. Would take a huge chunk of the FX6/C70 market.

Image quality in Eva1 is beautiful

Had this camera from 2018 to 2022 - absolutely loved it and was sad to see it go. Always on a look out to buy one again in the future. Great video!

Happened upon this review as I am prepping my EVA1 for a job this weekend. I've had the EVA in storage for almost a year now and it's time to bring it back. Appreciate your very nice information and encouraging reminders of the EVA's many wonderful qualities. I was an early adopter and have always been pleased with the EVA1 image. Look forward to be8ng 1 of many who renew their love of our faithful Panasonic workhorse.

An absolutely fantastic review of the EVA. I 2nd every single point you've brought up. I've had the EVA since early 2020 and I've never been able to come close to the images you have produced, just for this video. Needless to say, I'm going to be diving deep into your DaVinci videos for correction and grading.

I have been a Panasonic user for almost 15 years from DVX100B to HPX500E and HPX371E and I have just started upgrading to EVA1 (we just acquired three) thanks for the Media Division's detailed review. The joy I get from this model just from testing is unquantifiable, I can't wait to start using it for projects. HPX500 and HPX371 still hold very well till this day though.

You really put some great useful info with your videos. I watched your S5 video and it was very good. Thank you.

Feeling very validated by this! Won over a DP (and Alexa owner) recently , reluctant to use my EVA1 on a shoot. He was mighty impressed.

Really great review, as always Ed! 😊 I follow Media Division as well and they sing the praises of Eva-1. Where I live (Australia) there is a mint used EVA-1 for sale ex rental for £1870 …your ace review has me thinking about all the boxes it ticks for me! Thanks man 😊

Great video, been on the fence about getting one and this just propelled my decision

The video I have been needing to see lol. Well done man! I want to switch to EVA1s and S5s/S1h setups and blackmagic b raw recorders. This video really helps!

Nice! I always remember seeing the EVA1 when it got released at IBC a few years back and was always intrigued by it. At the time I was shooting a lot on the fs5/fs7 so it looked like quite a familiar setup in a slightly smaller package but just never actually got round to shooting anything with it. Shots look lovely on it though and totally agree with you when you mentioned about cameras only incrementally getting better in recent years - In the right hands, you can definitely yield very similar results. Wicked video again man, smashed it!

Great video and stunning images man!💯 Love my EVA-1 and the image it produces! Perfect for web stuff as you say. Even shot a commercial for cinemas recently and the image held up very well! It feel very reliable and I trust it on set. Thinking about picking up a few used ones to have as they don’t make new ones anymore. Keep up the good work /Markus

Thanks for the reality check. I'm fond of my EVA1, and think it will be with me for a couple more years. The only drawbacks for me are (1) the horrid "mirror" screen and (2) clients have never heard of it. The screen is an easy fix (get a monitor), but the lack of model recognition with clients is unfortunate. No one has every complained about my footage image quality, but I'm sure I've been passed over for not owning a RED or ARRI camera. I also have the S1H, which pairs very well with the EVA1. I bought it to have a smaller, lighter camera for gimbal work, the ability to take still images, serve as a B-camera for 2 camera shoots and the "full frame look". The two cameras are easy to grade as they both have the full V-log color space. I owned a Sony FS5, and never quite liked color grading S-log footage. For a camera that is pushing 5 years old, I think the EVA1 is still a viable camera. I will invest in a new set of cine primes before I invest in another camera.

Ed, I LOVE my EVA1! Great reminder how good this camera is.

EVA1 owner/operator here. I love this camera. I got the PL mount and use DZO Pictor Zooms. I think it still holds up to cameras on the market now. The only thing I really wish it had is automatic ND digital filters. If Panasonic ever releases an upgrade to this camera, I'll get it in a heartbeat.

I like your footage a lot 😊 great job 👍

Great video! I'm a year late but even compared to the more recent Lumix releases, this looks like a great accompaniment to my S5 and GH4 cameras haha! Thanks again!

More great work Ed'. Thanks for making this! I had an EVA1 prior to 2020 and sold it was we headed into lockdown; the images are awesome! I really hope that Panasonic don't abandon the mid range cinema camera market. Right now I shoot on a C300mkiii with Tokina Cinema Zooms; looking back I feel that the EVA1 really benefits from a little bit of extra weight as it's so light out of the box, particularly if you're working with un-stabilized glass. I found that throwing it onto a VCT shoulder plate or adding an external battery made a huge difference to the feel of the footage. In a lot of ways I find it a lot less compromised than the FX6 for long-form content (Sony don't make it clear in their manuals that the Long GOP codec is actually 8bit), the 150mbps on the EVA1 is great when you've got a producer that wants to roll on everything. It's great that we live in a world where a college student could buy a camera with the proceeds of a summer job that could take them to Sundance or beyond.

Nice review! I had one gonna buy it again.

nice review. thanks for sharing.

Hey man, awesome video! It's really inciteful and interesting to me some of points. I'm someone who actually recently purchases the eva used on ebay a couple months ago. I was introduced to it by someone who does a lot of corporate work that I've been assisting he's had his since the beginning. I definitely see it as a way to look way more professional with my own shoots. So far I've used my Eva for interviews and handheld in run and gun documentary setups. I also have the S5 and that's the two cameras I use. I do plan on getting the S5II because of it's autofocus. Although if they came out with a new EVA type camera with autofocus I probably wouldn't be as eager. The fact that the camera is basically manual focus only feels better to me, I've been using the 18-35 1.8 and a Helios 44-2. The part where you mentioned that the camera should be heavier is interesting to me, because I've been filming soccer tryouts/workout for a local soccer club with the eva handheld with the 18-35 with a small rig handle and a monitor attached to that handle and if I'm moving with the players I'm able to get usable stable footage just using the top handle. I know this comment has been all over the place. What would do if they came out with an update to the eva like same body but maybe newer features 6k and as good af as S5II? Thanks for the video!

I've had mine for 5 years, and it's never let me down. I have a film project that I shot with it winning awards all over the world. The only thing that really upsets me is that the line was never developed further. I used it alongside a Red Mostramo on a film, and felt the EVA outshot the Red. Yes no autofocus, and the screen drive me NUTS. But no camera is perfect.

The Eva 1 is a beast time for a Eva 2 with phase detection. It will be an amazing camera.

I have this camera and still love it

Part of me really wants one, mostly because of this video. But built-in NDs and all the other features are appealing, and it would make a great pairing with my S5ii/S1 setup. There's one going for a great price, with only 200 hours.

I love your shots and grading. So cinematic.. Which Black Mist filter do you use? I perhaps Tiffen 1/4? I really like to know, your work inspires me alot!

It was worth the wait, great review! It makes me wonder what Panasonic could do with a FF EVA 2 with L mount that competes with FX6/9

Just saw one of these for sale and had to research it. Looks like a great deal overall

Thank you for this review! I am a lumix s5 user and have looked into options for an A/B cam setup and this looks really great especially for the price as well! I have a DIY anamorphic set up so I was wondering are there any shooting options for the Eva1?

I love it so much!

I imagine you feel about this camera the way I feel about the FX3 it’s the first camera you truly fell in love with for cinema production and it will probably be your camera forever.

I've owned a pair of EVA1's for 4 years. I'm up for a job to direct/DP interviews with some of the top names in talent. No one has asked what kind of cameras I use. I'm also developing an ambitious feature as well, with known talent, which I plan to use the EVA1's. I keep one body on rails with Matte box, follow focus, and external monitor, etc. and another stripped down for use on a small slider or a collapsable jib arm, where the EVA's weight really helps. I recently bought Neat Video to deal with the occasional noise that Resolve can't handle when I purposely under expose, or if I have to use ISO 2500, and it solves any problems the EVA may have (other than not having autofocus, which I don't use anyway having manual prime APO lenses from SLR Magic - another company most people never heard of) The option to record Braw 5.7K makes it more competitive to recent cameras in my mind, and at this level, the camera is really one of the smallest bottlenecks to getting good production value. Even after I stop using the EVA's - years from now, for actual production I have a feeling I'll be using them for things like casting, table reads, previs test shoots, web videos, etc. The small, light form factor, XLR's with volume knobs, full 4K imagery derived from 5.7K, dual ISO makes them a good utility camera. Regarding the monitor - Panasonic took a lot of flak for the less than great monitor, but their rationale was that it was a serious camera at a low price, meaning you're obviously going to add a proper monitor, so why force you to pay for one built in? The on board is a fantastic status monitor when displaying the home screen. It was never meant to be a program monitor, and at that time of the EVA's design, monitors were progressing very quickly, especially in brightness. The audio section is good as well. I purchased the best sounding shotgun on the market, the Schoeps CMIT and I was worried it wouldn't sound good plugged directly into the EVA, but the internal mic preamps, if the gain is set correctly, are more than adequate. And by the time I upgrade, today's latest under $10K cams are going to seem dated or will be had for cheap. The new Alexa 35 is just so good after seeing Arri's demo, that for anything with a real budget I'd want to use nothing else.

Love our EVA1 !

You got a shot of Nile Rogers in a camera review - that's legendary!!!

Yeap I was always tempted to get an Eva 1 particularly for their cheap 2nd hand price :) but I read somewhere from Panasonic that there won't be an Eva 1 as for them the s1h replaced it :( which I found super weird... The issue with people not getting it is the same issue all Panasonic are plagued with lately..you seriously have no idea if there will be a newer model later down the road. They seriously don't communicate at all.. even the varricams department is super quiet lol. Anyway great video, you put in a lot of hard work in it! Nice to see it's really close to a red komodo haha.

Nile Rogers, nice. Very good-looking work, too.

I am so amazed.

Thanks for this. I recently invested in the the Sony ecosystem with the FX6 and A7iv and have been struggling with the decision to sell my EVA. Packed it up, only to unpack it. The camera still produces a stellar image that competes with more modern cameras. I just can't justifying selling it for 2 grand (as they are not going for much more these days). I prefer Panasonic's color science but the Sony has come a long way with s-log3 and with a little bit of post production work, I've been able to match between the 2 systems. Where the Sony has the major advantage is obviously with autofocus and the variable ND. Prior to the switch I never used autofocus and was hesitant to put my faith in it. But it's remarkably accurate and quite useful when conducting interviews or on a gimbal, especially as a solo shooter. But with that said, I don't think I can part with the EVA. I guess its true what they say about your first love. Can't let go.

Love the EVA1. Shot loads of stuff on it, including a feature.

Great video always been interested in these having owned an FS5 and a black magic it’s mini, love the look on the Panasonic and was always fond of my AF101. Is the camera functional without the side hand grip? Looking at buying one but it doesn’t have the hand grip and I imagine buying one off Panasonic will be more expense than it’s worth.

I'm still using EVA1. My EVA1 has the PL mount conversion. Also have GH5 and GH6. I'm recording out to a BMD Video Assist 12G 7, using Tokina Vistas, and ATX zooms. I'm happy with the combo and receive positive comments from editors. I'm tempted by the Komodo, but cannot convince myself it would greatly improve quality.

Thanks for a perfect review video! It is rare to find on yt these days I feel :) Quick question: I recently got a great deal on an eva1 and brought it home to use alongside my canon r5c. Any advice on how best to colormatch the two? Transform both to alexa colorspace and go from there?

I've been using the Aggressive LUT religiously. I had no idea that the Nicest LUT was this nice as well!

Have 2xEVA-1s ( a PL & aN EF) use in nature work. Used the EVA-1 PL with Canon CN20 and the image is stunning. Cuts really well with Varicam LT and my RED Helium. I used with same batteries as you as well as V-mount FX LION Nanos. IR is really useful for wildlife as is the dual iso. From firmware 3 this became an amazing tool for loads of work. If they made an L mount EVA2 with that Panasonic colour science, a decent screen and a bit more robust I'd be interested, although my Z9 has started partnering the RED and Varicam a lot more now. The EVA1s are not getting sold off anytime soon, these are super solid cameras. Note that Gordon Buchanan filmed a nature doc on lynx with the EVA1.

Great Review! I picked up 3 bodies used last year, each with over 900hrs! I got them to shoot a low budget reality show in Ghana and prayed they wouldn't shut down during the 3 month shoot.... they over delivered. Very versatile cameras, I have an S5 as well but find myself leaning towards picking up the EVA even for simple shoots because of the internal ND's and smoother image. I plan on shooting my next short and a feature on this, now looking for some good budget cine lenses to match with it.

YESSSS!!! The EVA 1 is Fuggin AMAZING!! COLOR LOOKS GREAT! Built like a TANK!! Lightweight!! Monitor is GARBAGE!! But everything else is Fuggin AWESOME!! I never understood why it wasn’t selling like hotcakes! It’s the sweet spot between the Varicam and the GH - Series.. A thousand thanks for this post!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Panasonic doesn’t get the credit it deserves.. 🙏🏾🙂

That clean look out of the Eva has such a high key commercial look. The only camera I've seen at this price point that can get that look is the C200 in raw.

Thanks for the video, Ed. I am SURPRISED that this video got so many views (and comments) since as you mentioned, the EVA1 is an older camera and it was probably never as popular as it should have been. There are so MANY good cameras on the market right now. I already own a Panasonic S1 and an S5 (original, not the new MK II). I have seen some pretty good prices on used GH6 bodies, too, and m43 lenses are cheap and plentiful. Tough trying to decide whether to add / update my S5 to an S5 II, or add an EVA1 or GH6. I assume the EVA1 has an AA filter on it, right?

Thank you for this! Looking to rent this camera for a job next month. In your opinion would I be able to get away with the EVA’s lcd screen in an auditorium like environment or should I opt for an external monitor?

I love my Eva I will never sell her I use it for my podcast livestreams now. Any suggestions on how to get some nice luts to display instead of those 5 present scenes?

Just picked up an EVA1 yesterday...looking forward to seeing what it's capable of.

I'd love to see an iteration with the new AF in the S5 ii. I could see that being a game changer.

damn this might be the perfect alternative for the Canon C200! the EVA1 is a bit more expensive but this is so much more versatile and you dont have to stick with huge Cinema RAW files! amazing ❤

Great video! What sort of filtration are you using ?

Finally decided to pick one up used for around $1200 usd. Couldn’t resist the deal! There’s this guy on RU-vid who is in antártica right now filming a documentary on a Sony fs7 with a 1,000,000 budget per episode. Convinced me the Eva was not too old or irrelevant. Excited to see what I’ll capture with it

My introduction to this camera was Christmas of 2015 I was given the gift of either renting this camera for the weekend to shoot a short film which was like $400 or get a dslr for similar cost. At the time I had no experience with manual cameras I knew about it from videos I saw online but never really had hands on experience with it so chose the DSLR and that was honestly one of the best choices because even though the image quality isn’t close to this camera it gave me time to play with exposure and shutter speed and understanding iso and aperture and everything instead of it being forced into 2-3 days. Since I now own several cinema cameras I always appreciate building that foundation back then which was important.

Hey, I've been working with the EVA1 one a lot. But always had trouble grading tbh. I suppose I'm more of cinematographer and editor and just slam the Rec709 conversion LUT on. Could you do a tutorial on grading EVA footage?? I'd really like to see your workflow. The pictures are beautiful!

I used this camera when shooting my first doc. I really loved the form factor and the 10 bit 4:2:2. It was so easy to grade in resolve. I do agree that the monitor is awful and it ruined some of my shots bc they were out of focus, but I guess that’s just a lesson learned haha. Overall a great camera though!

This was groundbraking, well recieved and long waited at the time. Best Panasonic camera so far!

Ohhh yeahh I remember this little guy. Being a huge Evangelion fan it was tough not buying a camera called Eva1

Thanks for the Video! i really love the colour of the eva 1. I am thinking about buying one as my first professional camera, but i'm not sure about autofocus, because i'm a solo operator, where i have to pull focus on my own. Most of the time i film live concerts and wildlife. Is it better to get the FX6? I can get a EVA 1 with a Sigma 18-35mm for around 3000€ and I would have a lot of money left to buy accessories 😅 kinda hard decision

Hey, what are your favorite lenses? :) Nice doc on the eva 1. Love panny

still an incredible camera, I neglected it a bit because it duplicated my red but it's great! the colors are top, the nd, the media which are inexpensive, the codecs (we often underestimate that but the sony A7SIII or canon R5 are disgusting). I still recommend it in 2023 for anyone who wants a camera under 4000 euro

Another vote for this hugely underrated camera. I pair it with a Varicam LT and an S1H ( on a gimbal) all in vlog all match beautifully. Sadly it seems Panasonic are not supporting this sector any longer and have gone with the Producer Lumix range. When the time comes to change all the cameras I will be changing manufacturer too.😢

Great video but dude, your audio/music hits are hot!

Have u tried the zcams? I would say the e2 s6 is a very interesting option similar to eva1

One of my friend had worked with that camera at office of the president of Rep. of Korea. so many footages were taken by the camera and even some footages were taken while sitting in a fighter jet, to make a PR video.

Panasonic EVA1 was my first cine cam that I bought when it was launched. Love the image that comes out of it. Sadly, I have to sell it away to make way for Sony FX6 because it was more demanded than EVA1 for work.

Agree! Want to make a new video about it myself :)

In the age of Blackmagic and Red's , Panasonic does it again! a perfect looking cine camera

I was torn between the EVA1 and the FX6 a few years back. I always had canon lenses and I was currently and GH5S user. The EVA1 would have been perfect. I took the plunge and bought the FX6, and it was a wise move. Just owning this camera got me a lot of work, especially when there was a chip shortage and these were rare. The EVA1 is a great camera, but it sadly lost out to the other cameras.

The Eva and the C200 are really two of the most similar cameras I've ever looked at getting. I settled on the Canon but it was a tough choice.

Own an EVA-1. Thanks for this. Thinking about selling it and go for the S5ii. What do you think?

I'm currently thinking about picking up the EVA-1 used as a replacement for my trusty GH5. I wonder what lenses besides the Sigma 18-35 you used with the EVA and can give recommendations on. I thought about pairing it with the Sigma 24-70 f2.8. I mainly do documentary as well as commercial work.

would you recommend this as someone's first cinema camera? wouldn't work for a hiking gig, now would it :p? I AM very fit and hiking with 24kg was a picknick (last time I went), and I would like to fondle around in the mountains, getting that absolute lovely cinema shot over there. though, point for a new camera is shooting normal video gigs for money, of course.

Image quality wise I love my EVA 01, however I've found it to be a fairly difficult camera to work with compared to some of the other cinema cams I use at work. I've had lots of issues with menu settings coming unstuck, for example recording xlr audio, then stopping down for a battery change to have the xlr swap off and needing to dig back through menus to turn them back on. (codec swaps happen like this for me quite often as well, not every time but often). I also wish it came in the box with a better viewfinder, replacing this with a good quality monitor makes the camera much better to work with. These days my S5 has become my daily driver and in almost every respect I'd reach for my s5 instead of the EVA 01. Still all quirks aside I still get good life out of my EVA 01 when I need a cine cam body companion for my S5. I'd honestly really like to see an EVA-02 with some of the quirks iorned out, an L mount to line up with panasonics other offerings, and maybe even the new panasonic auto focus system. Make it more of a parallel to the FX-6, if panasonic would get into that space I think they'd absolutely crush it in the indie film/documentary market. And again if you get past the quirks the sensor and the images coming out of this thing are awesome even five years later.

do you frequently conduct interviews while operating this camera? I'm just wondering if it has been a challenge keeping folks in focus while concentration on interviewing them - or do you typically hire another camera operator?

I got rid of my EVA-1 and replaced it with 2 S5's. Made my life a whole lot easier and was more fitting to the work I mostly do.

and now in mid 2023 five years later since this came out, what is better, smarter and gives a cinematic look and continues auto focus?

Great video Ed! I found a EVA1 in good condition for 2600€ and I'm really close pulling the trigger on it. Do you think it's worth getting and pairing with the S5 II, S5 and GH5 as A-cam? I would love to have internal ND-filters and it feels better showing up to a gig with a cinema camera even though the S5 II is no slouch and probably better in some regards. But the customers doesn't know anything about that 😂 Thanks in advance!

hey, what's the song starting at 1:59 ??

When/If a new EVA (L mount) comes out, I'm gonna be all over it!

I am deciding to purchase either Panasonic AU EVA1 or S5XII Is the video image quality and features better on S5IIX than Panasonic AU EVA1 please advise ? What is the pros on the S5XII? What is the pros of EVA1? Which has the best sensor / cinematic look? Which camera is more pro? Which is best pre amps for audio and mics?

Even though you like the standard Panasonic luts, I highly recommend you check out 55Media luts. He has several luts that match with Red ipp2 and the Alexa. Once you’ve tried them it’s hard to go back to Panasonic’s luts.

Hey guys I'm planing to buy a used one, it's been used 181 hours, good idea or bad ?

How did you get the more grunge and gritty look

Perfect camera. in fact, the best

I still use the EVA-1 everyday. The company I work for bought it years ago and didn't upgrade it, yet. I do miss fullframe though. And I feel like the camera needs a LOT of light to proper expose, that's annoying, especially when filming one-man.

What kind of devices can the EVA 1 record RAW into?

How many audio channels does it record?

Used it when it first came out… def recommend an External Recorder ^_#

Can you operate the menu with a third party monitor? I see you using the Blackmagic monitor, but I'm wondering if I can ditch the LCD and replace it completely with something third party? Obviously don't want to lose functionality, but this question isn't answered anywhere!

After watching this video again, I am considering adding the EVA to my Panasonic collection (S5ii, GH6, GH5S, GH5, HCX2000). It would be helpful if I can color match it to one or more of the cams I have now.

Please do some more videos on EVA1

I mean I've heard of it ... I was very much anticipating it before it came out. I never did get it though. I was too invested in my Sony kit to switch. I'm not sure that it was a successful product for Panasonic though since they never came out with another version of it. Seems like a great camera though. I feel like maybe it was launched too late to compete though. If it had come out a couple of years earlier it could have made a real splash.

panasonic has to be working on a new cinema camera by now right?

Is the eva1 better than fx6 or FX7 ii ?

Am I the only one that thinks the Komodo almost always looks too warm/yellow? This is a phenomenal camera and if you like me a photographer, that’s been slowly transitioning the video over the last eight years this is a perfect camera to save money and get so many upgrades from a mirrorless.