Las Vegas, NV—The E1 camera, a new entry into the 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) camera market from start-up Z, launched on Kickstarter. The E1 features a 16 megapixel Micro Four Thirds (MFT) Panasonic sensor and an interchangeable-lens system compatible with most MFT lenses, as well as an advanced autofocus system.
“After spending years in the camera industry, I realized that most companies are much more interested in cutting costs of their current products than investing in developing new ones and listening to what people want,” said Jason Zhang, engineer and creator.
The company is utilizing the crowdfunding platform more as a method to take preorders and introduce both the brand and product to consumers, as well as gain market insight concerning the camera’s form factor and future features.
Once the Kickstarter campaign has been completed, the E1 will retail for $699 body only and in a kit with a 14mm f/2.5 lens for $999. However, in limited quantities, the company is offering perks for Kickstarter backers of up to 40% off retail pricing.
The E1’s MFT lens mount is said to be adaptable to the widest range of autofocus (AF) lenses available from Olympus, Panasonic, Leica and Sigma, as well as a variety of existing manual-focus lenses. It also features Wi-Fi 802.11N, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and an Ambarella A9 image processor.
The camera can record cinema-quality 4K (4,096×2,160) video at 24 frames per second (fps) or UHD video (3,840×2,160) at 30 fps with H.264 compression. Its 3D noise filters use motion compensated temporal filtering (MCTF) technology to reduce noise and jitter. This allows for advanced low-light performance, with the ability to record at up to ISO 102,400 and shoot still photos at ISO 6400.
In addition, Z’s E1 is equipped with proprietary applications for iOS and Android, with apps available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. The apps provide the ability to control, live stream and manage content via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 4.0-enabled devices. Users can leave the camera in standby mode and remotely power the E1, whether it’s powered on or off. Once powered on, users can control and trigger the camera remotely. Additionally, this allows for the download of photos or videos and sharing content directly from a mobile device. This is especially helpful when setting up to record a live event or for use with drones, as the pilot can remotely power the camera on without having to land the drone in order to set it up.
Advanced users can customize the functionality of the E1 through the open platform, I/O port and available software development kit (SDK), available in two levels to add or customize functionality. The E1 measures approximately 3×2.2×2 inches. z-cam.com
