Z CAM E2 Cameras get ProRes 422 for All Modes with Firmware 0.98.0

Firmware Update

by Jakub HanJanuary 15^th, 2021

A new firmware update for the Z CAM E2 cameras has been released. Version 0.98.0 brings support for ProRes 422 recording for all resolution and frame rate combinations (except C8K 2.4:1) and further features and improvements.

It is always nice to see camera manufacturers releasing firmware updates to improve the functionality and stability of already released cameras. The Chinese camera company Z CAM yesterday released a firmware update for all its Z CAM E2 cameras. That means even the original Z CAM E2, which has been released in 2018 already (see our review here), gets some improvements. Let’s take a look at what exactly the new update 0.98.0 brings.

Z CAM E2 Firmware Update 0.98.0

Z CAM released the new firmware version 0.98.0 for the E2 cameras. It includes the following features:

• All resolution and frame rate combinations now support ProRes 422 recording (except C8K 2.4:1).
• ProRes proxy records in separate files.
• Preview & in-camera playback with 3D LUT – banding issue fixed.
• External SSD recording through USB – performance improved.
• Added 5K 60fps recording on the E2-F6.
• UVC (USB camera) bug fixes.
• Other bug fixes.

This news is great especially for the 4K 120fps mode in the original Z CAM E2 which was previously only available in H.265 mode. With the new ProRes 422 recording option it is not neccessary to transcode the files anymore for easier editing.

The firmware update version 0.98.0 is available now for all Z CAM E2 models – E2, E2-M4, E2-S6, E2-S6G, E2C, E2G, E2-F6, and E2-F8. It can be downloaded free of charge directly from the Z CAM website which also includes the steps needed for the firmware update process. Please note that you need an ethernet connection and a cable for the update process.

Do you use one of the Z CAM cameras for your work? What do you think about the recent update? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section underneath the article.