Gadgets

8K ProRes RAW in a Rig This Small: Why the R5 and PolarPro Recon Are Unbeatable

I finally built the ultimate everyday video camera.

I’m Hide, tech journalist and part-time house-husband. Thanks to PolarPro’s Recon, which I’m introducing here, I ended up with an incredible setup. PolarPro filters are definitely not cheap. But I’ve used them for years, and I can say for sure they’re worth the money. That’s how much they change the footage you get.

(For reference, I uploaded a video shot in 8K ProRes RAW. For that one I used PolarPro’s BaseCamp. *Added November 25, 2023)

First, what’s a matte box?

I’ll skip the technical explanation, but a matte box has three main jobs. First, the flap on top keeps direct sunlight from getting into the lens. That reduces the whole image looking washed out.

Lowering the front flap to just out of frame keeps the image from washing out, even when the sun is low in the evening
Lowering the front flap to just out of frame keeps the image from washing out, even when the sun is low in the evening
Next, the big lens-hood part blocks light coming in from around you, which raises the contrast of the image. For example, it keeps the green of leaves from getting dull on a sunny day.
With a bare lens, a lot of light gets in from the sides, which lowers image quality — colors get faint, for example
With a bare lens, a lot of light gets in from the sides, which lowers image quality — colors get faint, for example
Last, attaching a matte box makes it easy to swap all kinds of filters. Normally you have to screw a filter onto the front of the lens, which gets in the way when you want to keep shooting at a good rhythm.
With the Recon, you can attach all kinds of effect filters from the front in one touch, without removing the matte box or VND filter
With the Recon, you can attach all kinds of effect filters from the front in one touch, without removing the matte box or VND filter
Being able to adjust the VND with the matte box still on is a plus too
Being able to adjust the VND with the matte box still on is a plus too
The Recon makes all of that as easy as possible — one-touch — and keeps it small: under 200 g even with the matte box and flap. Mirrorless video rigs like this tend to get big, so being able to use filters and a VND at this size is revolutionary.
This much function at this weight and size — there’s nothing else like it
This much function at this weight and size — there’s nothing else like it
## There’s the Recon and the BaseCamp, but for portability, the Recon wins hands down

PolarPro has also been selling other matte boxes: the BaseCamp, Nano, and SUMMIT. The difference is that you use a round CP (polarizing) filter and slide in square ND filters. These include soft graduated filters — dark only at the top and clear at the bottom — so they can do more than the Recon, but they lean more toward stills.

The BaseCamp works for video too, but it’s on the larger side, so it’s versatile but bulky. The Nano has the advantage of letting you use a smaller gimbal when paired with a compact body like Sony’s FX30.

Each has its strengths and I want them all, but since the goal this time is “best quality, smallest size,” I think the Recon is the best choice.

A 43–82 mm adapter lets you use it with the tiny-but-excellent RF lenses

To make the most of this light weight, lens choice matters too. With a 43–82 mm step-up ring, the Recon works with the RF50mm F1.8 STM and the RF16mm F2.8 STM. Both are super compact at around 165 g, and both are bright. They also share the same filter size, so you can use one step-up ring for both — really handy.

Nothing else lets you shoot almost any situation with just two lenses this compact — and in 8K ProRes RAW...
Nothing else lets you shoot almost any situation with just two lenses this compact — and in 8K ProRes RAW...
Here’s what it looks like taken apart
Here’s what it looks like taken apart
If you want to shoot macro too, you could add the RF35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM, but it has a different filter size and is a bit heavier, so unless your work involves a lot of macro, I felt the 50 mm and 16 mm were plenty.

8K ProRes RAW at this size and ease of use — thanks to the Recon

Of course, if you went with Micro Four Thirds or a compact full-frame body, you could build an even smaller 8K camera. But then you can’t use ProRes RAW (which makes editing a pain — you need way more computing power), or swapping matte boxes, filters, and lenses gets fiddly and you miss fleeting moments in nature like sunset. Something always goes wrong.

This is how compact it is when my wife holds it
This is how compact it is when my wife holds it
Recording time is short, so you need to work around it
Recording time is short, so you need to work around it
Weighing all of that, I’m confident this Recon-based system is the best option right now. The one flaw is the short recording time… (wry smile) I get around it by keeping only the good takes from the start and deleting the rest, and so far it hasn’t been a problem.

A little aside: this setup shoots 8K ProRes RAW at 29.97p, and surprisingly also 5K ProRes RAW at 59.94p, which is super handy. Downscaling to 4K gives you a slightly sharper image, and you can shoot slow motion too. The best.

A little-known combo: the EOS R5 and Ninja V+ can shoot 5K at 59.94p
A little-known combo: the EOS R5 and Ninja V+ can shoot 5K at 59.94p
I actually use this SmallRig battery, which gives me both light weight and long run time
I actually use this SmallRig battery, which gives me both light weight and long run time
My setup beyond the Recon, the parts I use, and actual footage would make this way too long, so I’ll cover them in another article. Stay tuned.

As I wrote in my article “Getting a New iPhone? You Need Filters — POLARPRO Turns Everyday Shots into Art,” the Recon now works with the new iPhone 15 Pro too. PolarPro’s ecosystem and lineup make so much sense that I’m even more of a fan now.

Official page: Recon | VND Matte Box - MacKinnon Edition Japan official page: PolarPro Recon | VND Matte Box - Directors Kit (Peter Mackinnon Edition) Where to buy: PolarPro Recon

This story was originally published (in Japanese) on Yahoo! News Japan Expert.

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