ABSTRACT
The VariCam is unusual compared with all the other cameras I review here, for not only can it shoot at any constant frame rate between 4 and 60 frames per second (fps), but it is capable of changing the frame rate during a shot, known in the film world as ramping. It is also the only camera here that has a native 720P, 60 fps (or 59.94 fps) image configuration. You will have gathered that I favor a 1080P shooting format, but if you need the facility of variable frame rate offered by this camera then the compromise simply has to be worth it. It should be remembered that subjectively 720P and 1080i look almost as good to the eye and 1080 usually only looks significantly better when shot in the progressive format. This means that in a television arena the VariCam should be capable of excellent pictures.
