Z-CAM Z CAM E2C User manual

Z CAM E2C
User Manual v1.2
Draft
(Firmware 0.94)

1. Introduction
1.1. Camera Introduction
1.2. LCD Screen
The content displayed on the LCD Screen will be different when the camera is in different
mode.
• Standby & Recording

•
• Preview
Press FN + OK button when the camera is in Standby mode, it will switch to Preview
mode. Press FN + OK again to come back to Standby mode.
• Playback
Short press Power button when the camera is in Standby / Preview mode, it will
switch to Playback mode. Short press Power button again to come back to Standby
/ Preview mode.

1.3. LED Indicator Status
• Green
: Standby.
• Red
: Recording.
• Flashing Red (every 1s)
: No memory card.
• Flashing Red (every 0.5s)
: Memory card is full.
• Flashing Red (every 0.2s)
: Camera overheat.
• Flashing Red (very fast)
: Critical error.
• Flashing Red (fast & slow alternant)
: Low battery

1.4. Buttons
• MENU: Camera setting.
• FN / ISO: FN or ISO quick setting (2.1 Quick Settings).
• Up / SHT: Up selection (or add value) or Shutter Speed / Shutter Angle quick setting
(2.1 Quick Settings).
• Down / EV: Down selection (or reduce value) or EV quick setting (2.1 Quick
Settings).
• OK: Confirmation or to trigger the AF function (2.1 Quick Settings).
• F1: AEL (Auto Exposure Lock) by default, can be changed to other quick settings
(2.10 System - Fn).
• F2: Load profile by default, can be changed to other quick settings (2.10 System -
Fn).
• F3: Aperture quick setting by default, can be changed to other quick settings (2.10
System - Fn).
• Power button: Long press for 3 seconds to power on / off the camera, short press to
switch to / back from Playback mode.

1.5. Interfaces
• 3.5mm audio-out: 3.5mm(TRS) jack socket, stereo audio-out, can connect
headphone for audio monitoring
• 3.5mm audio-in: 3.5mm(TRS) jack socket, support stereo microphone input (do not
support line-in), can connect external microphone
• HDMI: HDMI 2.0 Type A port, video output up to 4K @30fps（10-bit 4:2:2）.
• Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi antenna port, 802.11n supported.
• Ethernet: Gigabit Ethernet port for camera control, setting & live streaming (with Z
CAM software installed on PC). POE (Power Over Ethernet) supported (802.3af /
802.3at compatible, refer to “1.6 Power Options - Power over Ethernet” for more
detail).
• USB: USB 3.0 Type C port for camera control and data transformation only. USB-
Serial converter is supported.
• Remote: 2.5mm jack socket, compatible with Sony LANC protocol.
1.6. Power Options
• AC/DC Power Adapter: The camera comes with a D-TAP power cable and D-TAP/D C
connector, and can be connected to an AC/DC power adapter with 12V/3~5A output,
and 2.1 x 5.5mm DC plug. (Power adapter not included in the package)

• Camera Battery: The battery socket is compatible with Canon LP-E6 battery. (Battery
not included in the package)
• V Mount Battery: Connect the camera to a V mount battery (with D-TAP port) with the
D-TAP power cable (D-TAP plug).
• Power Over Ethernet (POE): Connect the camera to a switcher / router supports POE
(compatible with 802.3af / 802.3at standard) with an Ethernet cable (Super CAT 5 or
above, less then 100m length) , then the camera can be powered by the switcher /
router.
1.7. Storage
The camera uses SD card or SSD as storage.

• SD card: The camera has 1 x internal SD card slot. Insert the SD card with correct
direction, push it to the end until it’s locked. To take out the SD card, push in the card
and it will be unlocked, then take it out from the slot.
• SSD: Connect the SSD through USB-C port on back of camera as storage. (Note:
USB-C port must be in “Host” mode, see 2.9 Connect - USB)
Please not that the SSD will NOT be recognized if there is SD card in the camera.

Attention: When using a SD or SSD on Z CAM E2C for the first time, please format it on
computer in exFAT, and then format in the camera.
2. Camera Settings
2.1. Quick Setting
When the camera is in Standby or Recording mode, some key settings can be quickly
accessed by pressing the buttons on the camera.
• ISO: Press FN to set ISO, then press Up / Down to adjust the value, and OK to
confirm.
• Shutter: Press UP to set shutter speed / angle (refer to 2.5 Exposure – Shutter
Operation about shutter speed / shutter angle), then press Up / Down to adjust
the value, and OK to confirm.

• Aperture
：
Press F3 to set the aperture, then press Up / Down to adjust the
value, and OK to confirm
• EV: Press DOWN to set the EV, then press Up / Down to adjust the value, and
OK to confirm.

• AF: When focus is in AF mode (requires a lens with auto-focus function), press
OK to trigger the auto-focus.
•
• AEL (F1): Press F1 to lock the exposure, then press again to unlock

• Load profile
（
F2
）
：Load the configuration saved in the camera. (2.10 System
User Profile).
2.2. Record
Resolution
Resolution
Details
4K
3840 x 2160（16:9）
2880 x 2880
1:1 aspect ratio
2336 x 1344
the VFR can up to 60fps
1920 x 1080
16:9，the VFR can up to 60fps
• Project FPS: Frame rate of the video project. It will be different when the resolution is
set to different values.

Resolution
Project FPS
4K（3840 x 2160）/
2880 x 2880
23.98 / 24 / 25 / 29.97
2336 x 1344 / 1920 x
1080
23.98 / 24 / 25 / 29.97 / 50 /
59.94
• File format: MOV / MP4
• Split duration: 1 / 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 30 min. The camera will split the video with the
length set here automatically.
Note：After the first section via camera automatically splitting, the out of sync
problem between audio and video will happen. You need to use “Z CAM™ Video
Concatenator” to merge the video section before the post editing and processing.
The download link as below:
http://www.z-cam.com/cn/software-update/
• Time Code: Set the time code, there are sub-items as below:
n Time Code Source: Internal / External
n Time Code Value: Reset / Manual / Current
1) Reset: Reset the time code value to 0.
2) Manual Input: Set the time code value manually 00:00:00:00
（hour:minute:second:frame）.
3) Current Time: Set time according to the camera system setting time.
n Count Up: Rec Run / Free Run.
1) Rec Run: Counts the time code only when recording video.
2) Free Run: Counts the time code even when not recording video
(including when the camera is power off)
n Time Code Mode: DF / NDF.
1) DF: The camera modifies the difference between recorded time and time
code. Seconds and frames are separated by “.”. (Example: 00:00:00.00)
2) NDF: Records the time code without drop frame.Seconds and frames
are separated by “:”. (Example: 00:00:00:00)

n HDMI Display: On / Off. To enable / disable the display of time code through
HDMI output.
l Playback FR: Default / VFR. When it’s set to Default, the frame rate of playback will
be the same as set in Project FPS, when it’s set VFR, the frame rate of playback will
be the same as set in Variable Frame Rate (2.3 Video – Vari able Frame Rate)
For example: Set “Record”-“Project FPS” to 29.97, and “Video”-“Variable Framerate”
to 60. If the "Playback FR" is set to “Default”, the playback frame rate of the video will
be 29.97fps (2 x slow motion). If the "Playback FR" is set to “Variable Frame Rate”,
the playback frame rate of the video will be 60fps (normal speed).
• Meta Setup: Set the camera metadata, include “Camera ID” and “Reel Name”.
n Camera ID： A ~ Z
n Reel Name：001 ~ 999
2.3. Video
• Variable Frame Rate (VFR): With VFR you can set a different frame rate for capturing
based on the Project FPS for recording, in this way you can get a slow-motion or fast-
motion footage.
VFR options are related to the Resolution and Project FPS in Record setting. Here
list the VFR under each setting combination as below:
Resolution
Project FPS
Var iab le Fra m e R ate（fps）
4K (3840 x 2160)
/ 2880 x 2880
23.98 / 24
1 / 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24
25
1 / 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 25
29.97
1 / 5 / 10 / 15 / 30

2336 x 1344 / 1920 x
1080
23.98 / 24
1 / 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 40 / 48 / 60
25 / 50
1 / 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 / 50
29.97 / 59.94
1 / 5 / 10 / 15 / 30 / 60
• Encoder: H.264 / H.265 / ZRAW*
The corresponding color bit depth and sampling of each encoding format are as
follows:
Encoder
H.264
H.265
ZRAW
Color Bit Depth
8bit
10bit
12bit
Color Sampling
4:2:0
4:2:0
N/A
Optional video encoder depends on the setting of "resolution" and "frame rate" (if
"variable frame rate" is used, the value of "variable frame rate" shall prevail). The
maximum resolution/frame rate (including variable frame rate) combinations
supported by each encoding format are as follows:
Encoder
Resolution
& Max Frame Rate
H.264
H.265
ZRAW
4K
30
30
30
2880 x 2880
30
30
30
2336 x 1344
60
60
60
1920 x 1080
60
60
60
*Partial debayer ZRAW, up to 4k@30fps，compression ratio 8:1
• Bitrate: High / Middle / Low. Value of the bitrate varies in different resolution and frame
rate.
Resolution
Frame Rate (FR)
Range
（
fps
）
*
Bitrate
（
Mbps
）
High
Medium
Low

4K (3840 x 2160)
/ 2880 x 2880
FR <= 30
200
130
60
2336 x 1344 / 1920x1080
FR <= 30
30
20
10
30 < FR <= 60
60
30
15
* If VFR is activated, the frame rate here refers to the frame rate in VFR, otherwise it
refers to the frame rate in Project FPS.
• Proxy Track: On / Off. To enable or disable proxy track recording during video
recording, it will automatically “On” when using ZRAW as recording encoder, which
will record a second video track (H.265) into the video file.
Note: the proxy track can not be recorded when the following encoding format,
resolution, and code rate are set:
- H.265，Bitrate set as “High”
• Rotation: Normal / Upside Down. Rotate the image by 180 degrees.
Note: This setting is available only when the frame rate of recording is under 30fps
(include 30fps). The display on the LCD and the video output from HDMI will not be
rotated during preview and recording in current firmware, and only the video recorded
in the storage will be rotated when it’s set to “Upside Down”.
• Timelapse: Off / Manual, when it’s Off, the camera is in normal record mode. When it
is set to a specific value 00:0s, the camera is in time lapse video mode.
l VFR Control
：
Coarse / Fine
- Coarse：Adjust based on the camera’s preset value within the range of VFR
- Fine：VFR fine control within the range of VFR, 1 frame per step.
l Photo Quality
：
JPEG / RAW / HEIF

2.4. Audio
• Encoder: None / AAC / PCM
• Input: Off / Microphone
n Off：Turn off all audio input.
n Microphone：The camera will use built-in microphone as audio input if there is
no external microphone plugged into the 3.5mm audio-in port, and will use the
external microphone if there is one plugged into the 3.5mm audio-in port.
• Input Gain: -18 ~ 6 dB, can be set manually.
• Output Gain: -6 ~ 6 dB, can be set manually.
• Audio Level Display: Disable / Enable
2.5. Exposure
• Flicker Reduction：60Hz / 50Hz. It’s set to eliminate light flicking caused by the
frequency of the electricity, which is 60Hz in North America and some parts of Asia.

(South Korea，Philippines，Ta i w a n o f China), And 50Hz for China mainland, other
countries and regions.
• EV: -3.0 ~ 3.0
• Shutter Speed / Shutter Angle: This setting depends on whether “Shutter Speed” or
“Shutter Angle” is selected in 2.5 Exposure - Shutter Operation
Shutter Speed: Auto / Manual（1” ~1/8000”）
Shutter Angle: Auto / Manual（1°~ 360°）
* The minimum shutter speed “1” is available only when" variable frame rate "is set to
“1”.
• Aperture: It shows the range of aperture of the lens, and can be adjusted manually if
it’s an electrical lens. Only for lenses with electronic contacts. If the lens used is a
purely mechanical without electronic contacts, the aperture value is not shown here.
• ISO: Auto or Manual (800 ~ 25600)
• Minimum ISO: 800 ~ 3200
• Max ISO: 1600 ~ 25600
• Max Shutter Speed / Max Shutter Angle: This setting will be activated if Shutter
Speed / Shutter Angle is in Auto mode.
Max Shutter Speed: Auto / Manual (1” ~ 1/1600”)
Max Shutter Angle: Auto / Manual (1°~ 360°)
• Metering Mode: Center / Average / Spot, it sets the metering mode of exposure.
• Shutter Operation: Speed / Angle
• AE Speed: Slow / Normal / Fast
• Lock In Record: Off / On. Enable this function, it will automatically lock the exposure
during recording.

2.6. White Balance
• Mode: Auto / Incandescent / Cloudy / D10000 / Fluorescent / Daylight / Shade /
Manual
• Kelvin: When White Balance is set to “Auto” or “Preset Value”, it shows the current
color temperature, when White Balance is set to “Manual”, it can be adjusted
manually (2300 K ~ 30000 K)
• Tint: -100 ~ 100, default is 0.
• Priority: Ambiance / White
Ambiance: To increase the intensity of the image’s warm color cast when shooting a
tungsten-light scene.
White: To reduce the intensity of the image’s warm color cast when shooting a
tungsten-light scene.
• Lock In Record: Off / On. Enable this function, it will automatically lock the exposure
during recording.

2.7. Focus
• Focus Mode: MF (Manual Focus) / AF (Auto Focus)
• Focus Area: Flexible Zone / Human Track. This will only be enabled when Focus
Mode is set to “Auto Focus”.
Flexible Zone: Can move focus area via Up / Down button
Human Track: The camera can detect whether there is a human body in the picture.
If yes, the focus area will keep tracking the human body automatically.
• Focus Area size: Small / Medium / Large. This will only be enabled when Focus
Mode is set to “AF” and Focus Area is set to “Flexible Zone”.
• Change Focus Area: Move the focus area via Up / Down button. This will only be
enabled when Focus Mode is set to “AF” and Focus Area is set to “Flexible Zone”.
• Continuous AF (CAF): On / Off. This will only be enabled when Focus Mode is set
to “Auto Focus”. When CAF is activated, the camera will continuously adjust the focus
as to follow the target object when it is moving.
• Live CAF: On / Off. This will only be enabled when CAF is set to “On”. Active
continuous focus in real time according to the scene.
• CAF Sensitivity: High / Medium / Low. This will only be enabled when CAF is
activated.
• MF Assist:
n Preview: On / Off
n Recording: On / Off
This will only be enabled when Focus Mode is set to MF. When it is set to On, the
image in the focus area will be enlarged to 2 x size on the screen (both LCD display
and HDMI output) when the focus is being adjusted manually. And it be set for Preview
and Recording separately.