My thoughts on the MARS 4K Video Transmitter
I went wireless because of Hollyland. First with the Mars 400s pro, for video, and now with the Mars 4K. So what does it have to offer? Is it worth moving up from the Mars 400s?
I know the Mars 4K has been around for some time now, and I still use it regularly. Let's put some of the techy stuff out of the way now!
Hollyland Mars 4K at a Glance:
4K UHD
150m Line of sight range
0.06s low latency (at 1080p 60fps)
SDI and HDMI support
Smart Channel Scan and Selection
interference-free transmission
color LCD with a user-friendly UI
wide range of DC power options–6V to 16V, NP-F batteries, and USB Type-C chargers.
I wasn’t a fan of the overall look of the Mars 400s Pro. Loved the performance and the build quality but yeah there is something about the look and shape. The obvious upgrade with the Mars 4K is the added range, the improved latency, and of course, the ability to send 4K UHD at 30fps.
We obviously tested this video transmitter for focus. They claim an ultra-low latency of 0.06s. Ideally you want it to be closer to zero, but at this price point this is the best you canope for these days. It performed well, if you don't work at T1.5 all the time you should be fine. Using the App, you can have multiple people enjoying the feed. The director, 1st AC, and your client, can have a sneak peek at what’s going on.
I hosted a few workshops a while ago where I wished I had this tool with me. I was limited by the length of our cables, and I didn’t want to send a 1080p live feed on a 4k monitor.
BenQ workshop
Now, I cannot wait to give another workshop. I’ve done a few tests at home and it works great. I can definitely see myself using this for workshops and also during photoshoots.
I also wanted to test the range a little bit further. I had so many bad surprises in the past with gear that ended up not being up to speed or that failed me with only a few obstacles in the way. I went from my living room on the first floor and walked to my backyard, and never lost the signal along the way.
It is now always in my bag, like many other Hollyland tools that I’ve been using for years now. Wireless communication with the C1, wireless audio with the Lark 150 (by the way a new updated version came out for both recently), and of course wireless video.
These are very well made, I am sure I will be using them often in the months to come. I haven’t considered an upgrade for some of these, because why change if it works well for the things I am currently creating?
Unlike the 400s Pro, I love the look of the 4K, how robust it feels, and the multiple powering options that it offers. The only thing I may want in the future… is near-zero latency, at a similar package and price point. But maybe I am asking too much?
You should seriously consider going wireless too, and if you are at the moment, check out their website and look at all the amazing tools they offer for filmmakers.