Blackmagic Cinema Camera

Blackmagic Cinema Camera

We have been thinking hard about cameras and some of the limitations in quality that video cameras run into. Working with DaVinci color grading has only made these limitations more noticeable

Some of the reasons why video cameras look like "video" is because they have limited contrast range, are limited to HD resolutions, use heavy compression for file recording, have poor quality lenses and of course they don't integrate into NLE software with metadata management.

We decided to address these problems by developing a camera that provides feature film quality in an extremely compact portable design.

The Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes a super wide 13 stops of dynamic range, large 2.5K sensor, integrated SSD recorder that has the bandwidth to capture CinemaDNG RAW, ProRes and DNxHD files, integrated capacitive touchscreen LCD for direct metadata entry, standard jack audio connectors, refrigerated sensor and it's fully compatible with EF and ZF mount lenses.

The Blackmagic Cinema Camera also includes SDI and Thunderbolt connectors and it comes with a full copy of DaVinci Resolve and UltraScope software. Imagine plugging in your laptop for on set grading and scopes!

The 13 stops of dynamic range is one of the most important reasons why this camera looks like film. Often people focus on more pixels, but that is just a larger video image. The real way to get film quality is to capture a wide contrast range to retain more detail in the black and white levels of the image. Then once you color grade the images, it looks amazing! Combined with amazing EF and ZF lenses, the result is a true film look!

Of course the quality is killed if you compress the images when recording them, so we built in an SSD recorder. That means you get the recording speed you need to record the full 2.5K RAW sensor data into completely uncompressed CinemaDNG files. This means you get all the detail and quality of the sensor.

No files on this camera are custom in any way and this is the first camera that’s designed to make the whole post production process simple. It records into CinemaDNG format for RAW files, and DNxHD or ProRes for HD resolution files compatible with Avid Media Composer and Apple Final Cut Pro.

You can play back all recorded files on the LCD, and there is a built-in microphone and speaker for reviewing audio. Of course you will want to plug in high quality audio into the standard jack connectors and the audio is always recorded uncompressed for highest quality.

The integrated LCD has a touchscreen and when tapped, a window called the "slate" appears where you can type in shot information just like typing on a smartphone. This is then recorded into the file as metadata in the Final Cut Pro X and DaVinci Resolve format. Common data like shot number can auto increment to save time.

You can also change camera settings on this touch LCD, such as frame rate, shutter angle, color temperature, dynamic range, focus assist settings and more. The SDI output also has overlays showing you all the camera data when monitoring on set, and even the same data when playing back recorded files!

The design is machined from a solid block of aluminum and looks amazing. It’s strong, very compact and designed to be easily hand held. I am still amazed we have fitted all this into such a small design, when normally features like RAW recorders and monitoring can be optional extras on cinema cameras.

A cinematographer friend of ours, John Brawley, has been working with the camera for the last few weeks. He's shot some test clips in the process of working out what the camera’s capabilities are and we have posted them online for your to see. Even though some of them are just hand held test shots near John’s house, they are still great to see as examples of what’s creatively possible. Remember to select HD when viewing them!

vimeopro.com/johnbrawleytests/blackmagic-cinema-camera

We expect to start shipping in volume in July for $2,995.

www.blackmagic-design.com/cinemacamera/

Another "game changer"!

Great price

We at at Grant Petty's Press Conference

www.fcp.co/hardware-and-software/pro/798...n-of-the-resolve-gui

This camera shows just how much the regular producers have been marking up the hardware end of the design (SDI out etc).

Its hard to fault this but the only obvious cons to this would be the crop factor caused by the relatively small sensor size (smaller than the micro 4/3) which will mean you'll need very wide lenses to et wide shots, and the low light handling (presumably not as good as the current crop of Canons, Sonys & Nikon DSLRs).

Amazing times we live in!

Sensor size is a marketing myth, period. That's been proven by several cameras, most notably, the most recent iPhone. Based on sensor "size", it should not get the quality of images it should. So much more goes into a CMOS or CCD surface (which is an analog device, BTW) than sensor size.

Well I don't mean the sensor size will affect the quality (the Canon XF300 has great images with a 1/3 sensor). Rather I'm talking about the crop factor.

If you're coming to this camera with a set of prime lenses (used from DOF adapters and Canon DSLR's) then you're used to getting a certain field of view from them. With a smaller sensor you'll suddenly find that your old Nikon 35mm prime lens suddenly isn't very wide any more, as the smaller sensor will be cropping that much more.

So you'll have t start investing in new, much wider lenses to get the same job done as you would have achieved with deeper lenses on larger sensors.

Sensor size also seems to have an effect on low light handling, to a degree.

Image quality is not a factor in any of the above though.

The Price World have rocked with there was a Lens in the Box!
But I will Look into this Guy..

peteramwiggins wrote: We at at Grant Petty's Press Conference

www.fcp.co/hardware-and-software/pro/798...n-of-the-resolve-gui

I wonder if the keywords will translate into FCPX?

I really like what this Camera offers, I was looking at the Ikonoscope but this AND Resolve for around £1800 (UK)..no argument, it will be bought, oh yes, it will be bought, I also have a LOT of Canon glass including all my FD's so add the SSD and I'm sorted