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BlackMagic: Official $2,995 raw cinema camera topic
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  • The battery is a bummer but it might not be that bad. I think it's quite a smart move on their part.

    Creating a whole new proprietary battery format would add much more to their cost of developing this camera, so it does make sense for them to say: okay, let's just put in a small internal battery, since most people will want to use their own V-mount/AB batteries that they've invested in already or invest in their own power solution. This way, they won't have to make their own batteries, chargers, adapters and won't have to market and sell them. If the power cable gets pulled accidentally, then there's the internal battery for backup. If this helped to bring down the cost of the camera to $3k, then I say it's well worth it.

  • Ah, thanks for clarifying. Well, what a cool sensor!

  • @johnnym

    You are looking at very small niche market.
    Prices do not correlate with manufacturing cost much here.

  • Look at the price of scientific cameras that use this scmos sensor a few months ago. http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/v8/n12/fig_tab/nmeth.1777_T1.html

    Could it really be this sensor?

  • May be we can suggest (constructive feedbacks) to Black Magic at NAB to leave the SW interface open or make an open API so third party (like VK) can develop SW for it. It will be hard for a small company to develop everything in house. For money and time to market, it is better for them to leverage external resources. It is just counter nature for big guys like Canon to bring out open interfaces. I also agree that it is best to focus on popular open physical interfaces to minimize hurdles. USB3.0 will be on every PC out there. They have to think beyond early adopters but not get bogged down with too many specs. Keep it simple.

  • thunderbolt is already making its way on windows laptops.

  • The paper on the SCMOS says it can read out the sensor with global shutter at 52f/s. Nice. At reduced resolutions that should be even more.

  • Firewire worked reasonably well and back when it was introduced apple were not nearly as influential as they are now. IMO it's too early to write off thunderbolt - it's only just been introduced.

    But this is subject to a different topic.

  • @johnnym

    Thunderbolt will remain niche interface. It won't be wide spread.

  • USB 3.0 would have been much better. That said, PC mobos should start shipping with Thunderbolt at this time.

  • VK: A lot of people here also use Mac computers primarily.. Agree though that usb 3.0 would be a very good and cheap addition.

    Isn't thunderbolt the better interface though?

  • I really hope they will add a mode that reads all of the sensor.

  • @Vitaliy_Kiselev only question is can internal hardware sustain that data rates.... i think they already talk about 60fps ...

  • BMD is into this Thunderbolt thing. Perhaps it's due to it being able to work directly with Apple Monitors. Here in the U.S. There is a lot of creatives using Apple. Could be influencing decision.

  • It's a good start to see all these low-price RAW recording cameras (Digital Bolex and BMD Cine Cam) but we still have a while to go. The sensor size of the BMD is gonna mean your FF lenses will be heavily cropped and even more challenging to get a good wide. Will definitely want to see a S35 sensor in the next version. It's price is disturbing the camera technology landscape, more competition will follow :)

    For now it poses as a tool for revitalizing 16mm film-making. I also really like how these independent companies are using low-price media storage, an issue I'm concerned over is the battery life on these things. Will there be replaceable batteries? I would think RAW recording would be intensive on the juice.

  • @vladnik

    Looks very similar, and sensor can get up to 100fps :-)

    I'm personally very happy with the thunderbolt port.. I could use a macbook pro for monitoring / instant footage transfer.

    Most people do not have Mac computers, and USB 3.0 is standard present on almost every new MB (and is very cheap to add to existing computer).

  • @Vitaliy_Kiselev

    I'm personally very happy with the thunderbolt port.. I could use a macbook pro for monitoring / instant footage transfer. The option for hdmi would have been nice, granted. USB 3.0, why not.. Genlock would also be nice.

  • looks like that they use Fairchild sCMOS Sensor(its only sensor that fits BMD camera size) ...wow its rated at 88db of dynamic range ...thats more than ALEXA... http://www.scmos.com/ and many independent companies produce s35 sensor but what i seen they are all 8-12 MP ... thats 300-450 MB/S @24fps ...to much data for many ssd....

  • @oneday

    No. They just wanted ready solution.
    And guys who shoot with Canon DSLRs (using Canon glass) are largest niche :-)

    All is simple, no conspiracy here.

  • I do not get it, why this so small sensor has an EF mount ??? this is mirrorless, right?

    they have build large flange distance between lens and sensor for no reason, and made a lot of lenses useless, maybe this is some kind of co-operation between canon and bm.

  • I'm not really complaining. It is what it is: a camera box. This is a modular approach, so I get it (still 2-3 hours would have been nice for the occasional out and about, all I'm saying). Would also have been nice if they could ship their own nicely designed battery pack that attaches to the bottom, so that it is nice clean design and is convenient. But I'm sure their own battery pack will come out soon, come July.

  • My ideal modification of BM camera:

    • m43 mount (OIS and aperture adjustment works, Lanc driven focus works)
    • Thunderbolt replaced with two USB 3.0 ports, on of them support host
    • Added HDMI port, may be via small extra converter, securely attached
    • No back touch screen, but support for external USB powered LCD touchscreens.
    • No internal battery
    • No software
    • Price $1599
  • Don't worry about the internal battery.. there will be packs galore to go with this.

    edit: Sorry Vitaliy, you got here first.. ;)

  • Guys, I see no reason to complain about battery, as you can use any external 12v battery.

    Ready power solution with 12v output that uses two Sony batteries (up to F970) cost about $130 shipped.

    So, I see zero problems.

  • This is just the first of many, RAW, SSD recordable cameras. The SSD technology is out there and mature. Many companies make the Sensors. You just need a company like BM and others to bring the elements together.

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