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BlackMagic: All shortcomings in one place, discussion
  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    So, that we have already discussed in announcment topic:

    1. No XLRs (despite audio inputs are balanced)
    2. No phantom power on audio input. Not good for condenser mikes.
    3. 30fps maximum only, many like 60fps now, and 120fps becomes new standard for pro cameras already
    4. Uncompressed only option for RAW requiring big investments
    5. SSD connectors are completely unsuitable for frequent insertion
    6. Long and complicated RAW workflow
    7. Required investments in backup solutions due to big file sizes
    8. Absent HDMI connection, so you need to buy new and much more costly monitor or EVF.

    Check more camera issues at:

    http://www.personal-view.com/faqs/blackmagic-cinema-camera/blackmagic-cinema-camera-faq

  • 44 Replies sorted by
  • ahblezaahbleza

    Incidentally, the BMCC forum revealed that the first few MFT mount BMCCs have started shipping to "beta testers", including one in Germany. This appears to be confirmed by Mr Brawley... so hopefully, full manufacturing can't be too far behind. Maybe we have a chance to get our BMCC MFT before the middle of the year.... :-)

  • ahblezaahbleza

    I found this on the BlackMagic forum, and thought it was so good I had to steal it. Thanks, Tom!

    "Dear Blackmagic design,

    When I eventually get my camera, I won't shoot with no light and complain about sensor artefacts, I won't purchase an unsupported SSD and complain about dropped frames, I won't complain that the camera is too heavy, or too light, I won't do whip pans and complain about rolling shutter, I won't blame the motion cadence of 24p as being a defect with the camera, I won't film in RAW mode and then complain about it eating up hard drive space, I won't resell my camera with a $1000 mark up, I won't ignore all the expert advice on how best to expose the camera and instead post a comment about the noise performance on an underexposed shot, I won't compare this camera to one which costs more than 10x the price and neglect to consider that perhaps any difference between the cameras is inherently linked to the price difference, I won't push the footage 5 stops above iso 1600 and complain about hot pixels, I won't use a dirt cheap SSD dock and wonder why my footage is getting corrupt in the transfer, I won't complain that the tiny built in reference mic doesn't record DTS 7.1 HD because sound is so important to me - but not so important that I would ever have a dedicated sound recordist on a shoot, I won't complain that even though it can do 30fps raw frames with 13-stops of dynamic range for $3000 - it cant do it at 120fps because it has to adhere to the laws of physics and thermal dissipation, I won't complain that it comes with some free software which previously cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and it might be beneficial to me to perhaps learn some new software of which there are tones of support material online as well as it being fairly intuitive anyway.......

    I just want to film some beautiful video with all the advantages this camera has to offer."

  • kavadnikavadni

    @shian and @feha Here is the device we need http://personal-view.com/talks/discussion/3018/aja-t-tap-thunderbolt-to-hdmi-and-sdi

  • shianshian

    @feha At the event they said the thunderbolt port can carry a live feed for monitoring, so a simple thunderbolt-hdmi adapter may suffice. Don't know if that will be included in release firmware, or not.

  • kavadnikavadni

    Regarding Lens Mount options: have a read of this post http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/comment/66174#Comment_66174

    B4 and PL look feasible to me

  • DirkVoorhoeveDirkVoorhoeve

    it would be nice if you they'd also have a version with a 2/3" IMS mount

  • mo7iesmo7ies

    I don't think this was mentioned yet:

    • Camera has sensor size smaller than GH2, yet it does not accept M43 lenses

    IMHO it would make much sense to put M43 mount on BMCC instead of EOS. Then one could use both M43 glass, and also EF glass via adapters.

    Better yet, swappable adapter M43 / EF that should come with BMCC body - if both are controlling lenses electronically (aperture, IS...)

  • johnbrawleyjohnbrawley

    The sensor calibration hasn't yet been done. I know heat affects this, but I can't tell really until they finish this step.

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    The SSD's have been used in the Hyperdeck now for nearly 2 years. BMD don't seem to the ink the connections are a problem.

    They are not good, as I used to insert 3.5" and 2.5" HDDs and one SSD a lot.

    The HDMI was dropped in favour of the more professional and robust HD-SDI.

    This I know. But this is shortcoming topic after all :-)

    Oh, and the camera doesn't seem to get very hot.

    It is good thing. Did you made any tests considering dependency of noise from temperature or continuous shooting time?
    Peltier cooler is very good, but it is also known to produce big amount of heat by itself, I used one long time ago.

  • johnbrawleyjohnbrawley

    Oh, and the camera doesn't seem to get very hot. Certainly a lot less to physically hold than a 5D that's been on for a while. For that matter an EPIC, RED or even Alexa get warmer.

    The camera is a single piece of aluminium so I guess it's like a giant heatsink....

    jb

  • johnbrawleyjohnbrawley

    The power button requires a long depress to turn the camera on or off. No accidental switching for me yet.

    The SSD's have been used in the Hyperdeck now for nearly 2 years. BMD don't seem to the ink the connections are a problem.

    The HDMI was dropped in favour of the more professional and robust HD-SDI.

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    @Xenocide38

    I think you choose wrong topic. Check the title. I see no reason to have "but for xxx it is ideal" things here.

  • Xenocide38Xenocide38

    If this camera had HDMI, people would be complaining that it was missing HDSDI.

    If this camera had USB3.0 people would be complaining that it didn't have Thunderbolt for extra speed for the large files.

    Obviously it'd be nice to have everything in a camera but for 3,000, you can't really ask for more. It has what matters in my opinion: resolution, dynamic range, and a good color space.

  • RRRRRRRR

    re: ssd connectors, should not be a problem if one is using a macbook pro (or other compliant laptop) for monitoring / emptying ssd when it gets full, rather than switching ssd's constantly. Should not take long with the thunderbolt interface.

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    From internal battery topic:

    You need to ship whole camera to them to just replace battery ($80 for work + shipping, insurance, import taxes, can be significant sum if you ship it outside).

  • MacalincagMacalincag

    @Vitaliy_Kiselev

    That's a good question and I'd like to know that myself.

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    @Macalincag

    Do you know format differencies?

    What format they must implement for other programs to see their metadata?

  • MacalincagMacalincag

    Metadata issue - Only compatible with FCPX and DaVinci Resolve.

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    Few more issues:

    • Still no screen/key lock exist, so you can accidently do anything.
    • Internal battery could be serious source of heat, and paired with constantly active monitor it can significantly reduce claimed DR and noise figures.
  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    How do you hand held this Black Magic?

    Using external monitor or EVF with HD-SDI input :-)

  • ghkqnghkqn

    No tiltable LCD screen. How do you hand held this Black Magic?

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    Power switch button in in the same row as transport buttons and near Menu button. Weird.

  • kavadnikavadni

    @astro and @onlocation .. I accept your observations .. that said it doesn't make sense to me at the moment. possibly not understanding difference between ccd and cmos fully

  • AstroAstro

    @kavadni

    shutter speed does not effect rolling shutter like frame rate. Try recording at 24 fps with a 1/200 shutter speed and move the camera around a lot, then record at 60fps with 1/200 shutter speed. The 60fps footage is noticeably smoother and has a lot less rolling shutter effects.

    @onlocation Yep thats dead right!! Thats exactly what all my tests have come up with

  • AstroAstro

    Hi On the GH2 I have tried all kinds of shutter speeds...I am in PAL land, I have tested it extensively as I'm getting ready to shoot some music videos. So anyway yeah at 25P or 24P no matter what the shutter speed is, its stroby and ghosts quite a bit (electronic looking) when you pan the camera...unless its a very slow pan. Generally at 25 frames I have the shutter at 50, but even when its lower...say down to 25 its still quite shuddery, of course it starts getting streaky when it goes at lower speeds, it does it on all hacks too. But it practically disappears on the 720P/50 frame setting, similarly my older TM700 hardly does it at all on 1080P/50, in other words you can throw that camera around quite a bit more without feeling seasick when you look back at the footage. I have tried this with different lens...stabilized and non stabilized and also tried modifying the hacks and lowering bitrates etc... The only consistent I have found in my tests is that if the frame rate is higher the effect starts disappearing (every single time). So I am 90% sure its to do with frame rates somehow, even 30P reduces the effect somewhat.

    Of course any movement in front of the lens is fine as long as the camera is more or less stable, but I find I have to be very careful with moving the camera itself. Thats why when I read the Blackmagics frame rate I pretty much lost interest in the camera, plus (although I used to be on the Mac) I am now back on the PC, and that camera seems very much Mac orientated. SO I am hoping the GH3 will bring something nice (like higher frame rates to the table) I am not holding my breath tho LOL!!

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