Is BlackMagic Going To Forever Change the HD DSLR video World?

[Steve Crow]

Here’s a link to the specs page…

https://blackmagic-design.com/products/blackmagiccinemacamera/techspecs/

Disappointing at this point is the sensor size….wikipedia says that APS-C sensors: “…APS-C variants are considerably smaller than 35 mm standard film which measures 36×24 mm. Sensor sizes range from 20.7×13.8 mm to 28.7×19.1 mm”

The specs for the BlackMagic camera say:

Sensor Size 16.64 mm x 14.04 mm
Active Sensor Size 15.6 mm x 8.8 mm

So let’s see how this impacts low light performance

Steve Crow
Crow Digital Media
http://www.CrowDigitalMedia.com

[Adrian Jans]

From what I’ve been hearing the sensor is equivalent to a Super 16mm sensor, which is certainly nothing to scoff at, as loads of beautiful movies have been filmed with that sensor size (Black Swan comes to mind).

I can’t wait to see some real world hands on testing with this camera, the price to feature list is just too good to be true, my jaw dropped when I read the specs, then I nearly fainted when I saw that it’s coming with a full version of DaVinci all for less than $3,000. Fingers crossed that 2.5″ SSD’s will behave stable and not wear out quickly.

[Steve Crow]

Yeah the spec list is going to put real pressure on the major manufacturers, or at least in a sane world it should but who really knows, maybe they just ignore it and hope it eventually goes away. There are still lots of questions I have about the camera, for instance

* clip length
* ISO range
* full control over audio? (no AGC is what I mean)
* They said something about auto-iris – hopefully the camera has a full manual mode too

But what about the shape? it looks like a wedge shaped toaster, hard and uncomfortable to hold I would think. The “handles” look like a joke and won’t help with stability much at all – for handheld work this is going to need some kind of rig.

Steve Crow
Crow Digital Media
http://www.CrowDigitalMedia.com

[Steve Crow]

oh speaking of a rig for this camera, here’s the first one I’ve seen:

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Steve Crow
Crow Digital Media
http://www.CrowDigitalMedia.com

[Shur Harewood]

It will be interesting to see how the image quality stacks up and with Resolve lite, it seems a good package from Blackmagic. Edit workflow should be a breeze with the card and codec technology experience.

Shur

United By Photography
https://www.unitedbyphotography.com

Freelance HD and DSLR camera producer and trainer.
Enjoying the fruits and passion of living life to the full.

[Phil Balsdon]

I have some major reservations with this camera.

1) It’s not a Super35 sensor, it’s only approximately Super16 size which is about half the size. Anyone introducing a camera that doesn’t have a Super35 sensor today is way behind the pack.

2) It looks like a box designed by a post production technician and with no consideration for the cinematographer using it. No grips or handles to hold it, not even shaping of the body to grip it comfortably and securely. An LCD screen shoved on the back which can’t be angled for the user to see it and if hand holding needs to be held way out in front of your face.

There’s a whole lot more to a camera than tech specs, usability and being able to get the camera set up quickly and easily for the best angle for a shot is a major one,

It’s not very price competitive with traditional HDSLRs from Canon, Nikon, Panasonic and Sony and the BlackMagic has no track record in camera technology.

Cinematographer, Steadicam Operator, Final Cut Pro Post Production.
https://philming.com.au
https://www.steadi-onfilms.com.au/

[Pete Burger]

Phil, good points! Any new camera will have to compete with existing cameras – or to be more precise – with the “look of the footage”.

The VDSLR revolution IMHO was mainly based on the possibility to produce almost film-like looking footage at bargain prices more or less out-of-the-camera plus the accessibility of a ton of different gear especially lenses.
And as we all know, glass and sensor-size are more or less the single most important aspects in a camera.

So a camera with great tech-specs that produces footage which is more flexible in post at a significantly higher price range and the necessity to get bunch of new gear will hold back many people. In particular if they have invested in other technology before.

Neveretheless a very interesting product. I’m anxious to see more. And I’d love to get my hands on a RAW-video-camcorder…

——————————————
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[Jeff Lester]

Phil,

I disagree with your points. Plenty of HOLLYWOOD FEATURE FILMS have been shot on Super 16. Hollywood generally uses cameras that cost well over $50,000, and these $50,000 cameras employ a Super 16 sensor. So, no, they are not “way behind the pack”. My GH2’s sensor size is half that of the 5D MK II and it gets nearly just as shallow DoF and low light capabilities. Smaller sensors are not always bad.

You pointed out that it is not designed for handheld use. No way, really? Are RED Epics designed for one to pick it up and shoot away with no rig? Nope! That thing weighs about 30 lbs fully set up and is a very awkward shape for handheld. Are Panavision cameras designed to pick up out of the box and shoot it with just your hands? Nah. Welcome to the world of cinema, feature-capable video cameras. They’re designed to work with a rig, not your bare hands on the camera itself. This camera would mount on a standard DSLR shoulder mount with no problem — a simple, effective way to operate your camera with that handheld look.

Also, it is actually VERY competitive price-wise with modern DSLRs. The new 5D Mk III had super skimpy video upgrades from the Mark II and they upped the price by a thousand bucks to $3,500. If you’re wanting to shoot video, you could go purchase the recently announced Canon 1D-C, a 4K capable DSLR that costs $15,000. You could buy 5 Blackmagic cameras instead of one 1D-C.

LIke we all know, the GH2 is priced very low and is great for a profesional video camera alternative. However, the Blackmagic cinema camera has tons of advantages.

Basically, if you want to shoot with a nice DSLR, you’re gonna want either a 5D Mk II or III or a GH2. Those are really the only two DSLRs that compete with cinema cameras, and the GH2 has many drawbacks. I don’t know why you’re upset with this camera, because it is a new, revolutionary device that will undoubtedly change the world of independent and possibly Hollywood filmmaking. Just saying, you should rethink this camera before you go possibly buy a 5D III for $500 more with 1/3 the features.

– Jeff

Member of iFrosh

[Phil Balsdon]

Yes Jeff but the reason Hollywood decides to shoot S16 is normally for low budget, the biggest factor being stock and processing costs. In the digital age stock costs are pretty much irrelevant. Lenses etc will be much the same between this camera and most other budget cameras and even more upmarket cameras that take EOS mounts.

Second reason Hollywood might choose S16 is compactness, portability and usability. This Blackmagic camera is just as clumsy as a RED Epic, it needs to fitted with all sorts of paraphernalia to make it usable, unlike an Arri SR3 or Aaton which can be just dropped onto your shoulder. HDSLRs can be used handheld with the addition of a loupe style viewfinder eyepiece if necessary. The 60D has a rotatable flip out LCD, why was it the only one?. The LCD on the Blackmagic camera is much too large for a loupe, it can’t be held with arms tucked in close to the body and up to your eye, it has to be held with arms extended and so like a RED it has to be fitted with an after market rig. Take a look at the handheld test footage John Brawley shot, it’s very difficult to hold steady. I don’t want to have to spend even a few minutes fitting a shoulder rig to a camera so I can quickly grab a handheld shot that would probably have disappeared before I was ready to shoot anyway.

Sorry this looks to me like a production tool designed by post production people. At this level of production these other guys at https://www.digitalbolex.com/ seem to have done it with more thought. It’s worthwhile watching some of the interviews with them from NAB and hearing about their design philosophy. Inter-changeable lens mount, XLR audio, easy to handhold, small viewfinder, hot shoe mounts for mics and / or on camera lighting, on camera or off camera power, 2k RAW etc. etc. it even comes with a pistol grip, all for about the same price as the Blackmagic “lunch box”.

Cinematographer, Steadicam Operator, Final Cut Pro Post Production.
https://philming.com.au
https://www.steadi-onfilms.com.au/

[Gabriel Bergeron]

There are plenty of major major pictures shot with 2/3 sensor cameras. Some including:

Star Wars Episode II, III
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Sin City
Once upon a time in Mexico
Zodiac
Speed Racer
Miami Vice
Sky Captain and the world …
Crank

The Wrestler and Black Swan were shot on 16mm. Not for budgetary reason, for an aesthetic and practical reasons.