OT NAB 2013 – Blackmagic drop another bomb

[Shawn Miller]

[Rick Lang] “Of course it is too good to be true because BMD just can’t avoid marketing hype. The crop factor compared to a full frame 35mm camera is 1.7x which as you know is slightly greater than Canon APS-C at 1.62 and Super35 about 1.44. Regardless of the marketing hyperbole”

Hey Rick,

I’m not sure I understand your point. FF 35 is a standard for stills photography… the BMPC4K sensor is all of 4 millimeters smaller (diagonally) than Super 35mm film… which is the gold standard for cinema. Are you saying that Blackmagic is somehow comparing their sensor to FF?

Thanks,

Shawn

[Rick Lang]

Shawn, I am not saying BMD is comparing their new sensor to full frame. I was just pointing out that the ‘crop factor’ compared to APS-C is a bit greater. I understand that the cinematographer’s yardstick is Super35 which has a larger size than both APS-C and the new BMPC4K sensor. I really think BMD has a winner with their BMPC4K version and it is close enough in size that it will have the caché of S35 in terms of typical shallow depth of field and so on. I was merely responding to the “too good to be true” comment and pointing out that it isn’t quite up to the marketing department’s claims but for all intents and purposes it is an amazing offering. We all have our fingers crossed that the raw image quality will approach that of the wonderful image from the BMCC EF 2.5K original camera announced last year at NAB2012 and just now shipping in volume. Can’t get too excited until we start to see what the pictures are like. If it nearly matches the BMCC “baby Alexa”, what nickname will this one have with the larger sensor? The “little brother” of the Alexa?

Rick Lang

iMac 27” 2.8GHz i7 16GB

[Steve Connor]

[Rick Lang] ” We all have our fingers crossed that the raw image quality will approach that of the wonderful image from the BMCC EF 2.5K original camera”

Me too!

Steve Connor

There’s nothing we can’t argue about on the FCPX COW Forum

[Rafael Amador]

I expect a new version of the BMCC 2.5K with Global Shutter.
rafael

[Rick Lang]

Steve, at this point I plan to order the BMPC4K after reviewing the image it produces in various lighting conditions. I assume you are going to do the same or do you want to get an early order in and cancel if it doesn’t measure up after all? I am in Canada but Adorama has a neat deal for Canadians that includes all taxes, duty, and shipping at the time of shipping so that I’d likely where I’d place an order.

Rick Lang

iMac 27” 2.8GHz i7 16GB

[Steve Connor]

[Rick Lang] “Steve, at this point I plan to order the BMPC4K after reviewing the image it produces in various lighting conditions. I assume you are going to do the same or do you want to get an early order in and cancel if it doesn’t measure up after all? I am in Canada but Adorama has a neat deal for Canadians that includes all taxes, duty, and shipping at the time of shipping so that I’d likely where I’d place an order.”

We’re going to stick with the BMCC V1 we have at the moment and buy a BMPC4K much later in the year. We have a Sony F55 too so 4K is covered at the moment.

Steve Connor

There’s nothing we can’t argue about on the FCPX COW Forum

[Shawn Miller]

[Rick Lang] ” I was merely responding to the “too good to be true” comment and pointing out that it isn’t quite up to the marketing department’s claims but for all intents and purposes it is an amazing offering.”

Ah, I understand. To be fair though, you would also have to say the same thing of Sony and Arri, since both use sensors that are slightly smaller than Super 35. 🙂 Otherwise, I agree with everything else you’re saying. If these cameras deliver a good quality picture AND make it to market relatively quickly in big enough numbers, Blackmagic might actually push bigger manufacturers to make better, less expensive offerings (fingers crossed). I am really looking forward to owning the BMPC4K and possibly two BMPCCs… Like you, I just hope that the products live up to the hype.

Shawn

[Eric Santiago]

[Steve Connor] “You mean the BMD camera isn’t in the same league as one that costs at least 7 times the price?

Based on our BMD camera I’d also argue that the colour science is actually very good

Steve Connor
“
Exactly as far as pricing goes.