Matthew Sonnenfeld
Forum Replies Created
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I’ve done it twice. It was a challenge as I do more cinema but did two weddings as a favor to a friend.
The setup that you will need would be pretty similar to using a DSLR. Just keep in mind that the BMCC 4k is heavier than a typical DSLR so that might effect how you configure your rig. I would definitely recommend using a monitor or an EVF. Just remember that the BMCC will require SDI accessories rather than HDMI so in that way it may be less expensive to use a DSLR.
Low light performance might also be a consideration for you. Chances are you will have better low light performance out a 5D m3 than a BM4k.
It just boils down to needs and costs. Yes it’s possible but what are you trying to get out of it?
Co-President at fourB Productions, Inc.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, RED Scarlet-X
2011 Macbook Pro 17″, 2.3 Ghz Quad Core, 16GB RAM
2008 Mac Pro 2.6 Ghz 8 Core, 10GB RAM
AJA IoXT, Blackmagic Intensity Pro, Blackmagic Mini Monitor
Adobe Production Premium CC, Avid Media Composer 7, Final Cut Pro Studio 3 -
Using the HD-SDI out of the BMCC, you can record to anything. The Atomos Ronin should have no problem working as a recorder for the camera. However, I am curious, what are you trying to gain with the Ronin? Lower ProRes bit rates? As stated, the recording at ProRes is very similar especially if ProRes HQ is the goal.
Co-President at fourB Productions, Inc.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, RED Scarlet-X
2011 Macbook Pro 17″, 2.3 Ghz Quad Core, 16GB RAM
2008 Mac Pro 2.6 Ghz 8 Core, 10GB RAM
AJA IoXT, Blackmagic Intensity Pro, Blackmagic Mini Monitor
Adobe Production Premium CC, Avid Media Composer 7, Final Cut Pro Studio 3 -
Richard, I will never forgive you 🙂
Co-President at fourB Productions, Inc.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, RED Scarlet-X
2011 Macbook Pro 17″, 2.3 Ghz Quad Core, 16GB RAM
2008 Mac Pro 2.6 Ghz 8 Core, 10GB RAM
AJA IoXT, Blackmagic Intensity Pro, Blackmagic Mini Monitor
Adobe Production Premium CC, Avid Media Composer 7, Final Cut Pro Studio 3 -
Unfortunately not. Micro P2 cards are not just SD cards and SD cards can’t be used interchangeably. Yes they have the same physical form factor but the electronics inside are completely different.
Co-President at fourB Productions, Inc.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, RED Scarlet-X
2011 Macbook Pro 17″, 2.3 Ghz Quad Core, 16GB RAM
2008 Mac Pro 2.6 Ghz 8 Core, 10GB RAM
AJA IoXT, Blackmagic Intensity Pro, Blackmagic Mini Monitor
Adobe Production Premium CC, Avid Media Composer 7, Final Cut Pro Studio 3 -
Exactly right. ProRes Proxy conversion for edit would be the most efficient way.
Co-President at fourB Productions, Inc.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, RED Scarlet-X
2011 Macbook Pro 17″, 2.3 Ghz Quad Core, 16GB RAM
2008 Mac Pro 2.6 Ghz 8 Core, 10GB RAM
AJA IoXT, Blackmagic Intensity Pro, Blackmagic Mini Monitor
Adobe Production Premium CC, Avid Media Composer 7, Final Cut Pro Studio 3 -
Turning it 180 is unfortunately a motion effect and this needs to be rendered one way or another, whether by you rendering, or by the hardware accelerating the playback or rendering in the background. You’re right, 4K is no joke.
If you ask me I would just transcode to a more edit friendly format like a smaller ProRes like LT or Proxy or even transcode to Cineform. Smaller files, easier playback, easier on the rendering load.
Is there a reason that you need to do the edit fully online in 4K?
Co-President at fourB Productions, Inc.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, RED Scarlet-X
2011 Macbook Pro 17″, 2.3 Ghz Quad Core, 16GB RAM
2008 Mac Pro 2.6 Ghz 8 Core, 10GB RAM
AJA IoXT, Blackmagic Intensity Pro, Blackmagic Mini Monitor
Adobe Production Premium CC, Avid Media Composer 7, Final Cut Pro Studio 3 -
Probably going to be an After Effects composite to do it in post. You can give it a go if you’re feeling ambitious. Shouldn’t be too hard unless you are looking for motion tracking but a static effect on a single clip should be doable.
Usually easier and less time consuming (cheaper) to do with a filter on set if possible and if you know the look that you are going for.
Co-President at fourB Productions, Inc.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, RED Scarlet-X
2011 Macbook Pro 17″, 2.3 Ghz Quad Core, 16GB RAM
2008 Mac Pro 2.6 Ghz 8 Core, 10GB RAM
AJA IoXT, Blackmagic Intensity Pro, Blackmagic Mini Monitor
Adobe Production Premium CC, Avid Media Composer 7, Final Cut Pro Studio 3 -
Sounds to me that this lens blur that the DoP was talking about was good ol’ “depth of field.” This is the effect of objects blurring in the foreground or the background of your image. With a “shallow” depth of field, the focal plane, your main subject typically, is in focus while everything else is blurry. This creates a cinematic effect and is often the reason for the use of DSLR cameras or other large sensor cameras like the BMCC. Depth of field gives you the tool of “selective focus” where you can choose your focal plane instead of having everything in focus (deep depth of field). In this way you can visually direct the attention of your viewer. Used properly, shallow depth of field can be quite pretty. Overused, it can be annoying especially when people miss focus.
The lenses used on DSLR’s and the Blackmagic camera are 35mm lenses meaning that they are designed for use with 35mm film. This means that they cover a relatively large imaging area and as such can create shallow depth of field. On smaller sensor cameras, like handheld camcorders and older style ENG cameras with fixed lenses, there is often only deep depth of field with most objects in focus regardless of distance from the lens.
Of course, you may know this already and may be looking for techniques to create soft focus in which case sure, vaseline on your lens is one technique. Though I wanted to go through that before I told you to smear vaseline on your lens. And if you are looking for soft focus, please try a soft effects filter before vaseline.
Co-President at fourB Productions, Inc.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, RED Scarlet-X
2011 Macbook Pro 17″, 2.3 Ghz Quad Core, 16GB RAM
2008 Mac Pro 2.6 Ghz 8 Core, 10GB RAM
AJA IoXT, Blackmagic Intensity Pro, Blackmagic Mini Monitor
Adobe Production Premium CC, Avid Media Composer 7, Final Cut Pro Studio 3 -
I agree with Noah that 4K is extremely affordable at this point and if you are going to make the jump to anything you might as well “future proof” yourself. That being said, to me, the real advantage of most of the 4K cameras is there ability to still shoot in beautifully sharp, downscaled, HD formats. This gives the flexibility for now and for whatever jobs you may get in the future.
Both cameras that Noah recommended are good choices. The GH4 is probably the lower cost of ownership and if you are looking for the most “professional” camera, the additional I/O base (AG-YAGHG) that Panasonic has made for the GH4K really can’t be beat. It gives you all of the professional connections and audio meters that you would require in a broadcast environment while still giving you the flexibility of shooting with a DSLR. Micro 4/3 lenses are also relatively inexpensive for high quality glass. Also many options.
The Blackmagic Production Camera gives a lot of cool options as it is a Super35 global shutter with the ability to record 4K or HD ProRes. However, the cost of ownership I believe is higher as you will need to invest in a full battery system, more expensive memory cards, and you are limited to Canon or Canon mount lenses while Micro 4/3 can be adapted to nearly any lens. The Blackmagic camera also does not have the professional I/O that is available in the GH4K’s base unit.
Co-President at fourB Productions, Inc.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, RED Scarlet-X, Panasonic HPX170, Canon 7D
2011 Macbook Pro 17″, 2.3 Ghz Quad Core, 16GB RAM
2008 Mac Pro 2.6 Ghz 8 Core, 10GB RAM
AJA IoXT, Blackmagic Intensity Pro, Blackmagic Mini Monitor
Adobe Production Premium CC, Avid Media Composer 7, Final Cut Pro Studio 3 -
I’m curious, what is your math exactly?
You know too that 120MB/s is huge right? ProRes HQ at the same frame rate by contrast is 24.7MB/s.
What’s your backup of your RAID0 array? Or when one of those two disks fails will you just apologize to your client for losing everything? Let alone that single spinning hard disk.
I would love to see a screenshot of a Blackmagic or AJA System Test of your editing system and edit drive confirming your results.
Please show me real world numbers that are consistent for the community of this forum. That’s great that you can do what you can on your laptop. Hats off. Maybe you could elaborate on the specs of your laptop? Software? People might be interested to know what you are using that is proving so successful for you especially considering that this is a forum for helping people.
Co-President at fourB Productions, Inc.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, RED Scarlet-X, Panasonic HPX170, Canon 7D
2011 Macbook Pro 17″, 2.3 Ghz Quad Core, 16GB RAM
2008 Mac Pro 2.6 Ghz 8 Core, 10GB RAM
AJA IoXT, Blackmagic Intensity Pro, Blackmagic Mini Monitor
Adobe Production Premium CC, Avid Media Composer 7, Final Cut Pro Studio 3