[Matthew Sonnenfeld]

It’s all about bit rate. If you record externally to a relatively low bit rate, then yes the picture difference will be negligible. If you record to a higher quality codec such as ProRes, DNxHD, or Cineform, you will definitely notice a difference. These are also more post friendly codecs that won’t require a transcode process to edit and/or color grade.

As a general rule, more information is always good. If you have more information in the image, it WILL be used especially when it comes time to do a color grade. While you may not see artifacts while editing or on an on-set monitor, you will see them when you start stretching contrast, adding sharpness and saturation, and pan and scan.

The AF100 is a great camera though the internal codec is under-spec’d for what the camera is capable of giving. 8 bit will always be 8 bit but when it comes to 4:2:0 versus 4:2:2, you are talking TWICE the chroma resolution. It matters in green screen and chroma key work, and almost everywhere else in my opinion.

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

[Matthew Sonnenfeld]

The Rokinon’s are good options though take a look too at SLR Magic. the 12mm HyperPrime is a true wide angle lens on MFT, is fully manual, and is excellent glass.

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

[Matthew Sonnenfeld]

I do always urge that SSD’s be reformatted after use. Typically this has been found to be the best practice.

You probably did this though when you trashed the files, did you Empty Trash? If not the files are still technically on the SSD. It also may be an issue of TRIM. In SSD’s, TRIM software is needed to let the computer know that files that have been emptied from the trash can be treated as garbage and written over such as would be the case in a normal HD. I’m unsure if the BMCC software has a TRIM software enabled.

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

[Matthew Sonnenfeld]

Hi Marco,

Sorry for the delayed response but thank you!

I actually had purchased the Elements V-Lock kit and was waiting for it to come in. Though unfortunately I had not ordered the AJA version though so I had no way to actually mount it as it was. I did though already have the mounting bracket that John had mentioned so I did use that the mount it to the back of my zwiss plate. All in well, it works well.

My new, much lighter, rig is based around the Wooden Camera Quick Cage and base, a single Redrock Micro handle, a Zacuto foam shoulder pad for 15mm rods (which is great and cheap), and a Zwiss plate which has the MixPre-D and a Switronix 2 P-Tap v-mount battery plate. Will post a picture next time I have it built!

Thanks again for your help!

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

[Matthew Sonnenfeld]

What editing software are you currently using. What computers do you already have? Do you have a high capacity, high speed RAID?

Realistically, if you are not already in a Mac based configuration, I would not recommend moving to one just for this. To maximize compatibility of your workflow I would look towards the HP Z 820 workstations. Dual graphics cards are best. Look towards NVIDIA Quadro if you want the speed. You want one to run the GUI and one to run the actual color correction. For highest performing output you will want the Blakmagic Design DeckLink 4K Extreme.

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

[Matthew Sonnenfeld]

Yes I think so. Certainly better than the 5D though these things are often subjective.

What type of event are you covering? What type of connections do you need? Do you need timecode to sync multiple cameras? Is it going to a switcher?

If you are truly doing a live broadcast, then I would try to get a broadcast camera such as an XDCAM or P2 camera that has more sophisticated broadcast connections. Do a test if possible.

A major part of the appeal of the BMCC is its flat ProRes/DNX and the raw recording. For what you are talking about you are going to shooting in the video (709) color space because you can’t really be broadcasting ungraded log footage. Do a test to see if you prefer the 709 BMCC image to the XDCAM image and then seriously consider which will fit best into your workflow. In a live situation, you won’t have time to troubleshoot.

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

[Matthew Sonnenfeld]

Sorry Bill, curious about this. What you’re saying is that focus peaking will not work if you use an electronically controlled MFT lens? What do you mean by a “non-system” lens?

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

[Matthew Sonnenfeld]

I’m not sure if I fully understand what it is that you are trying to do.

If I understand you correctly, you’re trying to record a single clip though you want to use a Pause/Rec button to have multiple “takes” (for lack of a better word), within a single “clip”?

Are you recording raw or ProRes?

To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it when a Pause/Rec saves it as one clip. The Pause/Rec button by my understanding is just terminology but it is a synonym for a Start/Stop button which is how it’s labeled on many other cameras, notably Sony cameras.

Can you please elaborate on why you need this type of workflow? Maybe there’s another type of workaround that can be figured out.

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

[Matthew Sonnenfeld]

The BMCC was really built to be graded in DaVinci Resolve. I know it’s intimidating but that will ultimately give you the most control over the image and raw processing.

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

[Matthew Sonnenfeld]

Try lifting your gain/exposure.

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