I like surprises and there was one at the recent NABshow. It is the Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera. A mirrorless camera with native Canon EOS mount. For $2995 only you get a 2.5K sensor with RAW video recording(!!!) and 13 stops of dynamic range! And unlike the RED expensive cameras you don’t have to purchase expensive modules to make it work. it already has a huge LCD touchscreen and all necessary outputs. Plus it takes removable SSD drives (no proprietary cards like Panasonic P2 cards!).
I like when new companies launch revolutionary products when older conservative companies just try to bring as less innovation as possible to protect their market. As a filmmaker I cant wait to see the first camera tests!
Meantime you can preorder the Blackmagic camera at BHphoto (Click here).
14 Responses
this is certainly one of the best things that came from NAB and i soo hope its the first big nail in the video-DSLR coffin, so DSLR`s get photographic tools again.. as for the camera: its an awesome product and as a longtime Blackmagic customer i am sure its top quality and useability! well done!
I dont understand that type of comment?
Why would you want that? Its not as if video capabilities or people using them hampers the cameras photographic abilities or value.
And for many it provides a convenient and accessible way to do both video and photography.
Anyway…that camera does look awesome.
i’m mostly not talking about normal DSLRs with a bit of video added.. even though i have to say the video buttons on my Sony A77 and Nex7 are the single most annoying thing about both cameras, as they are far too prone to accidental hits. what i was referring to where video-DSLRs like the 5D or D4/D800 where a serious amount of development power goes into their video abilities to make them seem like they are actually up to the task, while in truth they are lightyears behind dedicated tools like the Blackmagic camera. i think when it comes to the terms Pro or Semi-Pro its better to keep video and Stills separated, as its not about size anymore anyways 😉
Just asking… $3000 for camera…went to B&H, memory, Canon lens, tripod mount , cage, etc another $3000…a compatible apple computer with “Thunderbolt at the least another $2500. Any suggestions on if this is a wise purchase?
I simply escapes me why manufacturers can’t make RAW recording on all their dSLRs an option. Isn’t it just a software issue? Why must a “hack” be necessary if this ability exists in the hardware itself? It seems like a simple solution to me. They already allow you to record RAW stills, why not RAW video? If that were the case, there wouldn’t be anything special about this Blackmagic brick-of-a-camera.
Why no RAW in video? Think about it. Videos are at least 24 frames per second (30 frames if you are shooting NTSC). What SD can can handle 12 bit RAW at 24 frames per second?
Also think about processing power required by the camera to handle data at such rates. That’s why there is no RAW, but instead there are codecs (like AVCHD) to compress the video first.
So it turns out it’s not as simple as you think.
Most under $20,000 cameras that do offer RAW (only to external recorder) offer 8-bit. F3 offers 10-bit
$65,000 Sony F65 can do 16-bit RAW. And the sensor on that camera is 20 MP. So that’s 20 MP of RAW data at 30 frames per second if you are shooting NTSC. Now that’s amazing, bur look at the price..
This is a really cool camera, but I’d still like to see how the sensor stacks up. CMOS sensors drive me crazy for how they interpret the image, and any moving shots look like wobbly garbage.
the idea is brilliant but 2.5k is surpassed
I want. Raw video under $15,000, way under. Glad to see someone finally shake things up in the $3000 range. I’m tired of Canon/Sony/Panasonic dumbing down the feature set of the sub $5000 cameras to protect its high end cameras. If you want everything the Blackmagic box offers you’ll have to spend quite a bit more. This camera is nothing short of revolutionary – AND it includes the full Devinci Color Correction software, worth well over $1000 as a stand alone application and its awesome. I love my 5d2, but this is what the 5d3 should have been capable of had Canon decided to take the next step like Nikon did with the d800 and not just give the camera a mild refresh.
It’ll be a year or so before the big guys can get something to market to counter this, till then I hope Blackmagic sells so many it can’t keep up with demand. If Sony would have upped the ante with the VG20 or Canon with the 5d3 I would have one, instead I have my Blackmagic on order…
says who? what camera in the $3,000 can output 2.5k? Who really needs that much resolution? you’re a nitwit.
With all the technology, and issues with cameras, I keep thinking how amazed an artist like Charlie Chaplain would be with a simple 1080p, or even 720 consumer video camera. It is really all about story. Can you imagine what he could do with an iphone?