![[Gear] Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera Pre-Orders Available](https://cdn.fstoppers.com/styles/large-16-9/s3/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/855879_jpg.webp)
Earlier this week we announced the upcoming Blackmagic Cinema Camera, an extremely well-priced 2.5K resolution high-definition video camera. Well, it didn't take long for this sucker to go up for sale, and now you can pre-order it at B&H Photo. At such a tempting price point, who here is going to grab one as soon as they can?
It's small, it's powerful, and most importantly, it's cheap. In case you missed the specs, the Blackmagic looks like this:
- 2.5K Image Sensor
- 12-bit RAW, ProRes and DNxHD Formats
- 13 Stop Dynamic Range
- 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30p Frame Rates
- EF and ZE Lens Mount
- LCD Touchscreen with Metadata Entry
- SDI Video Output and Thunderbolt Port
- Mic/Line Audio Inputs
- Records to Removable SSD Drives
- Includes DaVinci Resolve and UltraScope
What I like most about these is the lens mounting flexibility. What stops me from moving from one brand's camera to another tends to be the issue with having to buy new lenses. With this, I wouldn't have to worry about a thing.
This will be sold out for at least a year. lol. Great time to be a indy videographer.
2.5k resolution of crap video shot by idiots.
Wow!!!
damn where was all this stuff when I was into indy film stuff!
No 60fps...no thank you.
for $3000? nope.
nope to what ??
I think it's a good buy.
The ability to shoot in RAW, and even if you're not using the 2.5K image, you're able to have good safe margins for recomposing if necessary and also stabilizing the footage, and you'll still have an end result of 1920 X 1080 at the end. Also, having what I'm thinking 4:2:2 is another good thing, unless it's 4:4:4, which I doubt, but still much better for color grading than any DSLR at that price range.
Nice Specs:
Sensor Resolution
2592 x 2192
Raw Resolution
12-bit RAW files recorded at 2432 x 1366
Shooting Resolutions
2.5K RAW at 2432 x 1366.
ProRes and DNxHD at 1920 x 1080
Frame Rates
23.98p, 24p, 25p, 29.97p, 30p
Sensor Size
Actual: 16.64 x 14.04 mm
Active: 15.6 x 8.8 mm
Dynamic Range
13 stops
Focus
Focus button turns on peaking
Iris Control
Iris button automatically adjusts the lens iris settings so no pixel is clipped
Lens Mount
EF and ZE mount compatible with electronic iris control
Screen
Size: 5" with 800 x 480 resolution
Type: Integrated LCD capacitive touchscreen
Metadata
Automatic camera data and user data such as shot number, filenames and keywords
Controls
Onscreen touch menus
Physical buttons for recording and transport control
Microphone
Integrated mono microphone
Speaker
Integrated mono speaker
Connections
SDI Video Output: 1 x 10-bit HD-SDI 4:2:2 with choice of Film or Video Dynamic Range
Analog Audio Input: 2 x 1/4" TRS balanced phone switchable between microphone and line levels
Analog Audio Output: 1 x 3.5 mm TRS stereo mini headphone
SDI Audio Output: 4 channels in HD-SDI
Remote Control: 1 x 2.5 mm LANC for Record Start/Stop, Iris Control and Focus Control
Computer Interface: Thunderbolt port for capture of RAW video and audio, USB 2.0 mini B port for software updates and configuration
External Power: 12V-30V DC port for external battery power or use included 12V AC adapter
Storage
Type: Removable 2.5" SSD
Format: Mac OS Extended format (SSDs can be formatted on any Mac or use Mediafour MacDrive [not included] on a Windows PC)
Rates: 5 MB/frame in RAW 2.5K fits about 30 minutes of 24p
video on a 256 GB solid state disk - compressed HD formats fit more than
5 times the amount of RAW video
Uncompressed Recording Format: RAW 2.5K CinemaDNG
Compressed Recording Format: Apple ProRes and Avid DNxHD. All compressed recording in 1920x1080 10-bit YUV with choice of Film or Video dynamic range
Standards
SDI Compliance: SMPTE 292M
SDI Audio Sampling: 24-bit/48 kHz
Mounting
3 x 1/4" thread mounting points on top of camera
1 x 1/4" thread tripod mount with locator pin
Power
Integrated Lithium-ion Polymer rechargeable battery
12~30 VDC port for external battery power or use included 12 VAC adapter
Battery
Life: Approximately 90 minutes
Charge Time: Approximately 2 hours when not in use
Dimensions
6.5 x 4.5 x 5" (166 x 114 x 126 mm)
1
Weight
3.8 lb (1.7 kg)
Is there any example footage anywhere? I'd love to see...
Guys, I love myself some dSLR as much as the next guy, but I have a problem with people taking a dump on this camera. And for all the wrong reasons. I'd love to see this thing come with a PL mount, have better battery life and shoot at 60fps, but those are extras, not the main thing.
This camera seems to deliver the same image as a traditional 16mm camera with Kodak 200T or 250D film. Meaning that the ideal ISO is around 200 and 250, the low-light performance is non-existent, the dynamic range is wiiiiiide and the final product has that "film look". And this camera delivers exactly that. If you want dSLR look, there are amazing dSLRs for that and I'd love me some of that as well. But if you want that film look above all, then this camera is a STEAL at $3000. You have no idea how cheap this is until you try to work with film. This month we shot a short doc on 16mm colour film, using mere 800ft of it. We ended up with 22 minutes of footage for a 7-8 min final edit, a $395 pricetag on buying the film and a $580 price tag for developing it and getting an HD transfer. Meanwhile, we got all the gear for free - and our Arri SR2 camera was a $50,000 camera when it came out. So with a Blackmagic camera, we can recoup the cost of it in just 3 short films, still pay less than what comparative 16mm cameras used to cost 20 years ago AND have that "film look" to your film. Is it ALWAYS worth it? No. But for some projects it's a godsend.