The newly announced CINEMARTIN FRAN 8K Camera claims some huge numbers in terms of resolution and performance. Up to 8K (8000×6000) RAW / Uncompressed 12 Bit video capture at 24fps and up to 96fps in 2k & 1080p for high frame rates but more on that later in this post. There is only one image of the camera we were provided with and that is the RED Brain like rendering above which sports a mounting port which in the lab is fitted with a Canon EF Mount which is preferred among cinema oriented users especially if it is an active one.
FRAN also offers in the spec sheet 15.5 stops of dynamic range at 12 bit which competes directly with the best cinema cameras out there. CINEMARTIN claims the camera will come in below the competition in price while offering a true global shutter sensor with no rolling shutter distortion. Using a 4/3 sized sensor at 50MP with 48MP being used for 8k Capture it may seem overkill when it comes to low light performance. It may be able to deliver resolution levels never before seen on cinema cameras but low-light will surely be a hurdle for the camera to overcome.
FRAN Camera 8k main specs:
- 8K sensor 4:3 with a resolution of 7920 x 6024
- 24 fps at 47.7 MP
- Supports VistaVision 1:47 aspect ratio 7920 x 5388
- Global Shutter
- 15.5 Stops of Dynamic Range
- 12-bit color capture in RAW
- Fran records in uncompressed stills (dng or dib)
- 1080p/2k 96fps & 60fps
- 4k @ 24 & 60fps
- 8k 30MP 25/30fps
- Modular body
- Tentatinve Native ISO 800, may be higher or lower.
- HDMI output up to 4K
- Fran by default can record in color up to 6K, 8K is done at monochrome until 2019 when a
planned firmware / hardware update will bring color to the 50 MP 8K - SSD 1TB & 2TB Media Mags
- False color, Histogram (color and mono) as well as LUT monitoring support + Focus Assist.
- Limited Availability : Fall 2018
| List of Camera Shooting modes: (*) refers to upcoming functionality to shoot in color at a later date. |
color |
gray |
||
|
8K 4:3 (48 MP) |
24* |
24 |
||
|
8K 1.47:1 (42.9 MP) |
24* |
24 |
||
|
8K (32.7 MP) |
25* |
25 |
||
|
8K WS (30 MP) |
30* |
25, 30* |
||
|
6K |
20, 24* |
30 |
||
|
4K |
24, 60* |
30, 60* |
||
|
4K WS |
25, 60* |
30, 60* |
||
|
2K & 1080p |
60, 96* |
60, 96* |
Notes on the 50MP Sensor & Camera:
Many people think that the camera uses a CMOSIS 48MP – 7920 (H) x 6004 (V) capture sensor but that CMV50000 part is a full 35mm full-frame sensor and not a 4/3ds sensor area like the FRAN camera specs show. Maybe it is a new sensor in their line that will be released at a later date.
8k will initially be recording in monochrome B&W at launch with patches and software updates in 2019 to shoot in color at that resolution. We would be shouted at for not mentioning that this camera as it stands right now is a prototype of sorts and not a finished product. Specs may change or be altered before launch completely.
Big claims are made on this camera and as some already have pointed at we have no real image samples or real images from a finished camera. As it stands now it is not a ready product but at least CINEMARTIN is not asking for deposits on the camera now but only when it is ready to be built and shipped which is comforting.
CINEMARTIN is not a vaporware company as it manufactures and sells several monitoring devices for filmmakers which compete with other high-end monitor companies. See here: http://www.cinemartin.com/monitors/7inch/eclipse/
What about the high frame rates?
We asked Alejandro Barrada Martin, product manager for the FRAN camera about the possibility of higher frame rates in windowed mode and he had this to say:
“Yes, it will be possible.
