The recently announced Octopus Cinema Camera with a modular sensor, mount, and other components could, in theory, become a customizable professional solution slow motion camera that is unencumbered by firm specs but by a fluid and upgradeable sensor and component path. The Axiom camera is also something akin to this but has yet to ship. The Octopus has in prototype form been fitted with a 4/3 sensor capable of up to 240fps in 2k RAW and a full-frame that allows 3k up to 100fps.
The body looks eerily similar to Phantom cameras with the white machined exterior with fans and ports protruding the body. While 240fps at 2k is not what we could call really professional slow motion, it is based on an open architecture in hardware and software that could window the sensor down and possibly offer more frame rates at 1080p and 720p for maybe a 480fps RAW capture in HD. → Continue Reading Full Post ←
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. → Continue Reading Full Post ←
Something that came out of NAB 2016 is the paper launch of the CRAFT Camera a modular low cost professional camera that can record in Pro Res and Cinema DNG RAW with more formats to be announced.
It is unclear at this point if frame rates will ever be higher than 120fps but since the 4k spec also includes them; it remains a solid option for 4k slow motion at 120fps or 5x slow motion at 24p playback. For a 4k camera the pricing of $2,984 for a full 4k Cinema package is not to shabby! → Continue Reading Full Post ←
The RED Scarlet has always had a stigma to it since inception. It was supposed to be a 3k camera for 3k USD back when it was planned. With a fixed lens and slow motion capabilities all while shooting REDCode RAW video. That camera never materialized and in turn the Red Scarlet with modularity was born. Not quite an Epic but also a lot more expensive than the original promise. It however delivered the image quality promised but not in the slow motion front. That is however until today with the Scarlet-W camera.
It has a 5K Full Frame (5120 x 2700) RED Dragon sensor with a 16.5 stops of dynamic range. That is some of the best DR numbers quoted for a motion digital camera. However the Slow Motion aspects of this Scarlet W camera are of note and the following specs should get your attention if you are on the market and have 10k USD for a body and 6k for the needed accessories to shoot with it in a ready package. → Continue Reading Full Post ←
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