Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera

When it launched a little more than a year ago, the Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera took the industry by storm. It is the first (and quite possibly still the only) 2.5K video camera under $5,000 able to use EF, ZE and MFT-mount lenses. It stores the video on SSDs, in 12-bit RAW format with 13 stops of dynamic range (unheard of in virtually all video cameras). It has both SDI video output and Thunderbolt, for super-fast video downloads to your editing station.

The Blackmagic Cinema Camera with EF Mount from Blackmagic Design brings to film makers a tool that many have waited for. Recording to a 2.5K image sensor, the camera is capable of recording 12-bit RAW DNG files, as well as ProRes and DNxHD formats to built-in removable SSD drives, while delivering 13 stops of dynamic range. And it does so at a previously unheard of price point.

The camera is housed in an elegant, minimalist enclosure, crafted from a single block of aluminum. It can be used hand held or mounted on industry standard hardware. The lens mount accepts Canon EF and Zeiss ZE lenses, and the LCD touchscreen provides monitoring, plus the ability for the user to add metadata such as shot number, filenames and keywords.

To handle the high data video output, the company includes a full version of DaVinci Resolve, its premier color correcting software for Mac and Windows. Also included is a copy of UltraScope. When connected to a computer via Thunderbolt, the software provides technically accurate waveform monitoring, displaying six live scope views on a single monitor.

Since everything has been designed to provide high quality acquisition, the camera is perfect for independent film, television commercials and episodic television production, all places where image quality is paramount. And being affordable, it will also find its way into wedding, sporting event and music video capture.

Dynamic Range

Captures a super wide dynamic range of 13 stops into 12-bit DNG files for a true “filmic” look
Preserves detail in both shadows and highlights, and even handles indoor shots while keeping the details of any images captured through windows
Allows for keeping all sensor data and enhancing the creative decisions during DaVinci Resolve color grading

EF Compatible Lens Mount

Supports optics from leading lens crafters such as Canon, Zeiss and many more
Compatible with EF, ZE and MFT-mount lenses
Allows full electronic control of the lens – simply point, set iris and focus on command

Capacitive Touchscreen Display

Five inch touchscreen allows for setting up a shot, as well as playback from the SSD using the transport control buttons below the screen
Enter shot data and update the camera’s settings using the capacitive touchscreen display
Double tap to zoom the image for fast and accurate focus
Data strip displays information including record status, shutter angle, ISO, battery level, record time and more

Metadata Entry

Features built-in metadata entry so that files include information compatible with popular editing software
Dramatically speeds up the whole post production process
Entering metadata is easy – simply tap the capacitive LCD touchscreen to display the slate where information can be entered including shot number, search tags, scene number, Timecode, and more
Set shot number and other data to increment automatically
Metadata is compatible with leading editing software and is fully searchable, bypassing the time consuming task of searching for specific shots when editing a project

SSD Recorder

Built-in SSD recorder uses low cost 2.5″ SSDs
Allows for 2.5K uncompressed CinemaDNG RAW 12-bit capture, as well as Apple ProRes and Avid DNxHD compressed video formats
Play back directly from the camera, mount the disk to any computer, or use Blackmagic Design’s HyperDeck Studio deck
With Apple ProRes and Avid DNxHD video formats, record for more than five hours on a single 480 GB SSD
All file formats conform to open standards used by most professional NLE software
When finished shooting, simply connect the SSD to a computer and edit or color shots straight from the disc

Connectors

Uses only standard connections, no custom cable required
Dual balanced microphone/line audio inputs for recording high quality uncompressed audio
3 Gb/s SDI out for on set monitoring or for sending to live production switchers
Includes 12 to 30 VDC input for power and battery charging
Stereo mini (3.5 mm) headphone output
LANC remote control and high speed Thunderbolt port for computer capture

Open File Formats

Camera uses standard file formats
Recording native 2.5K resolution uses the open CinemaDNG format, delivering full 12-bit RAW recording quality
Choose 1080HD recording into ProRes and DNxHD compressed video formats for even greater compatibility

Included Software

Full DaVinci Resolve 9.0 software including Resolve USB dongle for Mac and Windows
Shoot wide dynamic range images and then make color correction decisions in post production
Media Express software for video capture from the camera’s Thunderbolt port
UltraScope provides technically accurate waveform monitoring
Connect the camera to any computer using Thunderbolt to display six live scope views on a single monitor
Use UltraScope on set or in any location for parade, waveform, vectorscope and histogram signal measurement
Includes picture view, audio level and phase monitoring

Buy it here: Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera with EF Mount

Or here: Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera with EF Mount

Reviews

IWC Portuguese Automatic

This IWC Schaffhausen Portuguese Automatic watch (model IW500107) looks great and it has an amazing 7 days of power reserve and a large date function.

Stainless steel case with a blue croco-embossed leather strap. Fixed stainless steel bezel. Silver dial with blue hands and Arabic numeral hour markers. Minute markers on the outer rim. Automatic date at the 6 o’clock position. Two sub-dials displaying: seconds and 7 day power reserve. Automatic movement. Scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Screw down crown. Screw-down sapphire crystal exhibition case back. Case diameter: 42.3mm. Case thickness: 13.9 mm. Deployment clasp. Water resistant at 30 meters / 100 feet. Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds (with stop function) at 9 o’clock, power reserve at 3 o’clock, calendar. IWC Portuguese Automatic Steel Blue Mens Watch IW500107.

Buy it here: IWC Portuguese Automatic Steel Blue Mens Watch IW500107

Reviews

Olympus Stylus TG-2 iHS

I saw this camera when it first came out, in its 1st generation. It was dropped onto concrete then stepped on. Worked like a champ afterward. Now it’s even more rugged, it’s got built-in GPS, it looks even better and performs even better. What’s not to like about it?

Buy it here: Olympus Stylus TG-2 iHS Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom and 3-Inch LCD (Black)

The most sophisticated rugged point-and-shoot on the market, the Olympus TG-2 iHS was designed with the serious photographer in mind. In addition to its Shockproof (7ft/2.1m), Crushproof (220lbf/100kgf), Freezeproof (14°F/-10°C), Dustproof design, the TG-2 iHS dives deeper than ever before with an astounding waterproof depth rating of 50 feet (15m) without a housing. But don’t be fooled, this camera’s not only for the avid scuba diver, it’s for active photographers who won’t sacrifice image quality and performance. The TG-2 iHS is the only rugged camera on the market equipped with an ultra-bright, high-speed f2.0 lens, allowing you to capture dramatic low light and high-speed action shots. Paired with a 12 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and TruePic™ VI Image Processor that fuel Olympus’ cutting-edge iHS Technology, you’ll get amazing pro image quality and 1080p Full HD Videos in places that your DSLR camera just can’t risk traveling.

With advanced functions like Aperture Priority mode, you’ll have even more control to capture the exact images that you want! Added features like next generation GPS & e.Compass, a 3.0″ OLED monitor, Linear PCM Stereo audio recording, High-Speed Sequential Shooting up to 60 frames per second**, four underwater scene modes and two custom modes make this adventure cam stand out in the crowd!

Looking for more? The TG-2 iHS is the only rugged camera to feature system expandability to put even more photographic control in your hands; use the telephoto converter lens to achieve even greater optical zoom range and artistic blur or the wide-angle fisheye lens for more expansive views, especially underwater. The completely waterproof system allows you to take your photography to places that your pro system can only dream of going.

A Guide To A Good Life

Should you use shoe trees?

Question: I’m learning how to properly take care of shoes, and while browsing the web late this evening, I thought about shoe horns/trees. Now in the past I’ve found them, really just a sales gimmick, hardly worth my money. What do you think?

Shoe trees are worth getting, especially if you have quality leather shoes that you’d like to use for years and years. The general idea is to use them after you’ve worn the shoes and the leather has creased at the toe joints.

The important thing is for them to be made exactly for the size of your shoe. Look for ones made of cedar, they’ll absorb odors and sweat salts and make your shoes smell and feel better. You can leave these in whenever you’re not wearing your shoes. Woodlore makes some good ones and Allen Edmonds also makes them.

If you’ve worn your shoes for a full day (12-16 hours) and you can see that the leather is damp, or if it’s been raining out, what you should do first is to air them out by hanging them onto an open shoe tree like the one pictured below for ½ a day or a full day, and only then should you insert a shoe tree in them.

This is because the leather needs to dry out, it shouldn’t be damp or wet. A shoe tree will fill the inside of the shoe and may promote mold, depending on the material out of which it is made. Once the leather has aired out properly, the tree will be able to do its job, which is to restore the shoe’s shape and allow the leather to remain that way as it dries out thoroughly.

Don’t get ones made for all sizes, particularly the inexpensive ones made with springs (like the pair pictured below). If you must get those, you can use them but you shouldn’t leave them in more than 2-3 days, because they’ll stretch the leather too much and the shoe will start to lose its shape. When I use these, I leave them in for a day or two at most, then I pull them out and allow the shoes to stay by themselves in the closet.

In case you’re a new visitor to my website, I’ve also put together a detailed video where I show you how to take care of several types of shoes. It’s called “All Season Shoe Care” and I invite you to view it.

I hope this has helped you!