By
Blackmagic Industrial Design Team
Description
The Blackmagic Cinema Camera is a cinema quality digital video camera designed for production of feature films, documentaries and episodic television. Costing less than $3,000, it provides Hollywood quality filmmaking capabilities at a fraction of the cost of existing cinema cameras, which cost upward of $15,000. A truly democratising product, it has had significant cultural implications on the global video industry, putting high-end filmmaking within the reach of the mass-market. Designed entirely in Australia, the revolutionary compact design introduces a completely new form factor to the cinema camera industry, overcoming significant engineering challenges including colour science, optics and thermal management.
Key Features
and/or Benefits
This has driven budget conscious filmmakers to adopt Digital SLR cameras for use in cinematography. However, DSLR’s are not designed to be used as cinema cameras, as they record to compressed video formats that limit flexibility in the post-production process, and have a limited dynamic range. An opportunity was identified to create a cinema camera with the beautiful image quality of Hollywood production cameras that was accessible to a whole new user group. To address these challenges, issues such as user interaction, camera architecture and manufacturing techniques needed to be approached in a completely new way.
For new users it's approachable and logical, yet strong and functional for advanced film makers. The simple form factor is a deliberate response to user behaviour, where cinematographers demand flexibility to bolt on additional accessories and 'rigs'. This camera has the option to be as simple or customised as required. Confusing and intimidating controls on existing cinema cameras and DSLR's have been reduced to a minimum. Most camera functions are accessible through a GUI via a large touchscreen. Inexperienced users can literally turn the camera on and start shooting, whilst the camera includes all the advanced functionality experienced users demand.
Regular video cameras clip video and compress files, creating images with limited detail in shadows and highlights. This can cause problems downstream in the post-production process. The Blackmagic Cinema Camera can shoot uncompressed RAW, the industry's highest quality format, with 13 stops of dynamic range at 2.5K resolution. This enables the camera to capture fine detail in high contrast environments such as bright sunlight and shadow, whilst also capturing incredible detail in low lighting conditions such as a candlelit room. Shooting RAW means all the sensor data is preserved, enabling maximum flexibility of image manipulation in the post production process.
Every sub-assembly fixes to this single part creating an extremely strong and durable camera to meet the demands of professional use. This also gives excellent assembly fitment and a high perception of quality to the user. The bead blasting and anodised finish creates a distinctive, refined and new aesthetic for the cinematography industry. The unique mechanical assembly has been a key driver in the significant reduction in cost, size and weight over existing cinema cameras. One third the volume and weight of existing cinema cameras, it gives filmmakers increased flexibility to take shots in highly mobile or confined locations.
Revolutionary new engineering approaches to both optics calibration and thermal management have driven significant cost savings and reliability over existing camera designs. Through innovative and careful consideration of manufacturing processes and engineering, part count has been kept to a minimum. Many parts perform multiple functions, enabling a relatively low build cost, yet ensuring very high quality and reliability cinematographers expect.
