BlackMagic Teases Cinema Camera: Whopping 2.5K Resolution For Under $3000

BlackMagic Teases Cinema Camera: Whopping 2.5K Resolution For Under $3000


Post-production hardware and software company Black Magic Design has just announced its entry in the camera-making business with the Cinema Camera. The cam rocks 2.5K recording in RAW formats, meaning the image won’t suffer due to in-camera compression and will presumably preserve extremely broad dynamic range. More impressive, though, is the price tag.

The Cinema Camera’s $US3000 asking price is insanely cheap, given that it packs features that the most high-end video capable DSLRs have thus far lacked. One of the biggest complaints against cameras like the Canon 5D Mark II and Mark III is that the h.264 compression really muddies up the image. The BlackMagic Cinema Camera’s RAW workflow looks to eliminate that.


Notable specs include:

  • Shooting resolution: RAW at 2.5k (2432 x 1366)
  • Frame rates: 23.98p, 24p, 25p, 29.97p, 30p
  • Sensor size: 16.64 mm x 14.04 mm (significantly smaller than DLSR sensors)
  • Lens mount: EF and ZF mount compatible with electronic iris control
  • Battery: Integrated Li-Ion with 90-minute life
  • Recording Formats: RAW 2.5K CinemaDNG, Apple ProRes (compressed), Avid DNxHD (compressed). All compressed recording in 1920×1080 10-bit YUV with choice of Film or Video Dynamic Range.
  • Storage: Removable 2.5-inch SSD

The guy with the inside scoop on Black Magic’s new device is Director of Photography John Brawley. He’s been toying around with the camera and has reported copious notes on his blog. He also has a bunch of footage that he shot, all of which looks extremely promising. We can’t wait to check it out for ourselves when it ships this July. [Black Magic Design]

Images: John Brawley, Black Magic Design


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