Archive notice: This article was originally published on April 18, 2012. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Alongside its design that deviates from the norm, the Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes several technical highlights. At the heart of the camera is a 2.5K sensor and a dynamic range covering 13 stops.
A built-in SSD allows RAW video data to be recorded in formats subject to the open standard. Supported formats include Apple ProRes, CinemaDNG 16-bit RAW, and Avid DNxHD. According to Blackmagic Design’s explanation, the reason for including these formats was seamless compatibility with the most widely used NLE systems.
For the camera’s connections, Blackmagic Design also adhered to its own ideology of providing only standard connections instead of integrating customized inputs and outputs. There is a Thunderbolt interface, standard inputs for microphone and line, a headphone output, an additional BNC 3GB/s SDI output, and a connection for LANC remote control. A DC 12-30V power connection is integrated for the power supply.
A touchscreen LCD is also installed, allowing metadata to be entered into the shot at the touch of a finger. These can then be read by the NLE systems. Despite the new exterior design, Blackmagic Design placed importance on full compatibility with Canon(EF) and Zeiss(ZF) optics.
According to Blackmagic Design, sales are expected to start in July 2012 at a price of 2,995$. The price includes a copy of DaVinci Resolve 9.0.
