_mike_
09-15-2008, 09:59 AM
Hi all, my first priority was to compare output from different cameras. One day before the travel I shoot with KINOR 2K digital camera and here at amsterdam I could compare the picture and ask the questions which usually aren't covered at web sites.
First thing which makes me sad is that SI-2K cameras uses in-camera compression (the same with RED) - kind of wavelet and thus makes output a little bit soft which is not a good thing. You will not be able to get a crisp picture from this cameras. SI-2K mini uses gigabit ethernet to transfer data to the recorder - so the datapath is not wide enough to send uncompressed RAW. From other side - Silicon Imaging together with Iridas make the most convenient system of on set color setup. It doesn't immediately affect footage but DP and director can be sure that the look achieved will be transfered to postproduction.
Weisscam is uncompressed and records it's data to on-camera HDSDI recorder crisp uncompressed images at very high speed up to 1000 fps. But the price is much higher. Between Phantom and Weisscam I would prefer Weisscam as it has more convenient controls and color management (same as SI has) and nice HDD (raid) based recorder with many ways to transfer files to computer.
Newcomer - IKONOSCOP from Sweden. Small enough and lightweight camera has 10,6mm-6mm sensor (Super 16 equiv...) and writes RAW uncompressed 1920x1080 files to solid state 80GB cartridge. first cameras are to be shipped at december. Cost is lower than SI-2K mini and I would prefer swedish one as it's uncompressed and can use Super-16 cheap lenses. I've seen some stills at their stand but cant judge the quality and dynamic range as it was unprocessed RAW files and I couldn't put my hands on it in some kind of CC program.
First thing which makes me sad is that SI-2K cameras uses in-camera compression (the same with RED) - kind of wavelet and thus makes output a little bit soft which is not a good thing. You will not be able to get a crisp picture from this cameras. SI-2K mini uses gigabit ethernet to transfer data to the recorder - so the datapath is not wide enough to send uncompressed RAW. From other side - Silicon Imaging together with Iridas make the most convenient system of on set color setup. It doesn't immediately affect footage but DP and director can be sure that the look achieved will be transfered to postproduction.
Weisscam is uncompressed and records it's data to on-camera HDSDI recorder crisp uncompressed images at very high speed up to 1000 fps. But the price is much higher. Between Phantom and Weisscam I would prefer Weisscam as it has more convenient controls and color management (same as SI has) and nice HDD (raid) based recorder with many ways to transfer files to computer.
Newcomer - IKONOSCOP from Sweden. Small enough and lightweight camera has 10,6mm-6mm sensor (Super 16 equiv...) and writes RAW uncompressed 1920x1080 files to solid state 80GB cartridge. first cameras are to be shipped at december. Cost is lower than SI-2K mini and I would prefer swedish one as it's uncompressed and can use Super-16 cheap lenses. I've seen some stills at their stand but cant judge the quality and dynamic range as it was unprocessed RAW files and I couldn't put my hands on it in some kind of CC program.