Atomos has gone public
- Thread starter nutmegger
- Start date
Gizmosgadget
Active member
Even that F900 would look like a monster once it was loaded up with wireless FIZ/Video, Cine RT, external monitors etc.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Of course but all the gack should be integrated not hanging out like a scene from a slasher fest. it is 2019 not 1999 which is a big deal in electronics..
Eric Coughlin
Veteran
As I said in another topic, Red Xenomorph. Arri started integrating the wireless transmission with the Alexa SXT W and Alexa LF, so that's a start. The Red Xenomorph took it a step further by integrating two good on board monitors as well as audio and other devices to basically make a mostly wire free camera setup.
https://www.cinema5d.com/david-finchers-custom-red-xenomorph-for-netflixs-mindhunter/
https://www.cinema5d.com/david-finchers-custom-red-xenomorph-for-netflixs-mindhunter/
Last edited:
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Is this something stock from RED or just a prototype or third party? I've never heard of it and the concept looks interesting
I'll just say, about time companies started doing this. And look, you could throw it on a shoulder and do work too!
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
So back to Atomos. They have a chance to make just another Cion or really take everything down by making a wire free camera 
Jim Feeley
Veteran
I think it was a custom one-off (or three-off) for David Fincher. For us, I think the closest RED-based thing is the Panavision DXL:
https://dxl.panavision.com
Run&Gun
Veteran
Special "one-offs" for David Fincher. And off-the-shoulder would probably suck with those. The shoulder cut out is way too far back. I think it's just for aesthetics, more than actual ergonomics or function.
NorBro
Major Contributor
So back to Atomos. They have a chance to make just another Cion or really take everything down by making a wire free camera
Not sure how far their Apple product license extends, but their first camera (I'm speaking like they actually said they are making one, lol) with internal ProRes RAW would probably appeal to many.
[CinemaDNG helped skyrocket Blackmagic's camera success.]
Eric Coughlin
Veteran
As the article I listed said, it was custom designed by Red for David Finchner. The crew was happy to not have to build and wire the camera each day. I think it's the future and we'll see more and more integration, but of course it's going to cost more for the base camera then and some will still prefer an Alexa Mini or Red style body for gimbal, drone, and small space shots, as integration by it's nature means the base camera will need to be larger.
As others have pointed out, Finchner doesn't really do any shoulder mount shots and considering the camera was designed specifically for Mindhunter, it being shoulder friendly was rather irrelevant.
I'm actually surprised I haven't heard much complaints about the Alexa XT in relation to shoulder work (not that I talk with XT users much). My beef with the design is since the bridge in the body for the shoulder is not movable, if you put a heavier lens on the front or a super light lens, then the only way to adjust the balance since the shoulder mount location cannot be moved is by adding more weight to the front or back, and adding otherwise unneeded weight is a pain. The Amira with its flat base and movable shoulder mounting I find much more ideal for shoulder balancing.
Last edited:
puredrifting
Major Contributor
I worked on Homeland and did a few shoots in Africa for multiple seasons and was in Morocco for the Prison Break re-boot. Homeland for S3, 4 and 5 was Alexa, not sure if they were the XTs, but the camera ops let me grab some shots with their rigged out Alexas and it reminded me of my Betacam back in the day that weighed almost 40lbs fully rigged. They were ridiculously heavy and all of the camera ops were shorter, husky kind of guys (human tripods), no tall or thin ops on that show at the time ;-) I think they told me the Alexas fully rigged out were pushing 60lbs. The ACs on those shoots stayed really close by, just to take and hold the cameras in between takes and to help the ops hoist them to their shoulders. The Prison Break re-boot was Arri Alexa Minis and fully rigged out, they were still huge and heavy but obviously smaller and lighter than the regular Alexas. Both shows used Steadicam very sparingly, they were 90% just handheld.
Run&Gun
Veteran
Obviously not an Alexa pimped out on a movie or commercial set, but my F55 can be pretty slim & trim even in shooting mode. Zacuto VCT Pro shoulder mount with Berkey Top Plate and quick release handle on a nato rail and CineLocks for quick attachment and detachment of accessories like monitors, the nat mic, etc. I also have my audio cables set-up for quick connecting and disconnecting so I can go from nat mic, to wireless to cabled to the mixer in seconds without having to unhook the XLR's from the camera.
Sort of an ENG configuration. 17-120, shotgun, ready to shoot as pictured. The only thing not pictured that I'd have on the cam is my ErgoCine grip.
A more production friendly set-up. 17-120, Lectrosonics SR for wireless audio hop, Teradek Bolt for wireless video, everything on there is fully cabled and powered and ready to shoot. The only thing not on there is a monitor(if it was on sticks) or ErgoCine grip for handheld.
I'm actually thinking about having some custom super short cables made for the Teradek to make it just a tiny bit more streamlined it it's bracket.
CharlesPapert
Director of Photography
I'm happy with my Atomos products, but I have been a little frustrated with how slowly certain updates have been rolled out (example: the Sumo has been out well over a year but it still can't be calibrated with their X-Rite system used with their legacy units). Hopefully an influx of capital will improve things but there is always the possibility of the Blackmagic model of not quite finishing the old units before introducing new ones.
With a projected revenue of $49m for 2019, they would have an R&D budget of $5-$7m. The IPO raised $6m. So split that 3 or 4 ways between marketing, R&D, and Operations, debt/other stuff. That means the IPO gave them a one-year shot in the R&D arm of about $ 1.5-$2m. That doesn't seem nearly enough to start a new product line. Now they are stuck having to deal with stockholders; a big distraction.
TheTrickster
Well-known member
Alas Atomos seems to of forgotten the 'fix/update later' part of your analogy...
Some examples:
Ninja Star - HDMI Triggering promised - never delivered
Original Shogun - 4k DCI was promised - never delivered
Flame Series - Support for HLG was promised - never delivered
Sumo - Support for nonsync'd multi streams - never delivered
Inferno Series - Support for new Nikon / FujiFilm Log modes - not yet delivered
All the above, also suffer from the issue where the waveforms still show in Rec709, yet the output being Rec2020 - I was told this is a 'feature' LOL