Blackmagic Cinema Camera with MFT micro 4/3 mount announced!

Ok, now I'm super tempted as I have a library of native Micro Four Thirds lenses. Does autofocus work?
 
I'm not going to get my hopes up, but this would save me so much grief in lens compatibility if true.
 
yep. someone wasn't just blowing smoke :)

i'm sure this will make quite a few folks happy that have been clamoring for just such a version.
 
Got this email from blackmagic:


Blackmagic Design IBC 2012 Update

Hi,

I wanted to send you a quick email with information on some new products we are announcing at IBC in Amsterdam today.


New products include:


• Blackmagic Cinema Camera MFT
• UltraStudio 4K
• UltraStudio Mini Capture
• UltraStudio Mini Monitor
• DeckLink 4K Extreme
• Videohub Master Control
• Mini Converter SDI to HDMI 4K
• Mini Converter SDI Multiplex
• ExFAT HyperDeck Update
• Thunderbolt™ for Windows
• ATEM Audio Panel Support


Blackmagic Cinema Camera MFT


Since the Blackmagic Cinema Camera was announced we have been overwhelmed by the fantastic response. We have also been extremely happy with the response to the first shipments and have already seen some wonderful work done on them.


We started shipping a few weeks ago, however the Cinema Camera is a highly advanced piece of equipment and it uses a large amount of high quality precision parts to build it. Some components are coming into our factory slower than we expected and this has caused the manufacturing of the cameras to slow.


We expect to have this sorted out over the next few weeks and then can speed up and get more cameras delivered. In the mean time, our engineering has not been slowed down at all and we are continuing to develop the next software update with new features for release very soon.


We have also been working on a Passive Micro Four Thirds model of the camera. People have been asking for this as there are a lot of nice high end manually operated MFT lenses on the market, and the MFT mount can also be easily adapted to PL and other lens mounts using third party adapters.


The new Blackmagic Cinema Camera MFT is expected to ship in December, and will be the same price as the original model. It’s identical in features as they are both the same camera, just with different lens mounts. The price will also be the same at $2,995. We will be working with our dealers to help people change their orders if they want.


http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagiccinemacamera/
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It's official

It's official

Here's the press release http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/press/pressdetails?releaseID=32229

[h=1]Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Cinema Camera with Passive Micro Four Thirds[/h] IBC 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands - September 7, 2012 - Blackmagic Design today announced a second model of the Blackmagic Cinema Camera that features passive Micro Four Thirds lens (MFT) mount, so customers now have an even greater choice of lens options when shooting. The new Blackmagic Cinema Camera MFT model supports any Micro Four Thirds with manual iris and focus, and is also easily adapted to other lens mounts such as PL via third party adapters. The ability to use third party adapters to allow other types of lens mount is due to the Micro Four Thirds lens mount being much closer to the image sensor and allowing space for adapters to other lens mounts.


Blackmagic Cinema Camera MFT will be demonstrated on the Blackmagic Design IBC 2012 booth in Hall 7, Booth H20.


Blackmagic Cinema Camera MFT is identical to the original Blackmagic Cinema Camera model, however does not include lens communication so manual lenses are used. The current model of Blackmagic Cinema Camera will be renamed Blackmagic Cinema Camera EF to let customers easily differentiate between the models.
 
Just an extension of the notion that it's a cinema camera. This mount can adapt to almost any format, and this allows it to be a b-cam on productions using cinema glass. Seems likely that BM will consider an active m43 mount, but that no doubt would consume more time and resources. Announcing this mount before mass shipping and delivering soon after avoids burning customers.
 
StMad said:
Just an extension of the notion that it's a cinema camera. This mount can adapt to almost any format, and this allows it to be a b-cam on productions using cinema glass. Seems likely that BM will consider an active m43 mount, but that no doubt would consume more time and resources. Announcing this mount before mass shipping and delivering soon after avoids burning customers.
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So I assume that the primary reasoning behind including the m43 mount is for adaptation?

For the most part, I'm starting to agree with many of the current reviews of this camera: there have been some strange design decisions in this camera. An EF mount was there to supposedly compliment the marketing strategy of targeting HDSLR users. However, a m43 mount aimed towards adaptation (to, assuming from official photos, make PL mounting a serious option) seems to push the camera towards a supposedly different (intended) market. We all know that this is really a cinema camera, and should have had a different mount to start off with, but BM seems to be shifting their strategies ever so slightly.

Really looking forward to what firmware updates come along, as well as what their next camera will be. Exciting times!
 
A passive m43 mount is a little bit of a disappointment, of course; the lovely Lumix 7-14 and 12-35 would be ideal lenses for the BMC if it was an active mount.

But, the passive m43 still provides us the opportunity to use the Voigtlanders, and the Voigtlander 17.5mm f/0.95 is probably going to be a prized choice for use with the BMC. Those who like the HyperPrime 12/1.6 will probably be thrilled with the option of having a lens that's 1.5 f-stops more wide-open, and just about as wide, as the vaunted Tokina 11-16.

Other than those lenses, the main benefit of the passive m43 mount is that it does provide for adapters. You get a lot of adaptability (including true PL support) from an m43 mount.

A passive m43 is a disappointment only in that I never imagined they would do such a thing; when clamoring for m43 I always assumed it would be a full implementation. The Lumix lenses and the Voigts are just soooo perfect for the BMC, it's a shame that they didn't provide for all of them to be usable right off the bat. Even so, it's a vastly preferable mount (IMO) over the Canon EF, which I always thought was mismatched to the sensor size.
 
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