Bolex D16: RAW, 16/Super 16 sensor size, costs less than MkIII

i have a question, it's now irrelevant due to the addition of the HDMI port, but BEFORE they finally, and i should mention begrudgingly added that. HOW did they expect people to frame/focus/expose on a 2" 320x240 screen, with the only other option being an SD B/W output?

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It's crazy to stereotype this guy because he looks like a "hipster" What is a Hipster anyways? Someone that has long hair and wears a hat. Stereotypes are so primitive in this day and age. I give this cat huge props. He's taking a chance. He's going after his dreams. So what he's learning as he goes, thats usually the best method. And 99% of the time the only method.

He mentioned in his interview that he loves 16mm, and learned to shoot on a cam with the same basic design. Is it any worse than any other cam? Not the way I see it. Is it a different cam? sure it is. But people make movies on dslr's. So that kind of proves to me that people will adapt to whatever the formfactor as long as they get images they like. I can think of some great uses for the ergonomics right off the top of my head. As I can with the black magic cam. Just another tool. And nothing more.

I have to be honest, that LCD screen on the black magic scares me, if you break that on a shoot, you may be screwed, And it does happen, I have had lcd's crack on several occasions from working on set. I can't imagine the touchscreen would be the only means to make parameter adjustments with that cam, but if it is. Then it can be risky shooting in hostile enviornments with it.

You know, now that I think about it, from a business owner point of view. I find it's always the guys that have not two nickels to rub together, live week to week, drive a s*%t box car, and live in either moms basement or a weekly rental, that know how to run everyone else's business the right way. The same guys that have never employed or ever will employ a single sole. Not saying this is anyone here, but it seems the tone of this thread is becoming, "it's not the way I would do it so it's wrong" Im really shocked he's getting bashed for doing PR. Just keep in mind, some of the biggest and most successful companies operate with a different set of guidelines than the "norm". Different strokes for different folks.
 
imdjay said:
i have a question, it's now irrelevant due to the addition of the HDMI port, but BEFORE they finally, and i should mention begrudgingly added that. HOW did they expect people to frame/focus/expose on a 2" 320x240 screen, with the only other option being an SD B/W output?

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Zacuto EVF among others only has 480p vertical resolution anyway. Monochrome 480p SD output is enough for that. Monochrome is easier to focus than color. They added the HDMI instead of trying to program focus assist functions since the better external EVF's already have various kinds of focus assist built in. Joe said it was an easier and lower cost option than trying to duplicate technology that already exists.
320 x240 built in LCD has monitor capability but it is primarily for menus. I don't think anyone really ever considered it to be a serious monitor option. The 1080p output is still monochrome as there is no deBayer in camera to produce a color image. Luminance read out only. You could always use an external recorder for shot review as you would have to do with the video tap off of a film camera.
Optional SDI module will have high quality deBayer , clean HD output and color monitoring to support more videocentric work flows.
 
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Razz16mm said:
If you are a pro working onset with file based media, you review shots at the DIT station. This is pretty much how Alexa and Red digital cinema work flows go. Part of the intent of the Bolex is to provide a similar workflow to the high end cameras as a practical training tool for film schools...
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No, that's not how it works with Alexa or Red. If the DP or director want to review shots, they do not go to the download station, they watch playback at video village, either directly from the camera (more common on the lower end) or from a dedicated video assist system (an expensive solution that records the camera's video output on it's own requiring a whole other crewmember, used on high end features and commercials).

The Red Epic being shipped without playback enabled was a major fiasco that prevented it from being used on many productions until it was fixed via firmware update - I know because I had to inform many uneducated producers of this shortcoming of their camera choice and deal with the scramble to find another camera system at the last minute. This was a showstopper for the Epic in many cases.

So is this a real camera meant for production use, or is it a training tool for film schools? That's the first time I've heard that excuse for a camera's shortcomings. I was very interested in this camera when it was first announced, but my doubts have slowly but steadily crept in ever since - although I'm trying to keep an open mind about the whole situation.
 
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I thought this was a friendly conversation...
nothing wrong with speculating if that's all that can be done
 
nothing said:
LOL ok, backpedal now. Why don't you stop talking authoritatively about things you don't really know anything about, ok? Kinda getting sick of this attitude on these forums.

In other words, STFU.
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Firstly 'Nothing' ? Razz like myself is a backer of the D16 and we've got alot more to loose that you !

Secondly, Razz seems like a positive guy who has been trying to gather information and understand what we're gonna end up with in August, he speaks with no authority and is actively on the Digital Bolex forum every day like myself asking the community and the owners every question possible.

Take a back step, if this camera is not for you leave...if you're interested in helping why don't you fire Joe an email over at Digital Bolex and get the correct information from the source...and you know whats coming next, otherwise ****.
 
Gary Huff said:
Just keep in mind that if the Digital Bolex never comes out, or comes out and isn't very useable, some people stand to lose a lot of money.
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Maybe that's the exciting part? The risk, the adrenaline. Like the time you drop some serious money on a hand pre-flop and you hit a full house? The feeling that leads to some serious gambling problems.

Winners know when to stop. Filmmakers know when to cut. :violin:
 
I'm used to reading all the hairsplitting about specs on yet to be released cameras, but the condescending sophomoric smarmy comments about the appearance of the D16 crew and how that will translate into how their camera performs is insulting. Why those comments remain on the board I'll never know. It makes the mods just as responsible for those comments as the unfortunate ones who made them and the snarky crowd that giggled on about them. There shouldn't be room on a reputable discussion board for garbage like that. That's my opinion.
 
Then report the posts you find offensive. I'm sitting in a hotel room in Roswell New Mexico right now, after 7 hours of flying and driving, so I can't be everywhere every day, and you can't expect every other mod to read every post in every thread. If you see something that bothers you, use the "report this post" icon (the "!" in a triangle) and we'll be notified and work on it.
 
pitstain said:
I'm used to reading all the hairsplitting about specs on yet to be released cameras, but the condescending sophomoric smarmy comments about the appearance of the D16 crew and how that will translate into how their camera performs is insulting. Why those comments remain on the board I'll never know. It makes the mods just as responsible for those comments as the unfortunate ones who made them and the snarky crowd that giggled on about them. There shouldn't be room on a reputable discussion board for garbage like that. That's my opinion.
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you're exactly right, about the last sentence, you're entitled to your opinion and everyone else is entitled to theirs, the mods are here to prevent several things, two of which being to handle staying from the OP, and the other being outright arguments and attacks. at the moment i don't see where you find either of those two things happening. we're commenting on all things d16, and like it or not, those two doing all the talking about it, are subject to being commented on. People are betting their money on them, and it would be no less than censorship to not be able to express how those spokespeople make you feel about the company and the resulting product.

now, had i or anyone else said something like.... "F these D-bag hipsters they'll make a sh**ty product". then yes thats just trolling and not constructive. obviously some posts crossed your personal preference line, but i don't see it crossing any reasonable bounds for discussion in relevance to the OP.

there's my opinion, enjoy it or hate it, you're entitled to your opinion of my opinion of your opinion. ;)
 
Gary Huff said:
Just keep in mind that if the Digital Bolex never comes out, or comes out and isn't very useable, some people stand to lose a lot of money.
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Actually, IMO the problem is what if the Digital Bolex comes out and is very useable?

Unlike the BMC which has definite plans to go into full production, Digital Bolex is only scheduled for limited runs of production at this point in time. They have no concrete plans to gear up for full production.

They are going to turn out the initial orders for the Kickstarter, then they have plans for another 200 cameras, and that's it right now.

Of course they would crank out more if it's successful and profitable, but ramping up for full production to handle all orders is a whole different ball game than making 200 cameras. Just ask Red.
 
Barry_Green said:
Then report the posts you find offensive. I'm sitting in a hotel room in Roswell New Mexico right now, after 7 hours of flying and driving, so I can't be everywhere every day, and you can't expect every other mod to read every post in every thread. If you see something that bothers you, use the "report this post" icon (the "!" in a triangle) and we'll be notified and work on it.
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Barry are you doing covert operations near Area 51 (again) or can you not really say?

Gary Huff said:
Please keep it set to "stun"-ning.
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All kidding aside, I really like the fact they are going for a standard film frame size. That will appeal to many I think, certainly I will be looking to pick one of these up.



This is me by the way (with my Bolex H-16):
welcome.gif
 
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