Silicon Imaging SI-1920HDVR Camera

colormeter said:
The Aaton A-Minima is a very little camera, and it feels AWESOME in my hands and propped up against my shoulder. The wooden hand grip makes it a pleasure to hold and operate. Ahh, if only DV cameras could be so comfortable.

I don't think you can make it "too small" to be honest. But, it needs to look sexy. See the Arri 235? THAT is a sexy looking camera. It needs to have a good fit and finish, otherwise I would be embarrassed to use it. Honest.
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These A-Minima and 235 seem to be the gold standard in body designs. We have some size constraints for the components and some extra connectivity we need for our camera, but we should definitely look at these for ideas.

Anything you didnt like on those, that you would change?
 
Ari Presler said:
1.) Histograms are already high on the list. Waveform and Vector are not.... Between Histograms and the exposure meter and, oh yeh, touch point metering anyone should be able to set correct exposure without clipping.
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Yeah it's just that the traditional-style waveform display is something that gives more detail than histograms (as far as what parts of the image are exposing to what values), and all the video-nerds in the world are quite used to them.

I realize that since you're recording a raw digital format the waveform monitor wouldn't be "accurate", in the sense that you're not dealing with voltages IRE and that sort of crap. And you could achieve the same thing with the combination of a histogram and a spot meter. It's just a very familiar style of exposure metering that people are comfortable with and know how to use effectively and quickly.

About the codec, could you clarify what "perceptually lossless" means? I'm assuming you mean it is a lossy codec, in that it's not bit-for-bit identical to the original, but that the compression is so mild as to be undetectable? And I'm assuming that there's no extra compression of the color space (4:2:2, that sort of thing) as is common with YCrCb/YUV-based codecs?

As for further suggestions, I hate to say it cause I think it's stupid, but I have to echo the previous post. Marketing is key. Give it a trendy name. Make it ergonomic and professional/stylish-looking. As lame as it is, looks and names and dumb stuff like that does come into play, and people are less-likely to buy a camera that looks like a lens attached to a black box. Just look at how much money people drop for (even really poorly made) matte boxes. Most of those people are not just buying it to block out light or slide filters in! Many of the posts on this board that I've read are from people that admittedly bought matte boxes primarily to make their camera "look cool" and "impress clients". Sad but true. So you should lower the suspension and put on an exhaust tip and tint the windows and put a big green racing stripe down the middle.

Although the touch-screen (aside from seeming quite useful) does give a lot of points on the "cool-meter".

-Kevin
 
Hi,

I think once you use our false-color exposure meter mode along with the touch-screen spot meter, waveforms will seem like the dark ages . . . and of course we have a histogram thrown in there for kicks :)

BTW, also please realize that we can't draw a waveform line-for-line like a "true-waveform" that could be used as an accurate instrument . . . we're going to have to sample data or decimate, or something like that for the waveform display to get real-time playback and response, or else all our CPU is going to go for drawing the waveform vs. compression performance. Once we start decimating and sampling, the usefullness of the waveform falls well below what you will get with the false-color exposure meter mode and the spot meter (where you can simply touch on a spot and get a reading of the value at that point), and the video "tech-heads" who would have originally desired the waveform will scream that it's "not accurate". Also realize for overall image value distribution, you'll have a per-channel histogram so you can see when just the red channel or blue channel clips, and the value distributions per-channel. Waveforms can't really tell you that information in such a nice concise, neat manner as we can with these other exposure/image analysis aids. So again, not to say that waveforms are a "dumb" feature or anything of that nature, but I think once you use the tools that we have included for this same purposes, you'll realize that waveforms are a redundancy that is not quite as efficient at getting the job done as these other tools, and more importantly, with the current processor budgeting, we're going to have to make compromises in the rendering of the waveform to keep real-time performance that will not make it as effective a tool as you might imagine from a Omnitek, Leader or Tektronics that you're used to.

"Perceptually Lossless" is like HDCAM-SR or Digibeta . . . there won't be complaints about compression artifacting. Also keep in mind that the Cineform codec was created to withstand many, many compression/decompression cycles without showing artifacting, so there's A LOT of mileage in the codec as a production codec. It's not only ideal for production, but for post-production and compositing as well.
 
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Audio Metering

Audio Metering

10s said:
The audio meter could have, 0 at the top, and working it's way down, the all important -3, and then -5, -9,-12, etc... possibly becoming larger increments as it gets quieter. Also, dynamic and static peak level indicators are valuable. Those are the little marks that stay momentarily to indicate where the peaks are hitting.
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Feature has now been added...task completed!
 
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"Spoon" Blog Updated

"Spoon" Blog Updated

Check out the latest info and images from the set:



_MG_9407.jpg
 
First "Spoon" Footage...Shot with Silicon

First "Spoon" Footage...Shot with Silicon




ftp://www.atomic-vfx.com/spoon_test_clips/SI1920HDVR/web_001.wmv


ftp://www.atomic-vfx.com/spoon_test_clips/SI1920HDVR/web_003.wmv



ftp://www.atomic-vfx.com/spoon_test_clips/SI1920HDVR/web_004.wmv


Some quotes from the Blog:

"The shoot is going extremely well. Thanks to everyone who has made it so. This format is turning out to be ideal for our comic strip style film. The look is unique falling between film and video. It is soft yet clear - video without the video edging we all hate. The beauty shots are great - the make-up reads better than other hd formats (it's more like film).

We've shot varying conditions. The darker areas are holding up but there is nothing to beat this camera in good light. I will try and give two clips today at least - one with school yard bench scene in strong light and a darker industrial shot.

Despite the fact that these camera heads are prototypes they are working really well. We had some static build up issues (at least i think that's what they were) first when I booted up the second camera head after transportation and again when shooting Daniel's soaked apartment. These sort themselves out when ground is properly done and when the head "settles down".

We've shot close on 40 hours of footage (probably too much but to have the coverage is great). Both close personal performance stuff and a fair bit of action. Both are great. The action stuff has a really unique real feeling while remaing very filmic (not videolike).

We've shot a lot with zooms for efficiency but the fast 16mm primes are the way to go if you have time. Much more light and hence data gets through."


-------------------------
"Shoot it with Silicon"


Does anyone want some Silicon to use for their next project?

Comments?
 
400 hits/day to see the Silicon Images

400 hits/day to see the Silicon Images

The Spoon blog is now getting over 400 hits a day. Anyone here looking at the footage? Does the broader DVXUSER constituants even know we exist?
 
Jarred,

Does this mean 5000 unique members read this thread...wow? (I thought that the counters may have been showing same memeber doing multiple visits?)

Do you think we are getting enough readership to justify placing the Silicon Imaging Forum at the top menu level?
 
I'm not Jarred but I think it deserves!

This is not an interlaced camera or only a 720p neither! :)
 
yeah thats unique.. go try and enter the thread then go out of it and enter it again.. you wont count :)
 
5,000 are a lot of viewers considering the other cameras sub-forum...despite this one as ONE of the most helpful web forums. And you know that Jarred, when you cold everybody when you took away for some hours our useful sub-forum from our beloved home.
 
Agree this should be treated as the red. Both companies show real intrest in their customers. And both have a real nice product.
 
Being NEW, I think it deserves more exposure rather than being buried with "other cameras" from established manufacturers. This camera has demonstrated potential NOW, we see new frames and footage every day from it and new visitors on this forum (yes, potential customers) should be aware of its existence upfront. But then again, I am just a guest here eager to meet others on the dance floor and see them in a glance, without missing those allowed to wonder on the patio only.
 
I still hear consistent comments about the lack of SILICON exposure :-(.

"I just stumbled upon you!"

Any suggestions on how to improve our visibility?
 
Ari, if Jared would be so kind, He can make a section just for Silicon Imaging. I dont see why not? isnt this what the indie filmakers have been asking all along? i mean its here and its real, yet the Silcon Imagin threads are thrown under the same section as a the FX1.

I have no problem with RED, but i beleive there is no reason to be biased towards RED, unless there is some serious butt-smoochin going on.

Im with Emanual, filmmaker1977, and Fugutive. I also think Dan has same spirit burning inside too. hes just very polite.
 
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