The Perfect Filmmakers Camera ?

T

tillhavis

Well-known member
Ok this is just a bit of fun, please add your thoughts and comments

The Perfect Filmmakers Camera ?

Panasonic S1 FF Sensor
Interchangeable L Mount
Internal 4K 10bit 4:2:2 Recording without crop (24-25fps minimum)
Internal 4K Raw without crop (24-25fps minimum)
Dual IS
Dual Pixel AF
2 x XLR’s
5” Daylight viewable Fully articulating touchscreen LCD
Built in Electronic ND’s 6-10 stops
2 x CFastExpress Slots
1 X SDI Input/ Output
1 x HDMI Input/ Output
1 x Timecode/Sync Multicam
1 X USBC
1 x Headphone Jack
1 x EVF (similar to Leica Visoflex EVF2, powered via hotshoe and also removable)
2 x Batteries (one in the handgrip and a second under the body of camera, hot swappable and
drawing from Handgrip first. This would allow a three battery cycle before having to replace the battery under the body or power down the camera)
1 x Locking Lemo Power Connector (rear of camera)
Wireless Control via smart device
Live Streaming
Larger than the current Canon XC15 smaller than the C200
Similar (redesigned) handgrip as XC15 with additional function buttons
6-7 User assignable function buttons
One push AF and Auto Control for run and gun situations



The Perfect Film Camera 1.jpg

The Perfect Camera 2A.jpg

The Perfect Camera 2B.jpg

The Perfect Filmmakers Camera 2.jpg
 
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Nah
weight 100 gram
size 10cm x 10cm x 5 cm
20K resolution
mind control (all functions)
F 0.8
zoom from 1-2000 mm
also macro and micro
8:8:8 bits
embedded soundrecordist
AF and MF and IS
and of course Full Auto Mode.

I think that's al I want.

And yes, a build in drone.
 
I think the perfect filmmakers camera should not be build off of the body style of a Canon camera. For stability build it longer instead of taller!
 
Have you heard of the new CFexpress cards?

I agree with your choice of USB-C. I think it is also the future, not just for data but for charging.

Full frame? What if you want to shoot a documentary in available light. Or by "filmmaker" do you mean narrative fiction only?
 
This is one of those questions that you can ask to 100 different people and get 100 different answers. I've laid out my "perfect" camera numerous times, and needles to say, it's NOT smaller than a C200 or XC15 sized. I need something "small" about 1% of the time. For the other 99% of my shooting, I want something built like my VariCam. Part of my list includes: Real shoulder mount design(not a shoulder rig), real native VF(ENG style), dedicated audio controls and panel, XLR connections, slot-in wireless ability, 4 user accessible audio ch's., tool-less user-swappable lens mounts, global shutter, TC in & out, multiple SDI outs(min. 3), 2 card slots, etc.
 
My perfect camera adapts organic memory with a removable drive at the back of my head and utilizes my optic system built into my head (eyes). No more lens selection to worry about, perfect image stabilization built in. Just need that dreamscape interface so I can add AR and dream sequences to what my eyes are actually recording. Metal and plastic are so early 2000s.
 
I choose this design and shape as I feel it could be a true handheld filmmakers camera with a decent size screen, and great features like FF sensor, dual IS, dual pixel AF,
as well as having enough connections and function buttons (including wireless and tablet/phone control) for most shooting situations.

Obviously there is no perfect camera for every situation, however after years of rigging out cameras I am now attracted to smaller cameras like the XC15, BM4K pocket camera that can be operated hand held,
with most of the user buttons and controls, and all the items required to simply grab and start shooting; as well as providing the option to be fully rigged out if required.

The new Panasonic S1 looks like a great camera and I like the size, but it’s not designed
as a filmmakers camera and lacks easy to access buttons and controls of a film camera.

So those are my reasons for this design, obviously not all will agree.
But as a handheld filmmakers camera that could be rigged or adapted further
I think it has potential. JMHO
 
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Basically a sensor cube with 1/4 20 all over it plus add on modular sections so it can be build to be a gimbal cam or up to a shoulder cam.
 
I'll play. If it's for filmmaking, telling a story,
Let's use the form factor of the 16mm Aaton LTR and have minimum basic controls to determine: 1: focus 2: exposure. And I want what I see in the viewfinder to be what I have when I get back to the edit suite. I have a long list of things to leave off. My caveman approach to storytelling.
 
As indirectly mentioned above, the perfect camera will sit like a cat on the shoulder:

i-chat.gif

And in addition to the two controls Sneakle mentions, the camera should let you change image sensors & looks with just a quick change of a sensor/storage roll. And those rolls should have a feature that encourages concise shooting. Something like the 16mm Aaton XTR Prod:

XTRProd.jpg


But more seriously, I did/do like the way Aatons feel on the shoulder. But a lot of the other features we're asking for in your perfect camera do all seem to be available...just not all in the same camera. We're getting there, though...
 
The thing about a cat is that it is of fixed size. A camera with a small prime or large zoom is of varying size and CofM

Id like a camera system that was like a cat on the shoulder but that is a cubic camera/lens support on a for-aft slidable catlike shoulder pad. (see the bottom of Amira)
 
Cine Gear is just around the corner and rumors of a Cine S1 camera abound. If it’s similar to my concept I’ll be expecting Panasonic throw me one. Fingers crosses we get something revolutionary on the 31st. ��
 
Sonar camera that scans the selected area, connected to my brain which does on-the-fly editing to create angles, depth of field, focal length, looks, etc., to create a 2D image, which can all be edited later in post as well.
 
Eric Coughlin said:
Sonar camera that scans the selected area, connected to my brain which does on-the-fly editing to create angles, depth of field, focal length, looks, etc., to create a 2D image, which can all be edited later in post as well.
Click to expand...

Maybe thrown in some LIDAR, IR TOF, and lightfield sensors to give you 3D along with AI deconstruction for tiny file sizes lol. 3D for 2D, where 3D can be used for DOF in post, green screen without a green screen, relighting in post, etc. Or taken further, just scan your brain and forget the camera: straight from imagination to finished film while you sip your latte, take a nap, etc. ;)
 
jcs said:
Maybe thrown in some LIDAR, IR TOF, and lightfield sensors to give you 3D along with AI deconstruction for tiny file sizes lol. 3D for 2D, where 3D can be used for DOF in post, green screen without a green screen, relighting in post, etc. Or taken further, just scan your brain and forget the camera: straight from imagination to finished film while you sip your latte, take a nap, etc. ;)
Click to expand...

I'm all about that LIDAR and single lens 3D. Wrap that raster data around 3D objects the camera captures from the LIDAR so everything can be manipulated in post as if every object in the scene is a 3D object. Add in global shutter, 14+ stops of real dynamic range on a super35 (4:3) sensor that does 5K, but can also record 4K or 2K without crop. As well as a 2K 16/S16 crop mode.

I don't care about shoulder mount since my right eye is jacked up anyway, so I use my left. I'd rather have something akin to a C100 mkII (but weather sealed) with a hot shoe I can mount my choice of a 5" or 8" monitor on without any external cords or batteries. I'm not against the EVF being removable to it can be placed on an arm for people who do want to shoulder mount.

Add in some new kind of memory card (maybe DNA based) that can store 100TBs of data. Something about the size of a credit card I can easily write on with a sharpie and then throw on a shelf for 100+ years as an archival copy. I don't even care if it's a write once memory card like DVD-R, so long as they are no more than $1 or $3 a pop. I might even prefer it being a write once format if I can buy one hundred packs of them for as cheap as I can DVD-Rs at something like $0.10-$0.20 a card.
 
tillhavis said:
Ha Ha tell me it aint possible and I'll show you how. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7qPAY9JqE4
Here's to the distrupters..
Click to expand...

This was the disrupter that "failed". But it was simply slightly ahead of its time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Simon

Eric Coughlin said:
Sonar camera that scans the selected area, connected to my brain which does on-the-fly editing to create angles, depth of field, focal length, looks, etc., to create a 2D image, which can all be edited later in post as well.
Click to expand...

Eric, are you sure your brain can handle that without a chip implant?
 
Just a personal observation:

When I first posted this thread and my concept over a year and a half ago
I took some flack on this and other sites, with many saying these specs will never happen.

Fast forward to today and I think we are about to see a major upheaval in the next six to twelve months with the release of the new S1 Cinema Camera and
Sony A7SIII, not to mention what Blackmagic Design have in store for 2020.

I truly believe the rapid decline in camera sales is an indication that the market (and almost non existant secondhand market) has reached saturation point.
And the ability of the camera market to sustain new camera sales will be severely tested in the coming two years.

I believe the brave and pragmatic decision by Panasonic to drop the price of their Varicam LT is
a recognition of this.

https://www.newsshooter.com/2019/05/29/panasonic-drops-the-price-of-the-varicam-lt-to-9995/

As somebody working in this industry since 2006 and shooting primarily with Panasonic cameras I have seen my ROI eroded by lower
margins and competition from all sides, while still retaining the same overheads.
The reality is (as most people working in this industry will agree) we are now required to do more and be proficient in a wide range
of skills just to make a living.

Since 2006 I have seen my role evolve from that of a cameraman (solely, and making a decent living) to a producer, content creator, writer, director, audio recorder,
editor, journalist, live streamer. And all to make the same living I had in 2006.

I’m not complaining, I love this industry, but am just simply stating a fact.
The price of entry into the digital industry is reducing year on year,
and as a Panasonic customer unless I can stay one step ahead of my competitors and compete at a lower investment price I will simply
follow suit and choose the lowest entry point I can.

The old distinctions between Cinema, Broadcast, Documentary, Journalism, Event Coverage, Live streaming, etc…
has been diminishing year on year, and with the advent of new and better smartphone technology it’s only going to be a matter of time
(probably five years) before smartphone technology catches up with the requirements of at least 80% of the market.

Of course there will always be a place for dedicated Cinema and Broadcast cameras (for at least the next 10 years),
but this change is happening at an alarming rate.

I truly hope we see many if not all of the features I posted included in the new S1 Cine Camera.
It would not only be a brave and necessary move on behalf of Panasonic, but one that could potentially see them dominate this entire market segment.

In particular I hope we see the ability to live stream (something that may be derided and claimed not necessary by many)

If Panasonic are serious about staying ahead of the competition and surviving in the camera and cine/broadcast industry
I believe they will need to be bold and recognise that the winds have changed and the future is not like the past.
They will need to become leaner, innovate faster and at a lower price point to stay ahead of their compeditors.
Either this will happen or potentially they will abandon or slowly refocus their efforts elsewhere, maybe back to their Broadcasting roots.
Even here however compeditors like BlackMagic Design and Sony/Canon have gained a strong foothold.
Either way one thing is clear things are changing faster in the digital sphere than ever imagined.
I guess the next two years will tell a lot.


This is JMHO please feel free to disagree, but it has also been a hard won opinion on my behalf.
 
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