What is your dream camera?

Not a dream camera but it already exists....the Varicam LT. Nothing more to be said there really, except I just want the camera to get out of the way so one can get it done...though many lovely images out of cameras these days the LT fits the bill for me in every way.

@puredrifting. +100 IMO

5. My ideal camera has an S35 imager. Take the idea of a full frame imager for video or digital cinema out back and shoot it in the head and bury it in the cold ground where it belongs. Sorry I still disagree with those think that filmmakers somehow need FF. S35 forever, its really all that is needed. Let the stills shooters deal with it. Nothing has convinced me that the world needs Monstro, Venice, C700FF, etc. Just not needed, ploy to sell new gear.
 
To pick on the Lt is it not true that..

Proxy files do not have all audio tracks (critical to getting an edit rolling)

Changing to Hfr takes a week to engage

Not to mention all the painful crap of adding lav receivers wireless transmitter focus receiver et al

Not to mention it weighs a ton

It's a good camera but a mile from a dream machine IMO.
 
Pure

There are industry standard colours Gretag for example

Most manufacturers missed them by a mile which is nuts.

The flaw in a card however is that it doesn't examine shadow and highlight colour - a better standard is indeed required

I shoot for a wool brand and mr papert did the varicam side to side with the Alexa both pics were pretty but different- my client doesn't want returns - maroon must look maroon

You can build pretty in a grade.

That c200 v Eva test and mith subsequent comments pissed me right off about them not wanting to shoot charts!

Indeed there should be standards
 
Just a little comment why I want fullframe.

S35 would be definitely enough for me IF there would be enough lenses. This is the reason why I use speedbooster. There are no alternatives to FF for S35 when we are talking about fast, stabilized, zoom lenses - I use Tamron 15-30/2.8 IS, 24-105/4 IS, 70-200/2.8 IS.

Anyway this thread should be about dreaming not about hating others dreams :).
 
At this point in my career as I continue to lose passion for production every day, and transition into more of the business side of everything and other ventures, my dream camera is definitely the Pocket 4K or a very small and inexpensive system from RED with a built-in screen and a built-in small battery and media bay (doesn't exist).

I've grown to dislike big and heavy cameras. Overpriced cameras. External recorders. Expensive lenses. Expensive media (can't win this one yet). Lots of lights.

Pretty much the complete opposite of Hollywood, ha.

Luckily the kind of projects I am interested in are for people who I don't have to answer to in terms of specs and they just trust the process and receive high-quality results.

Sometimes a dream camera is really a dream team. If you get a bunch of bright minds together with different tools and skill sets, everything will shine.
 
roxics said:
The electronic ND is adjustable per photo site. From completely transparent to full black. It can be used as a shutter but also an ND at various strengths. With smart ND turned on, the camera can filter only the photo sites that are being blown out. Be it one window in the background or the entire sky above an otherwise well exposed scene.


Wireless built in.
.
Click to expand...

These things seem possible in our lifetimes.
 
abreu-canedo said:
-Internal NDs, and customizable filter trays where you can add your Glimmer Glass, ProMist, LowCon or whatever filtration you'll need for the shoot...behind the lens, of course.
Click to expand...

Damn! I like your thinking man.

abreu-canedo said:
-Motion sensors accurately recording every motion, shake and movement of the camera, for VFX and matching MOCO. So you can do a handheld run and repeat it exactly with a 7-axis robot, for example.
Click to expand...

Whoa! Doing it handheld and then on the next shot have it MATCHING EXACTLY! That would be awesome indeed for quick VFX.


abreu-canedo said:
-Programmable operation between camera marks and internal operation. Since camera knows where it is at all times, if operator hits a mark, the camera can raise ISO and close aperture of lens to change depth of field...or and automatically zoom the lens between one mark and another...or change the shutter angle with a designated mark or camera movement...even hand-held.
Click to expand...

You're blowing my mind with your series of suggestions.

Having programmed in F-stop/focus/ISO/ND/zoom changes beforehand, that they consistently change as you move through the scene as you hit each of your camera position marks even if you don't have an AC with you would be so very freeing for one man camera crew.
 
Last edited:
I've said this before and Doug laid out something very similar over on the Sony sub-forum.

1) My P2 VariCam ENG body(with some tweaks)*
2) s35 Global shutter sensor with high enough rez to give a true 4K de-bayered image
3) Wide, shallow, strong neutral "lens mount" to accommodate all major lens mounts with full communication, power and data
4) 0-10 stops ND in 1 stop increments if "real ND" or "Variable ND" a la Sony.
5) Sensor window modes("center punch", etc.)
6) OLED VF with flip-out-of-the-way diopter and ~3" OLED panel(just like our current LCD VF's, but OLED)
7) Minimum of two primary media slots with card spanning and dual record option.
8) In addition to manufacturer codec, internal ProRes and Internal RAW
9) Resolutions: 1080 & UHD and 2K & 4K DCI
10) Base frame rates of 23.98P, 24P, 25P, 30P(29.97), 50P, 60P(59.94)
11) Over & under crank 1-180(maybe 200/240) in 1080P/2K full sensor(no cropping/windowing). 1-120 in UHD/4K full sensor
12) Custom scene files(burned-in looks) and Log and selectable LUT support for VF, SDI OUT at all frame rates/rez's

* (Tweak)Replace built-in LCD/Monitor with VariCam 35/LT style control panel for menu access/image & playback viewing
Keep dedicated audio and TC controls and display
Keep slot-in 2-ch wireless
Keep 4 chs of audio
Keep TC IN & OUT
(Tweak)4 SDI OUTS(up from 3)
Keep 5-pin XLR Line Audio OUT

I may be forgetting a few things, but none of this is crazy. It all exists, just not all together in one camera.(well, except the VF)
 
Last edited:
puredrifting said:
9. All on camera touchscreens are 2,000 nits now. Period, done, end of story. Oh yeah, my dream camera has a non-glare screen. Zero glare at all in any lighting condition. Get on that. No more EVFs needed, just 4" and 5" included OEM touch screens that are 2,000 nits.

10....HDMI is banned ...
Click to expand...

9) If you're 20 or never shoot off the shoulder, that might could work. Me on the other hand, I NEED a VF.

10) YES, YES and YES. I'll sign the petition now.
 
Ok fine. I'll dream.

Take all these crazy specs and features. Put into something the size and shape in between a GH5 and EVA1 for optimal ergos and switch control. Keep the sensor size M43ish or smaller, but with performance in the future that out-classes even medium format. This way the lenses can stay smaller and lighter.

RAW straight to a 12TB super speed SD card. XLR mini outputs if you want to go retro, plus high end built in wireless protocols, better than SD pre-amps internal, swivel out super thin 5" ultra bright OLED + a wireless VF that can mount to the camera or over your eye like an eyepatch. Running on next gen battery tech that lasts 24 hours per 20 minute charge and can recharge wirelessly, too.

Build in a super mature version of steadshot XP that works with a Premiere Pro plug-in and 10th generation IBIS system. Electronic VND from .001 stops to 12 stops. Of course it can be set to auto exposure with aperture/ISO/shutter priority, leaving the VND to do all the work. AF that's smarter than self driving cars, not just on software, but thanks to IR/laser/depth/multi camera focus sensors built into the body. Plus, wireless focus pulls performed through the camera, apps, etc. because the motor is built into the lens. But don't worry, the interchangeable lens mount will also support multi lens arrays for re-focusing in post, and for metalenses.

Metadata for everything. I mean everything. Auto speech transcription whenever the camera is recording, better than today's best, with software integration allowing for files to be imported and you merely type the words you were looking for an interview. Or sort by shots at sunset. Or sync with cameras via GPS time stamps without any need for dealing with timecode, audio sync, etc. because it's all automatic. The camera will already have baked in metadata on par with google image recognition for finding your shots, just query a search for wide angle sunset with 3 men and 1 women and BOOM there you have it. Same with facial recognition data. Shots with Tom, CU, this map location, this time of day, this sort of angle, this lens, where he says this. etc. No sorting or logging work needed. Baked into metadata, ready upon import.

/end.

I win. :grin:
 
Last edited:
Film guy

Yep meta data - I forgot that lot

Any camera over $10k that has worse data tracking than a phone is an embarrassment

--
Still in sunny Zambia jumping in and out of a too small rental call all day in heat, sun and dust.

We cannot think of a camera we want.

2/3 zoom plus small professional form would do nicely.
 
Haha, small cars in 3rd world countries jumping in and out... my life story... I feel you. Columbia clothing has some omni-freeze shirts that cool upon getting wet from sweat/water. They do not work as well as advertised. But they do work. If they are sweaty enough, or you dump water on them, and have some wind from anything, they do work though. That, and dorky 80s sweat bands around the forehead do a treat.

https://www.columbia.com/mens-zero-...csa=s18&prid=cool&crid=omnifreezezero&start=6

Metadata, yeah. It is frustrating to see almost everything we want out there, segregated between a dozen disinterested companies. If only all of the worlds best technology could be combined into our niche market...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top