Your Nikon dream video camera: What would you include?

Functions that liberate storytelling.
1) Crop modes with similar image quality (i.e. the 2.7x crop on the D4 is sharper than the FF and 1.5x, hard to cut footage between them)
2) Have an assigned button to change the Crop Modes and does not need you to exit LiveView or to make LiveView blank. And allow us to change the Crop Mode as we are recording video.
3) Allow for all functions to work while recording video (i.e. magnification, aperture....etc)
4) Built-in EVF with similar magnification as Zacuto's
5) Keep the form-factor small as possible but at the same time ensure the chassis sinks away heat to avoid overheating
6) Higher resolution LiveView LCD
7) Choice of internal codecs and bitrate
8) Mirror or Relay recording to 2 x CF or SD Cards
 
D5200 sensor on mirrorless mount (so I can add a speedbooster), recording RAW to an SSD drive, with its 14 stops of DR and at whatever resolution the sensor output is (probably 2000x1080). Anything beyond that is just icing on the cake. I think they could sell that for under $2K if they don't go crazy with the features.
 
Nikon D4, pelical mirror so that AF functions in live view and mirror does not need to flap, ideally with magic ND darkening.
Soft AF algorythms
More 1/4 mount points

special output to..

Recorder box
-to enable recording of NEFs to SSD at appropriate frame rates (higher if cropped)
-XLR and timecode

Alexa smasher!
 
Man if I wasn't so damned busy. I write this story. I'll let it run it's course for a while first. Sorry- gotta run. I'll subscribe.
 
There's such a ton of me-too cameras out there when it comes down to features. The hole in the market (for me) is a camera that can be a little more artsy - higher frame rates, clean clean codec or raw, better DR, better color depth. Music videos, TV spots, higher-end commercial work. Run & gun is pretty covered these days.

I'd be happy to have 1080/60 - (kicking myself for buying the AC130 vs the 160 which got firmwared up to 1080/60)... Many consumer cams have 1080/60 but with consumer IQ and controls. But the BMC's don't even have 720/60, right?

But, the usual - big sensor, clean codec (why are people talking mirrors for a dream video camera anyway?)

Some sort of RAW for DR; and image detail's as important as DR to me, though that's more of a codec & compression issue. 422 or higher, in both cases for keying.

The next camera to make some noise will likely do something like the FS700 - high frame rates but at a friendlier price (and maybe better color sampling than the pricey Sony). Gimme 120fps at 1080 and I'll pony up right away. With BMC up to 3 models now - at prices that will be hard to match - there's not much point in R&D unless you can differentiate from the crowd.

I don't see Nikon going there though... I should probably find a used Red One with the newer sensor.
 
Nikon FullFrame (35mm equivalent) (4-12 MP Sensor) Video Camera.
Clean ISO 25,600
On sensor focus and white balance capability.
Probably MirrorLess.
4k Video at 30 fps
1080P at 120 fps
Record all ProRes compressions + DNxHD 220, 45, and 36
SSD and SDXC UHS-2 240Mbps card slots.
Two batteries with capability to change one while the other is being used.
HDMI, Stereo mic, Stereo headset, USB 3, and external power ports.
Full Resolution 30 frames per second stills with at least one Gigabyte of in camera memory.

Price >$3000
 
Some tweaks.
Not FF sensor. super 35 or DX/APS-C. Much better.
Forget the mics. Just give me 96kHz/24bit audio recording and a pair of unbalanced pro audio jacks with pots for levels.
Ditch the DSLR form factor and give us the ultimate Nikon Indy/run-n-gun palmcorder.

RRRoger said:
Nikon FullFrame (35mm equivalent) (4-12 MP Sensor) Video Camera.
Clean ISO 25,600
On sensor focus and white balance capability.
Probably MirrorLess.
4k Video at 30 fps
1080P at 120 fps
Record all ProRes compressions + DNxHD 220, 45, and 36
SSD and SDXC UHS-2 240Mbps card slots.
Two batteries with capability to change one while the other is being used.
HDMI, Stereo mic, Stereo headset, USB 3, and external power ports.
Full Resolution 30 frames per second stills with at least one Gigabyte of in camera memory.

Price >$3000
Click to expand...
 
Although super 35 or APS-C may be better for Video,
I want FullFrame for the low light capability.

4 MegaPixels is actually enough for my use,
especially if it gives me higher useable ISO and frame rate.

The shape of the camera is only important to me if it enhances ergonomics.
I would prefer the smallest size that can house all the needed components,
but a good TriPod negates much of the weight problem.
 
APS-C with mirrorless mount so you can put a speedbooster in front of it. There, everybody happy: my 24mm stays ultra-wide-angle, and I get an extra stop of light, but people can also use their super-expensive cinema lenses too.
(yes, I have a speedbooster, and I love it; it's not as good as a real FF sensor in terms of sharpness, but it is equivalent in terms of FoV, DoF, and low light: http://www.similaar.com/foto/lenstestsff/lenstests_speedbooster.html)

I don't need more Mpix either, in fact I said I wanted the D5200 sensor on my dream camera, fully aware that it probably only outputs 2000x1080 when in video mode. The 5D3+RAW is sharp enough for me, so this would be too.
Frame rates would be a problem, though. My dream camera would have 200 fps but realistically I don't think that's going to happen in the next couple of years, at least not at a higher price or with some big downsides (probably DR).
 
Just posted this on Philp Bloom's ...
The Nikon D7100 for example has the right casing volume, sensor heat-sinking is solved by the Magnesium alloy body. So a perfect mashup could be a bit like this:
Panasonic GH3 functionality with all the missing features put in it
A DX or APS-C sized sensor for WA lens and DOF characteristics ( same as Super35) or the Speed booster adapter as you have just pointed out ( how does that affect DOF BTW?) . Dual card slots ( Nikon D7100)
Unbalanced audio inputs with 48kHz/24Bit as in any dinky PCM recorder.

I'm tired of a the 'betas' that they keep spitting out at us.
C300 & C500 are awesome cameras but there's room for a teweenie that bridges the gap between a GH3 say and a C300. The C100 seems not to be 'it' either.

We need the mashup!
 
Zephyrnoid said:
the Speed booster adapter as you have just pointed out ( how does that affect DOF BTW?)
Click to expand...

I have a NEX-5N. When I put the speedbooster on it, it becomes full frame, and the camera reports ISO as half of the actual value. Just that simple.

So, I get exactly the same FoV, DoF, and exposure, with the following:
* NEX-5N with Speedbooster, 50mm f/2.8, 1/50s, ISO 100
* 5D3----------------------, 50mm f/2.8, 1/50s, ISO 200

Except the 5D3 will be sharper if you've got a sensor with lots of Mpix. But apart from that, you get everything: FoV, DoF, and an extra stop of lowlight ability.
 
Samuel H said:
I have a NEX-5N. When I put the speedbooster on it, it becomes full frame, and the camera reports ISO as half of the actual value. Just that simple.

So, I get exactly the same FoV, DoF, and exposure, with the following:
* NEX-5N with Speedbooster, 50mm f/2.8, 1/50s, ISO 100
* 5D3----------------------, 50mm f/2.8, 1/50s, ISO 200

Except the 5D3 will be sharper if you've got a sensor with lots of Mpix. But apart from that, you get everything: FoV, DoF, and an extra stop of lowlight ability.
Click to expand...

Then It's not what I would want. I want to end up with the same FoV, DoF, and exposure as you would get from a Super35 or DX sized sensor. So I guess that means going GH3 + speed booster.
Really. If Panasonic gets the next truly breakthrough upgrade right, it would be enough.
Look at where KineRAW-MINI is going. That is where we need to go form-factor wise.
 
Independent film makers looking for yet another S35 format camera are spoiled for choice in today's market. What can Nikon offer them that Canon and Sony can't already, or will in their next release? At most a few tweaks and extra features that Canon and Sony can easily copy. So I hope Nikon concentrates on the underserved market of action videographers. To serve this market, the key features are:

1. A full frame sensor for insane low light performance.
2. Full 1920x1080 measured resolution with no aliasing or moire.
3. Very high frame rates for reasonable durations, at least 240 fps for at least 1 minute.
4. Instantaneous phase-detect autofocus with subject tracking during filming.
5. Dynamic range comparable to today's best still cameras (eg., D800/D4).
6. Full compatibility with all modern Nikon lenses.
7. Full PASM controls.

I think they have to offer multiple delivery modes. One mode for near real-time delivery (eg streaming) with a lightly-compressed broadcast-standard codec that can be transmitted wirelessly. Another mode for offline productions, with very high bit depth recording, eg., RAW or near RAW. A third mode for consumers, with a good H.254 codec.
 
I personally think there are a lot of spots wide open. For instance, there are ZERO fully featured large sensor camera bodies that shoot to a 4:2:2 editing codec for less than around 5 to 6 thousand, and even the ones at 5 to 6 thousand need external recorders to accomplish that. First camera maker to do that one simple thing will have a lot of interest from a lot of people. Imagine if the Nikon D7100 with it's very good moire/aliasing performance shot 10 bit 4:2:2 files like the $995 Black Magic camera does. Yes, one can buy a recorder for a MK3/D800/D5200/D7100 but the files have already gone through the poor video pipeline, as we have seen with ML on the MK3. Avoid the processing done by Canon and there's actually something very very nice there.
 
Zephyrnoid said:
Then It's not what I would want. I want to end up with the same FoV, DoF, and exposure as you would get from a Super35 or DX sized sensor. So I guess that means going GH3 + speed booster.
Click to expand...

No, you didn't get my point. Make the camera with an APS-C sensor (which is what you want), but use a short-flange-distance lens mount (I doubt Nikon would go that way but I would choose the NEX one) so that (a) nearly any manual lens can be used with the camera and (b) I can use a speedbooster so that the sensor becomes FF for me (but not for you: you can use a regular adapter).


noirist said:
Independent film makers looking for yet another S35 format camera are spoiled for choice in today's market. What can Nikon offer them that Canon and Sony can't already, or will in their next release?
Click to expand...
Lots of DR, recorded in RAW format to an SSD drive, for under $3K. It should be really easy for them to do this btw.


pulpfiction007 said:
10 bit 4:2:2
Click to expand...
Use that with a log profile that keeps all the DR from the sensor and a good debayering method and I'll be just as happy as with RAW recording. But it's a lot easier to record RAW than to do this, that's why I'm asking for RAW.
 
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pulpfiction007 said:
I personally think there are a lot of spots wide open. For instance, there are ZERO fully featured large sensor camera bodies that shoot to a 4:2:2 editing codec for less than around 5 to 6 thousand, and even the ones at 5 to 6 thousand need external recorders to accomplish that. First camera maker to do that one simple thing will have a lot of interest from a lot of people. Imagine if the Nikon D7100 with it's very good moire/aliasing performance shot 10 bit 4:2:2 files like the $995 Black Magic camera does. Yes, one can buy a recorder for a MK3/D800/D5200/D7100 but the files have already gone through the poor video pipeline, as we have seen with ML on the MK3. Avoid the processing done by Canon and there's actually something very very nice there.
Click to expand...


The FullFrame D800 in particular ($3k not 6) has clean HDMI out, right off the sensor.
It is possible to get clean HDMI out of the D7100 and D600 too.
A cheap external devices like BlackMagic Shuttle II and Ninja II can record 10 bit RAW or compressed 4:2:2 files.
 
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RRRoger said:
The FullFrame D800 in particular ($3k not 6) has clean HDMI out, right off the sensor.
It is possible to get clean HDMI out of the D7100 and D600 too.
A cheap external devices like BlackMagic Shuttle II and Ninja II can record 10 bit RAW or compressed 4:2:2 files.
Click to expand...

I do realize that, but it's an 8 bit output....not 10. You can record in 10 or what ever you'd like, but it's still an 8 bit stream. And not that I'm saying 10 vs 8 is something that's noticeable in and of itself, but the bottom line is that not all cameras 8 bits are equal given the same basic specs. Canon C100 8 bit 4:2:0 AVCHD looks really really good, while DSLR 8 bit throws away lots of info. Even going through HDMI doesn't get it back...because the quick and dirty typical DSLR downscale process happens before the signal gets to the HDMI port.

Even a well processed 8 bit 4:2:2 would be super...the root of the problem is DSLR video processing.
 
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