Messages

1

EOS Bodies / Re: New 5D3 Raw video samples mind blowing!

« on: May 14, 2013, 03:44:05 AM »

This is insanely awesome.

But keep in mind:
* no audio recording
* only 24 minutes of 1920x1080 24fps RAW video in a very expensive 128GB 1000x CF card
* when editing on a very fast computer, playback is around 1.5fps

2

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: The Blackmagic Production Camera 4K

« on: April 12, 2013, 04:43:09 AM »

What Canon needs to do to be able to compete with BlackMagic:
* bring, at least, 10-bit 422 internal recording with a high bitrate, to DSLRs --> they may need new processors for this
* unlock the dynamic range of the cameras --> they may need new sensors for this
So, they're in a nasty place.
All their fault, though, they new this is what consumers wanted for the last 3 or 4 years, and did nothing about it.

3

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: The Blackmagic Production Camera 4K

« on: April 11, 2013, 07:21:38 AM »

Let me just get this straight, so it has the same sensor size as the 5D Mkiii and only costs $500 more at there releases and it shoots 4K raw...

Close, with one very important correction: Super 35mm is a film format that is approximately APS-C size.

I was thinking that but then I saw the part about it sharing stuff with the new Leica

The size of the sensor as listed on the BH photo page is 21.12 x 11.88mm which is 16x9.
Equivalent crop is 2.0 vertically, 1.7 horizontally from full frame. So its actually smaller than APS-C

That's the active area in quad-HD mode. The sensor is 22.5x16.9 mm (vs 22.3x14.9 for the 18mpix APS-C sensor, for example).
If it can record 4096x2160, it will be 1.6x crop. If it can only do 3840x2160, then it is 1.7x crop (that is, using my rule that only the most restrictive dimension counts, in this case the horizontal one).

The biggest problem for Canon is not resolution, but codec: they've crippled their cameras into irrelevance

BMD:
$1K: pocket BMC: 10-bit 4:2:2 Prores, compressed 12-bit RAW
$3K: original BMC: 10-bit 4:2:2 Prores, uncompressed 12-bit RAW
$4K: BMC-4K: 10-bit 4:2:2 Prores, compressed 12-bit RAW

$3K: 5D3: 8-bit 4:2:0 H.264

in a few weeks the 5D3 will do 8bit 4:2:2 lossless over HDMI and add say $700 for Ninja2 and you get 8bit 4:2:2: proRes (would be so awesome if they gave 10bits)

well, yes, but you said it yourself: 4:2:2 is nice, but that's still 8-bit

4

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Save $1000 on the Canon EOS C100

« on: April 10, 2013, 04:25:41 AM »

The 1DC doesn't have ND filters or XLR inputs either. And, still, it's 4 times the price of the BMC-4K, even though it records 8-bit H.264 instead of 10-bit 4:2:2 ProRes or 12-bit RAW.

5

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: The Blackmagic Production Camera 4K

« on: April 10, 2013, 04:24:30 AM »

The biggest problem for Canon is not resolution, but codec: they've crippled their cameras into irrelevance

BMD:
$1K: pocket BMC: 10-bit 4:2:2 Prores, compressed 12-bit RAW
$3K: original BMC: 10-bit 4:2:2 Prores, uncompressed 12-bit RAW
$4K: BMC-4K: 10-bit 4:2:2 Prores, compressed 12-bit RAW

Canon:
$1K: 18 Mpix DSLR: 8-bit 4:2:0 H.264
$3K: 5D3: 8-bit 4:2:0 H.264
$6K: 1DX: 8-bit 4:2:0 H.264
$6K: C100: 8-bit 4:2:0 H.264 (could easily do 8-bit 4:2:2 if they wanted)
$12K: 1DC: 8-bit 4:2:0 H.264
$14K: C300: 8-bit 4:2:2 H.264
$30K: C500 with external recorder: 12-bit RAW if you're recording 2K, 10-bit RAW if you want 4K

Basically, if 8-bit color is not enough for you, you can get something better by spending $1K-$4K on a BMD camera, or >$30K on a Canon.

And yes, I've used a BMC, and the image is extremely awesome (of course, the ergonomics and menus could be A LOT better; it doesn't even have a histogram, or onything like that).

6

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Save $1000 on the Canon EOS C100

« on: April 09, 2013, 09:38:37 AM »

Still extremely expensive, as soon as the BMC 4K camera hits the stores.
For another $2K less you get 4K instead of 1080p, 10-bit prores instead of 8-bit 4:2:0 H.264, and global shutter.
Yes, I know it does have some downsides. But it's much cheaper, and better where it counts most (to me).

7

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: What does Vincent Laforet Think is a Game Changer?

« on: April 05, 2013, 03:59:51 AM »

It's out, visit his blog.

It's a $15K stabilitation system ($7.5K version coming down the road).

Not a game changer for people without that kind of budget, I'm afraid...

8

EOS Bodies / Re: Big Megapixel Development Announcement in the Fall? [CR2]

« on: March 25, 2013, 04:29:01 AM »

so canon user will get a 8000 euro high MP camera while nikon user get a high MP camera for 2200 euro.

Correction:

so canon user will get a 8000 euro high MP camera in 2014Q1 at the earliest while nikon user get a high MP camera for 3000 eur in 2012Q1

There you go, much better now.

9

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon Announces the EOS T5i

« on: March 21, 2013, 10:31:21 AM »

They would, if cows had any money to spend on cameras.
As it stands, they're trying to milk us.
I can tell you it won't work with me.

10

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS-b Images Leak & a New Kit Lens

« on: March 19, 2013, 12:35:48 PM »

edit: deleted, I got the D3200 weight wrong, this is actually about 15% lighter than a D3200

11

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS-b Images Leak & a New Kit Lens

« on: March 19, 2013, 10:48:31 AM »

Now, the Nikon D3200 is 9.35 oz (265 g) and $600 with the lens.
Everybody's guess is that this is the same old Canon sensor, in a 370-407g camera that sells for $800.
What is Canon trying to do here? I don't get it.

12

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Canon Center Pinch Lens Caps Now Shipping

« on: February 26, 2013, 03:29:29 AM »

Wow! They look great! Just like the $2 knockoffs from ebay I've been using for years!

13

EOS Bodies / Re: New Cinema Camera & Lenses for NAB 2013

« on: February 12, 2013, 11:46:50 AM »

Three cinema bodies that seem so similar.

C100: 4:2:0 color subsampling
C300: 4:2:2 color subsampling
C500: RAW video

so, it's as if you had 3 versions of the 5D3, one that only shoots low quality JPG, one that shoots high quality JPG, and one that shoots RAW stills
hardly similar...

(what I don't know is what the new model will offer, and how similar it will be to the others)
(we could also argue about why Canon thinks it can get away with milking the market with these artificially differentiated models...)

14

EOS Bodies / Re: *UPDATE* EOS 70D is Coming, The Future of Pro APS-C Will Change

« on: February 02, 2013, 04:05:13 AM »

Is this really news?

What are the chances of:
* a 70D not being release at some point in the future
* Canon saying 7D2 won't have improved specs over 7D

15

PowerShot / Re: New PowerShots for CP+, no DSLRs.

« on: January 29, 2013, 03:58:13 AM »

Canon is really stupid they should lunch the 7D mk2 before Nikon lunches the D400.

Quite the opposite: It's smart to have the competition show their cards first, then design a Canon version that is produced as cheap as possible, sold as expensive as possible while keeping some marketing joker (like the af sensitivity of the 6d).

Canon market research most probably has shown that old school dslr users are very slow to change brand, and because they're late in the tech race Canon won't be able to stop early adopters anyway ("I want high mp and dr now").

So after a Nikon announcement they have 2-3 month time to cook up something for themselves, which probably will be the 70d = 60d + wifi + gps + touchscreen + afma + fw gimmicks for a start....

The camera is so slow to design that the reaction happens in the next generation, a couple of years down the road. The only reaction after the other camp has shown their cards is to choose your price. Which you can also do if you released your camera a few months earlier.

From their previous record with firmware updates that add functionality or correct severe problems, even thinking that they could add AFMA in less than 3-6 months is optimistic (and again: you can do that with a firmware update).

I see no downside to being first to market: you set a high price and skim the upper part of the market while you're the only guy in town, then you bring the price down if you must when the competition arrives.