Tue Apr 16, 2024 2:29 pm
I found the interview with President Dan May to be the most telling about the design process for the camera division. There are two cameras released: The Pyxis is designed to sell below $3,000 while including the extra expenses any new design incurs. They’ve considered much if not everything we are mentioning about the Pyxis’ limitations within the context of what they know to be the constraints of cost and physical space. We might well say now, “I’d be willing to pay another $1,000 if it included a fully articulating monitor similar to the URSA Cine and quality internal NDs.” But they know for the introductory model, it will receive greater acceptance for those who can live without those two additions at this time.
Do not underestimate the importance of the evolution of a particular product line, actually most of BMD’s product lines outside of Cintel. Case in point, look at the capabilities of the launch of the Pocket camera that could fit into your pocket. With that physical design goal met and truly massive adoption by shooters, the cost even went down dramatically over time. But the BMPCC HD sub mirrorless ~> BMCC6K full frame is a progression over time generally adding features and capabilities incrementally while incrementally growing their market appeal.
The Pyxis is incomplete and completely unsatisfactory as a higher-end product. In a way it’s a step back from the features of the latest Pocket iteration while at the same time introducing a new form factor that may target a new audience disenchanted with the pseudo DSLR form. But BMD is just getting started with Pyxis. I certainly don’t know what is coming and when it will arrive; it could be in a year but that will depend upon market acceptance today. The BMPCC took off like a rocket to power several generations of improvements at higher costs. If Pyxis takes off, it will follow that trajectory.
The second camera introduced is the URSA Cine a complete contradiction of the design philosophy discussed above. After a dozen years of cautiously staying the course, carefully disruptive, Grant Petty has unleashed a dragon of a camera that may as well breathe fire and scorch its adversaries. Various design components are an evolution of what has gone before, but the revolution is encapsulated in the entreaty to design a camera without thinking about the cost, just build the best camera you can today.
But don’t minimize the fact that this too will be improved over time if it takes off. The URSA has its share of detractors, it was said to be too heavy, it was ridiculed for having a 10” built-in fold out monitor, it assumed you had a small crew to operate it. It had it supporters too that pointed out that there were heavier cameras in use, that the 10” opened up the world to easier viewing and greater precision, and it could be used by a sole operator. But it didn’t take off. And it took 12 years for BMD to release its successor!
URSA Cine is both expensive and inexpensive depending upon where you look. I think some of us are in shock and that is completely understandable since no one expected a camera above $10,000, especially after the last interaction of the URSA Mini started at $10,000 and was significantly reduced later. But $15,000 has arrived.
And it’s inexpensive as you begin to break it down into the components: there’s a long list of achievements in this design. I likely can’t list them all because I don’t have the competency to do so. Here’s a short list:
Their propriety RGBW CFA with a second generation full-frame 12K sensor with 16 stops HDR in part due to larger 2.9 micron photosites. With a 17K stretch sensor already done, we saw it! Just wait, the sensor nobody asked for, nobody needs, nobody wants, nobody will buy, is coming in the next camera iteration. You know you could say the same for all those European cars that exceed 120 mph and $100,000 but are essentially just four wheels and a board.
Their 8 TB recording module included in the base configuration (with 16 TB coming later) using SSD technology that exceeds the performance of CFexpress which will be an optional module if buyers prefer to use their existing cards at the cost of reduced recording capabilities.
That fold-out, fully articulating 5” monitor that displays your shooting frame or rotates to show a status window if you prefer. That assistant side monitor that displays more than your shooting frame when no one has an assistant anymore, at least not an assistant that works beside you. Assistants are all working from home, not on your set, and controlling your camera remotely while scrolling their phones. Right.
There is a host of small features new to BMD, new functionality with USB-C connectors, new 24V support (or 12V if you want), new connectors (but no genlock), Ethernet, Lemo.
When we get over the sticker shock, this camera will find a place as will its future iterations.
Rick Lang
But for those in a 'budget-friendly' HDMI-only ecosystem, isn't this solved by small, inexpensive converters? I always carry a few when I'm shooting... just in case. 
