beginner's questions

Hi,

i'm thinking about ordering a Blackmagic cinema camera, but have a couple of questions:

• What's the allowed operating temperature/ air humidity? Is it "just" an indoor-studio camera or can it be used in outdoor production environments (i'm talking about: 40º celcius, direct sun exposure)
• is it possible to remote-control the focus e.g. on a camera crane?
• is it possible to obtain a sample of raw footage somewhere to see if it fits well in my existing post-production environment?

Hi,

i'm thinking about ordering a Blackmagic cinema camera, but have a couple of questions:

• What's the allowed operating temperature/ air humidity? Is it "just" an indoor-studio camera or can it be used in outdoor production environments (i'm talking about: 40º celcius, direct sun exposure)
• is it possible to remote-control the focus e.g. on a camera crane?
• is it possible to obtain a sample of raw footage somewhere to see if it fits well in my existing post-production environment?

In a thread about BMCC temperature, BMD has told us the camera will operate from 0 to 40 C.

You can control the camera (at least start/stop) with a LANC.

CinemaDNG raw footage is available in the AFTERGLOW thread.

I've used it extensively in hostile environments like the beach and outdoors and it's had no issues working at all.

They seem to have very good thermal management but I haven't as yet used in in very hot conditions. We're juts going into an Aussie summer now, so I should get a chance to soon.

I believe BMD say it's good till 40 Deg C.

The camera has LANC control, which supports start and stop and in some cases focus, though it's very slow.

It would likely be better if you had a lens with a focus gear and then used an external focus control.

RAW footage is available in the thread called AFTERGLOW.

jb

Already hitting 35C up here in Brisbane. Scorchers and its not even Summer yet!

It sounds like the camera is actually quite a stable device, would you say John? I here RED this, RED that but so far I've heard barely anything about BMCC instability except the odd bug (like the fixed magenta highlights issue).

Its gonna be minus 40 where I am.
Sadly, I probably wont get to test that theory till next year when this camera is the norm.

Whilst that's true Nick, there are a lot more RED cameras out there than BMCC's

In a thread about BMCC temperature, BMD has told us the camera will operate from 0 to 40 C.

Seriously? I would have preferred something like -10° to 30°.

In a thread about BMCC temperature, BMD has told us the camera will operate from 0 to 40 C.

Seriously? I would have preferred something like -10° to 30°.

What makes you think they have that kind of control over how different components react to cold temperatures? There isn't a magic slider you can use to set it you know... Just sayin'

My Canon 1DIII is spec'ed to operate 0-40 as well. I've shot for 2 hours in -30C here in the cold, cold north. No issues.

Any system is only as strong as it's weakest link, and as other have pointed out, there is probably a component or two that has a limited operating range that sets the range for the camera in general. However, it's not to say the camera WON'T function outside of that range.

I do know batteries HATE the cold. I can shoot almost 2000 images/day in a cold (-6C) arena for a hockey tournament and still have 10% battery left in my 1DIII....but that shoot at -30, the battery was about to die after 2 hours and only 80-100 shots. Cold kills batteries.

We also know certain electronics in these cameras behave badly when overheated. There is a reason the BMCC and RED and C300, etc...all have fans.

So unless you are engineering a camera to operate outside of normal, environmental conditions, (which would mean the operating temp is priority, not low noise, DR, etc) this is pretty standard.

So, perhaps this might not be a beginner question. But, I've been surfing for external battery solutions, since 90 minute running time is only just too short for me.

I ran into these babies,

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/6 ... 3450i.html

So, could the BMCC be run on something like that? (Yes I saw the switronix, but if possible I'd like to keep battery budget to a minimum and invest in some glass instead)

Around 3 hours if you calculate really roughly. Maybe a bit less.