5k prores?

If shooting cinemaDNG takes up more memory than Pro-res, how come Blackmagic Design can't create the BMCC to capture 5k, 4k, or at least, 2.5k Pro-res codec?

They're planning on releasinga firmware with 12k ProRes soon.



Sorry, of course just kidding. Eating up more memory-space does not mean it uses more procession power as well. I guess the codec which compresses the signal eats a lot of CPU-power, so there is not not much left within that hardware-architecture and the given price-range of the BMC.

I for one am not fully sold on 4k yet. Don't get me wrong I do like the idea of the extra definition but with 24fps still standard I've yet to see any truly noticeable results that blows my mind and makes me notice any difference at my local cinema. With the way the BMCC appears to give better sharpness at 2.5k than a red at 4k then I reckon uppscaling to 4k isn't going to be much of a problem. If Roged Deakins filmed Skyfall at 2.8k and just upscaled to 4k then it's good enough for me.

I for one am not fully sold on 4k yet. Don't get me wrong I do like the idea of the extra definition but with 24fps still standard I've yet to see any truly noticeable results that blows my mind and makes me notice any difference at my local cinema. With the way the BMCC appears to give better sharpness at 2.5k than a red at 4k then I reckon uppscaling to 4k isn't going to be much of a problem. If Roged Deakins filmed Skyfall at 2.8k and just upscaled to 4k then it's good enough for me.

there was a video floating around comparing the bmcc to the alexa and red. showed that the bmcc is crazy sharp and has plenty of detail. resolution past 2k is a number's game.

Also, elephant in the room: the bmcc sensor is not capable of 5k due to its size. even if you could get the processing power, the sensor simply does not have physical ability to output that resolution... (unless I'm wrong)

The BMCC is a tool. But also a niche product on the lower end of the cost scale. If you NEED 4k then its honestly not the right tool for the job. Youre better off with a c500 or Epic or f65. Most cinemas are totally fine at 2k. Hell some pictures are still shot on DSLRs and still manage just fine on the big screen.

If upgrades are in this cameras future id prefer a compressed raw codec. Prores hq 422 is literally the broadcast limit for the vast majority of applications. I dont think the Bmcc can do anything more than it does now without hardware upgrades. Asking for 10bit prores 4k at this price point would be be way more than this range could hold. Look at the 1dc.

I for one am not fully sold on 4k yet. Don't get me wrong I do like the idea of the extra definition but with 24fps still standard I've yet to see any truly noticeable results that blows my mind and makes me notice any difference at my local cinema. With the way the BMCC appears to give better sharpness at 2.5k than a red at 4k then I reckon uppscaling to 4k isn't going to be much of a problem. If Roged Deakins filmed Skyfall at 2.8k and just upscaled to 4k then it's good enough for me.

there was a video floating around comparing the bmcc to the alexa and red. showed that the bmcc is crazy sharp and has plenty of detail. resolution past 2k is a number's game.

Also, elephant in the room: the bmcc sensor is not capable of 5k due to its size. even if you could get the processing power, the sensor simply does not have physical ability to output that resolution... (unless I'm wrong)

There is an important point to note that both the Alexa and Epic are softened optically, whereas the BMCC is not. Had the Epic been shown at its full 5k not down scaled then the effect of its resolution would have been more apparent. In other words the Epic and Alexia are deliberately softer by design of the camera and we weren't seeing 5k there we were seeing it down scaled, now down scaling 5k should produce a sharper, more detailed 2k shot than 2k or 2.5k, but this is before the softening effect of the camera. Anyone who paid attention would have noticed that the sharpness was unwanted. The detail and ability to punch in when delivering to 2k/HD of 4k and 5k is useful, and if you can show 4k the difference is huge, a lot more than just numbers.

You are quite correct the BMCC has a 2.5k Resolution sensor, without a new sensor a resolution increase cannot happen. This is not the only issue here, encoding a 4k prores file is likely also beyond the capabilities of the cameras processing. And likely the power requirements etc of such a sensor and extra processing would also require greater cooling than the BMCC currently has.

In short almost an entirly new camera.

There is an important point to note that both the Alexa and Epic are softened optically, whereas the BMCC is not. Had the Epic been shown at its full 5k not down scaled then the effect of its resolution would have been more apparent. In other words the Epic and Alexia are deliberately softer by design of the camera and we weren't seeing 5k there we were seeing it down scaled, now down scaling 5k should produce a sharper, more detailed 2k shot than 2k or 2.5k, but this is before the softening effect of the camera. Anyone who paid attention would have noticed that the sharpness was unwanted. The detail and ability to punch in when delivering to 2k/HD of 4k and 5k is useful, and if you can show 4k the difference is huge, a lot more than just numbers.

You are quite correct the BMCC has a 2.5k Resolution sensor, without a new sensor a resolution increase cannot happen. This is not the only issue here, encoding a 4k prores file is likely also beyond the capabilities of the cameras processing. And likely the power requirements etc of such a sensor and extra processing would also require greater cooling than the BMCC currently has.

In short almost an entirly new camera.

I did pay attention and did know that the sharpness was unwanted, but if as I said it's good enough for Roger Deakins to upscale 2.8 to 4k then I'm fine with it at the mo.