wcapps1 wrote:Well, here is at least some info. We are in preproduction for an indy feature and we really wanted to shoot it on a BMCC. My DP has a friend at one of the big US resellers. His friend had about the same news we all have and they are at a loss at what is going on at BM. He gave my DP the number of his contact at BM. So, my DP called the guy and talked to him for a while. Basically, we were told that if the "second wave" of cameras don't go out in the next 2 weeks, we will probably not see the camera until after the new year.
I know it is not much but at least it is something! I am a PR Director by trade and I truly believe that that whoever is running their communications department will end up costing this company a lot of money. The community understands that things happen in developing a new product but the lack of communication is causing rumors, speculation and mistrust in the company. It is truly PR 101 stuff here!
Well at least there is a sliver of possibility that the "second wave" could still go out in the next 2 weeks.
If he issue is just the sensor glass and not some other manufacturing problem, then I would guess they're either still waiting on glass or they got the glass and the cameras are still not passing the QC process. They've got some issue that they're trying to work out with their manufacturing process.
The first round of cameras went out and we haven't heard any reports of faulty cameras yet, so we know they can build them. But maybe there is a difference between the way they produced the prototype batch and how they are ramping up production for mass quantity and they're trying to work it out. There is a multitude of possibilities on the table, but if it's not for sure out of the question and they still hope to resolve the issue in the coming weeks then it sounds like something that they're trying to work out. They don't have a timeline because they don't have a solution to the problem. Maybe something broke on their manufacturing line and it's not an easy part to fix? Although, for legal reasons, they probably couldn't blame the chip manufacturer if it wasn't true. So either the glass company or the chip company is the issue or BM is having problems in the QC process and their running diagnostics all day long crossing their fingers that the next step of troubleshooting will work. Admitting that they're having trouble manufacturing cameras isn't really going to install confidence in consumers so they probably have to hope they can figure it out.
I was planning to shoot an Indy feature with the BMCC too, so I'm really disappointed. Renting a RED is fine for commercials or Music Vids but the cost of producing a feature goes up astronomically as opposed to owning a camera that can do the job.
And just like all the everyone else on this thread, it's frustrating more than anything to sit with no answers or information. The fear is that if I decide to go with purchasing a different camera, I'll get that update email that cameras are shipping. If we had an update with a realistic timeline or an explanation then all of us trying to make production decisions could just weigh the options and move on. That glimmer of wishful thinking will eventually run out but for now is frustrating.
Thu Oct 11, 2012 10:28 pm
