Blackmagic Forum

It’s fine to prefer the default image coming out of an older camera. But the emphasis being placed on the sensor manufacturer alone does not make sense.

If the sensor manufacturer as a variable actually had the impact on the finished image that some posts in this thread (and similar threads) claim, then it would be possible to look at a bunch of Hollywood movies and visibly determine the sensor manufacturer. But it’s not possible to do because there are so many other variables in the process between light entering the camera lens to the final display on screen such that by the end of a professional post pipeline the variable of sensor manufacturer leaves no uniquely visible impact.

To be clear, I’m not saying Sony and Fairchild hardware are identical. What I’m saying is that by the time the sensor is incorporated into a camera by BMD with all the unique work that takes, and then you add the production variables, and all the post processing variables to yield a finished image on screen, any difference between whether Sony made that sensor or Fairchild did is essentially moot.

Jamie LeJeune wrote:It’s fine to prefer the default image coming out of an older camera. But the emphasis being placed on the sensor manufacturer alone does not make sense.

If the sensor manufacturer as a variable actually had the impact on the finished image that some posts in this thread (and similar threads) claim, then it would be possible to look at a bunch of Hollywood movies and visibly determine the sensor manufacturer. But it’s not possible to do because there are so many other variables in the process between light entering the camera lens to the final display on screen such that by the end of a professional post pipeline the variable of sensor manufacturer leaves no uniquely visible impact.

To be clear, I’m not saying Sony and Fairchild hardware are identical. What I’m saying is that by the time the sensor is incorporated into a camera by BMD with all the unique work that takes, and then you add the production variables, and all the post processing variables to yield a finished image on screen, any difference between whether Sony made that sensor or Fairchild did is essentially moot.

So what you are saying is there is no discernable differences images from dual gain Fairchild sensor to cut in with Alexa footages than it would be with a Sony dual ISO sensor after all variables have been considered?

It’s more that I’m saying there are so many variables beyond just the sensor fabrication that it’s impossible to state with any certainty that that variable alone makes the significant difference. There’s no way to isolate it after the fact. Go back in the thread and read Hook's earlier response where he explains the work that goes into moving the sensor data into the camera manufacturers color space.

Those in the thread stating that they prefer the original pocket *becasue* its sensor was made by Fairchild vs a newer BMD camera with a sensor made by Sony, they are conflating a number of more important variables that simply can't be reduced down to just the company that did the sensor fabrication.
They may well prefer the default image coming out of one BMD camera over another as a starting point for achieving a desired result. But to identify the sensor being made by Fairchild or Sony as the source of what they do or don't like about it, that's completely ignores all the other variables that go into actually getting any sensor to create an image that can be viewed. BMD does not simply pick a sensor and stick it in a housing. There's months/years of careful work that goes into getting a good default image out of that sensor. It's not just the sensor hardware that separates these BMD cameras.

It's much more the color science that separates cameras.
Both Sony themselves and Nikon use Sony sensors, but the images don't look the same.

Color science is the 'secret sauce' of camera manufacturers, and BM is doing a pretty good job there. That's what makes some of their cameras 'baby Alexas', not the sensors.

I personally prefer my 6k pro over the OG Pocket camera any day any time, but i do like the sense of dept the OG pocket has over the 6k pro

Joenkeck wrote:Can’t wait for 2025 when everyone is remembering how good we had it with the pocket 4K/6k and wishing blackmagic would go back to their Sony sensors.

2025? What will happen is the following:
The original pocket, the bmcc and all other blackmagic cameras with the fairchild sensor, will be searched like crazy on ebay, mbp and everywhere and sold for good money. While the cameras with sony sensor are nothing special and will be cheaper to get.

You can observe this partly now already in 2022/23.

Personally I have nothing against the Sony sensors but I do find that the perceived image quality is a bit worse than the older Fairchild sensors, hence why I chose to buy a used Micro instead of a new Pocket 4k.

I do agree, however, that there is absolutely no point in returning to the Fairchild sensors when the new RGBWWW sensor in the 12K looks better in every way.