Blackmagic Forum

Hello all!

I am a cinematographer and action designer that films a lot of stunts and action. We tend to utilize undercranking frame rates to play back realtime to speed up action, from driving scenes to fight scenes.
Other cameras may list this as "S&Q" like the Sony line.
Example: Filming at 22fps to play at 24fps.

Does any of the Black Magic cameras have the ability to record at a slower frame rate?
I have been looking at the Pyxis 12k as a contender for a project due to the resolution for VFX.
But I'm hung up on whether or not undercranking will be possible.


- Thanks

I think all BMD cameras include this capability under the menu selection for off-speed recording. It can allow you to record more or less frame rates compared to your selected project frame rate subject to the limitations of the particular camera. Certainly you can record 22 or less frame rates for 24 fps project frame rate playback to speed up action as well as say 33 fps for 30 fps project frame rates to slow down the action.

It’s two step menu selection where you
1) define the off-speed frame rate desired. That does nothing until you
2) select the enable offspeed recording setting aka HFR button.

You need to be aware that BM's cameras are treating things a bit old-school: the project speed is the "projector" speed (which can also be changed in post) and the off-speed setting is the recording speed.

I would still like to have, if possible, to have lower off speed frame rates. Currently the URSA 12K has 12fps minimum and the 4K pocket 6fps. Both cameras are capable of time lapse. My reason is so that I can get more motion blur with time lapse. It seems that this would only be a mater of programing longer shutter speeds. I can provide additional neutral density filters as needed.

Maybe include something like 2 fps, 1 fps, 2 spf (.5 fps), 4 spf, 8 spf
Or maybe better, something like a shutter angle depending on the time lapse setting. For example: 180 deg for a ten second lapse would give a 5 sec exposure.

tomtomtheninja wrote:Hello all!

I am a cinematographer and action designer that films a lot of stunts and action. We tend to utilize undercranking frame rates to play back realtime to speed up action, from driving scenes to fight scenes.
Other cameras may list this as "S&Q" like the Sony line.
Example: Filming at 22fps to play at 24fps.

Does any of the Black Magic cameras have the ability to record at a slower frame rate?
I have been looking at the Pyxis 12k as a contender for a project due to the resolution for VFX.
But I'm hung up on whether or not undercranking will be possible.


- Thanks

I think most Blackmagic cameras can get to about 12fps using off speed. 22fps/24fps is easy.

Thanks for the insight everyone!