ivanguar wrote:Hi,
I have a question. Why is it that all the connections are on the left side of the camera, that is, right on the face of the camera operator when he has the camera on his shoulder? Shouldn't the media slot be on the left and all the cables out of the way, that is on the right? I'm 100% sure somebody has point this out before, since we, all the professional cameramen, hate to have cables and connections interfering with our view of the scene. Also, in case I need to connect a view finder, the way a professional cameraman would do, I wouldn't be able to operate, since all the connections would be hitting me in the face. I'm sure you guys have a reason for this and if possible, I would like to know it. Another question I have is if there is any other way to access the menus other than the touch screen. The reason being that once I configure the camera for hand held, with external battery on the back and counterweight, it becomes impossible to access the touchscreen easily. I'm sure you guys have an answer for this. I'm also sure that it wasn't your intention to replicate the ridiculous design of a DSLR camera, precisely because these cameras were meant for stills, and only secondarily for video. Sorry if I sound very frustrated. I am, since I was expecting BM would solve these problems, which are what kept me away from buying the previous model. Thank you kindly.
Definitive answers to "why?" questions are often slow in coming.
Typically a better use of our time, as end-users, is to figure out how we can make best use of products as they are, because that's something we have control over.
In the case of the ergonomics of the original BMCC and the new BMPC-4K cameras, they share the identical case design, which as you say, has the I/O connections on the operator's left side, and with SSD door on the right.
I suspect the reason for this is that the first BMCC was partly designed as a alternative to popular DSLR cameras, which typically are grasped by the right hand (on the right side of the camera body), and with the left hand under the body & operating the lens. If the I/O connections were on the right, you couldn't hold the camera the same way.
And, like with DSLRs, the LCD is on the rear of the camera. Since the BMCC's LCD is a touchscreen, you need ready access to it to control the camera.
For handheld & tripod use the BMCC's design is completely workable in most situations. Not perfect, but it works.
If you decide to operate a BMCC on your shoulder by attaching the camera to a shoulder rig, you'll need to accommodate the camera's design. For example, you might use cables with right-angle plugs at the camera end. You might also use a wired remote LANC controller to start/stop recording & perform other functions. Complete control of the camera is only possible by at least occasionally accessing the LCD on the rear of the camera. You may attach an external on-camera monitor or EVF.
My guess as to why the new BMPC-4K camera's body is the same as the BMCC is to help keep the new camera's cost down and to help speed it to market. No new engineering was required, probably saving BMD months of time. Importantly, all 3rd party rigs & other accessories designed to work with the original camera also work with the new one.
Future BMD cameras may have completely different designs, possibly including aspects of "traditional" pro video & cinema camera designs. It's unknowable if or when that might happen.
I find the ergonomics of the BMCC to be acceptable -- especially given the extraordinary quality of the video it can produce for such a low price. The new BMPC-4K looks very promising, too, which is why I've pre-ordered one.
Cheers.
P.S.: And, because no camera design is perfect, there's a l-o-n-g BMCC feature request thread here:
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