Tzedekh

Anyone know anything about the GH5's hybrid log-gamma HDR mode and how much, if at all, it extends dynamic range? 

Why can't it send a raw signal directly to the XQD cards the same way that the Ursa sends one to its CFast cards? CineForm RAW 4K at 24 fps is typically 50-75 MBps, well within the rating of an XQD card. Higher-speed ones could handle 4K at 60, 96, or even 120 fps (though the FS7 tops out at 60 fps). By the way, CineForm is the basis of SMPTE's newish VC-5 standard.

It could also give us 12-bit 4:4:4 8K (8,192 x 4,320) at up to 120 fps.

About $75 million.

About $75 million.

They probably never will. The dynamic range figure they quote is a computed value, not an observed one as "X stops" would imply. It's derived with the following equation:
 
dynamic range in dB = 20 x log(fullwell capacity ÷ readout noise)
 
As you can probably guess, this is a theoretical figure, not an observed one gotten by looking at a chart. And the "X stops" figure we toss around here is derived from that figure (i.e., by dividing by 6). That's why I'm a little suspicious of BMD's 12-stop claim for the 4K Pro camera, as the theoretical limit is 10 stops without the CMV12000's HDR tricks. Of course, the CMV could in practice be somewhat better than its specs suggest, but it's unlikely to be two stops better.

One of the factors limiting frame rates is the overall bandwidth that the camera can handle. Red used to rate things RedCode 28, RedCode 36, RedCode 42, etc., with the number signifiying the approximate overall data rate in megabytes per second. Assuming the sensor could handle a particular higher frame rate, either each frame had to be compressed more or the RedCode number had to increase. Of course, due to a number of factors, there was a  maximum a model could reach without overheating or otherwise failing.
 
If the same is true of BMD's 4K camera, why won't they consider a lossy compression format like CineForm RAW? By reducing the data per frame, more frames per second should theoretically be possible, and at 12 bits, the CMV12000 can do 90 fps.

"Unmotivated steady shots"? What's next? An epidemic of films with shots that are inexplicably exposed, focused, and framed properly? Oh, the horror!

That is why I said effective f/stop. And according to the documentation, with the Speed Booster, the effective focal length and f/stop are indeed changed. I'm not confused.

[quote name='TC' timestamp='1349875780' post='19558']
"Improved RAW coded" sounds suspicious, not just because of the typo. It is quite difficult to "improve" raw. It is exactly what it says it is - the raw data from the camera. You could compress it to make you hard discs go further, but I wouldn't really call that an improvement.
[/quote]

It's possible that they've finally licensed CineForm RAW, which has a number of compression levels, including uncompressed. Considering that Adobe doesn't appear to be motivated to improve CinemaDNG support in Premier Pro and CineForm RAW is already supported, addition of the latter to the BMC's codecs would be a wise move.

When it comes to OLPFs, less is moire.

[quote name='TC' timestamp='1348190972' post='18779']
One last thing. Blackmagic have stated in interviews that after they announced their camera, they were contacted by other sensor manufacturers who wanted to sell sensors. You can bet the sales reps at those companies weren't just picking up the phone to Blackmagic. All you need now to produce a video camera is a sensor, processing chip, screen and lens mount. All pretty commoditised these days. Blackmagic will be the first of many companies that have never made a camera who enter this market.
[/quote]

In theory, this may be true, but in practice it hasn't proved so easy. Blackmagic Design already had a proven track record with much of the technology used in its camera, but even BMD's been experiencing issues, particularly in the supply chain. And as we've learned from the history of the Red Scarlet, timing is everything. The apparent excitement over the BMC has affirmed the viability of Red's original, nonmodular design, which, if Red had released it in 2009 as planned, would now be three years old. It would have undoubtedly gone through at least one update. And there would have been no reason for BMD to develop the BMC as currently specced. If BMD falls six or eight months behind, who knows, some other company may release a better-specced camera and preempt the BMC.

[quote name='EOSHD' timestamp='1346853352' post='17365']Anything below $1000 is [i]very[/i] good for a 4K firmware update.
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Sshh. Don't tell Sony.