What camera would you choose?

[sunyata]

Which of these 4 camera profiles would you prefer, let's say that they are priced competitively and the other features are equal.

 

If you choose "other", please state your dream camera specs (within realm of what you feel is currently near possible and you might afford). 

 

I tried to model the choices on realistic trade-offs, one camera I wish existed but doesn't, and a new 4k consumer camera like the A7S. I am biased towards higher depth vs more pixels personally, full disclosure.

[Sean Cunningham]

[Ari]

I would be fine with a camera that has 20 stops of dynamic range, no need to have 30 stops.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_range

 

:P

[sunyata]

There is a difference between dynamic range in pure EE terms and what a sensor gets you in a camera in exposure stops.. The chip used in the BMPCC is rated at >88dB intra scene dynamic range and the BMPC is rated at 60dB, but the BMPCC advertises 13 exposure stops, BMPC advertises 12.

 

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/dynamic-range.htm

 

I can't find specifics on "stops" for the A7S either. I think they are trying to avoid that detail, possibly because it's actually low (due to the 8bit limit)? I don't know.

 

 

 

I agree with the cat.. 

[Guest Ebrahim Saadawi]

I love the bigger sensor aesthetic. In fact, I would still rather shoot my film on a 5D mkII (H.264) than on a 4K m43 (GH4) for example. Call me nuts, it's just how I like my image!

I think the moment I will see digital medium-format moving images (by that just-announced Pentax), is a moment I will fall in love.

So I would take full-frame over m43s anyday, and would take better color (1080p 4:2:2 10bit) over higher resolution (4K 4:2:0 8bit).

Thus third choice: 2K 4:2:2 10bit ProsRes in Fullframe.

Why do I always have to make a compromise though? Give me all three, fullframe, 10bit 4:2:2, AND 4K! :D

[Julian]

It's not all about the sensor. I would like to see the perfect hybrid camera for photography / video. I like fullframe for photo's, I don't mind (and like in some ways) M43 for video.

 

A 0,5x Speed Booster with fast AF and electronic functionality would be awesome. So you could have all the benefits of fullframe and m43 in one camera. It would also give you superfast lenses so you don't have to worry much about iso performance or shallow dof.

 

The GH4 is pretty much the perfect camera for me right now. Love the form factor.

If I could add features:

 

A bigger flip screen, without compromising size

Tiltable EVF, like the GX7 / Samsung NX30

4K 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording or with a small attachment, like a normal size battery grip, that doesn't cost $2K.

Compressed raw! Like RED.

Custom video aspect ratio's and anamorphic desqueeze for the screen/evf

Better quality 1080p slomo @ 120 fps, 720p @ 240 fps

 

Last but not least: 2x or 1.5x Anamorphic adapter like the SLR Magic (single focus, same price range), with character like a Kowa or Iscorama.

[sunyata]

So there is interest in an m43 10bit 4k 4:2:2 internal (like a firmware hack on the GH4) and a full frame or medium format 2k 10bit uncompressed. i really like the idea of a 120mm sensor with higher dynamic range that can shoot video, i know hasselblad is doing something similar for photos.

 

http://***URL removed***/news/2014/03/03/hasselblad-officially-launches-50mp-medium-format-cmos-camera

 

with a longer lens like an 80mm on a 120mm cmos sensor that could shoot 24p, that would be very cool.

 

edit: turns out the size of the hasselblad "medium format cmos sensor" is actually only 32.9 x 43.8mm