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Digital Bolex - the first affordable, super 16mm RAW shooting camera?

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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
http://www.digitalbolex.com/

check this out, what an awesome concept. Looks so awesome! for $2500 you can pick one up with a c mount (which are pretty cheap and quality lenses). I'd really love to try one out and see what it can do.
Mar 13 2012 9:51AM
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CliffyByro
Posts: 5678 - Karma: 3,903
OMG REPOST!!!!1!!!

just kidding i don't care lol
Mar 13 2012 10:10AM
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
looks really cool. only goes up to iso 400, and is a first generation product, but I like where the tech is headed, and in a few years I could see myself seriously considering something like this
Mar 13 2012 11:05AM
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kootenayklaus
Posts: 3914 - Karma: 2,179
I have a Bolex 160 Super 8mm, still in mint condition. Yes, that was a /claim.
Mar 13 2012 11:31AM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
If that were to support a better resolution, and get some frame rates this camera would be perfect for skiing.  This is what I wanted the Scarlet to be, although I wish it had a 3k-4k resolution with frame rates.  That deep DOF would be great. 
Mar 13 2012 11:50AM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
You have to remember the 400 ISO is more sensitive on this camera than it would be on say a 5D2/3/7D

According to the guy making the camera its roughly comparable to 1600 ISO
Mar 13 2012 11:53AM
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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,813
This sounds lame but i was completely unimpressed by the amateur interview of the two people talking. I know its banal, but it makes them look amateur.
Mar 13 2012 12:47PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Terrible. I was excited until I saw the design.
Mar 13 2012 1:04PM
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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
It's an interesting idea, but the design is terrible. If it was just a simple box, I'd be a bit more interested in it.
Mar 13 2012 1:19PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
The pistol grip is cool for dadcamming super8 footage, but for serious shoots it's an awful design. If they wanted to make a digital version of the H16, they should give it a similar design to an H16 (boxy), not some useless 60's sci-fi curvature that has no practical application.
Mar 13 2012 1:29PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
90% of us don't need 3-4k resolution....

Unless you are outputting for big screen work, it's pointless
Mar 13 2012 1:40PM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
Understandable.  Not saying everyone needs that but it will be here at some point in time.  Not a fan of the design either but the idea is cool and it will be fun to watch what they do.  I'd imagine the pistol grip is removable. 

All of my work goes to 4K right now so I generally just shoot work with it on personal projects too. 
Mar 13 2012 4:10PM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,329
the pistol grip appears to be removable
Click for larger image
Click for larger image
Mar 13 2012 4:18PM
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CliffyByro
Posts: 5678 - Karma: 3,903
yup, pistol grip is removable
Mar 13 2012 4:21PM
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deleted2
Posts: 958 - Karma: 107
Hmm interesting, kind of interested, would like to learn more though.
Mar 13 2012 5:24PM
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,395
Do want.

Mar 13 2012 6:07PM
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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
It reminds me of a cheaper version of the a cam dii
Mar 13 2012 7:17PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
yeah, except this one records to much easier-to-find mediums (SSD, CF cards) than the a cam dii
Mar 13 2012 7:20PM
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eheath
Posts: 61650 - Karma: 123,503
Pretty cool, not sure if it fits any needs for myself though.
Mar 13 2012 7:24PM
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hollygrove
Posts: 7845 - Karma: 93
I'm mainly deal with photo stuff, but I do have interest in video, and maybe I just don't get it, but what benefits that this camera have over a HDSLR or a camcorder equivalent? Is it all about that sensor or what?
Mar 13 2012 8:40PM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,329
well dslr's and most video cameras don't shoot in raw for one
Mar 13 2012 8:45PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
>no RAW shooting in traditional cameras. You definitely know RAW usage in photos (more ability to recover highlights and shadows, no compression, adjustable wb/colors, etc)
>CCD sensor vs a CMOS in most single chip cameras. CMOS's refresh rates and process leads to rolling shutter and are more prone to aliasing from what i've seen.
>super 16mm sensor size vs. s35 means a smaller sensor, more of a crop, but less DOF. perfect for sports shooters
>price point. Cheaper than a 5d III, 1dX, C300, or any RAW shooting video camera (RED, ikonoskop, ARRI, etc)
>lens mount: C mount lenses are cheap and have great quality glass. Adaptability is also a plus with a smaller sensor meaning more lenses can fit on it without vingette. Also avaiable: Leica, PL, EF, nikon (I believe)
Mar 13 2012 8:56PM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
Well this one primarily would be better for shooting skiing (assuming the work out some of the codec and quality kinks) than a DSLR simply based on DOF.  DSLR's are all good and fine but since the sensor is larger it creates more issues with focus.  I see alot of ski and action sports stuff from DSLR look very soft as focus changes since many DSLR lenses have a shorter focus throw. 

That is my personal opinion on the matter anyways.  It also has onboard XLR's, which is something RED doesn't even have without having to buy a 3000 dollar module. 
Mar 13 2012 8:57PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
also it records to SSD's and CF cards. the only other camera like this (ikonoskop a cam dII) shoots to these overpriced specialty cards that hold very little info on them for what you pay. I can grab like 5-10 SSD's and hold 3x the footage for a bolex than the ikonoskop
Mar 13 2012 9:01PM
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hollygrove
Posts: 7845 - Karma: 93
Hmmm, sounds like it's definitely got a lot of potential then! Since this is the first gen i doubt it'll be thaaat popular, but do you video folk think this could take over in a few years if hey come out with a second version?
Mar 13 2012 9:22PM
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eheath
Posts: 61650 - Karma: 123,503
Meh, we'll see how it starts off. It's really sick for indy film makers since they don't care about 60p but 720p60 to me is already a downfall for sports. the RAW image is interesting though, could definitely be really sick if you want to dive deep into post.
Mar 13 2012 9:25PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,335
it has sooooooo much potential right now, if they can release a decent product first round it will no doubt change the industry
Mar 13 2012 9:25PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
doesn't it have 720p60? it's listed in the specs section
Mar 13 2012 9:45PM
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eheath
Posts: 61650 - Karma: 123,503
Yes, I said that was a downfall.
Mar 13 2012 9:49PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
ah, in what way
Mar 13 2012 9:50PM
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eheath
Posts: 61650 - Karma: 123,503
Maybe I'm just spoiled, but 1080p60 seems like a standard for me now. 720p60 has been around for 10 years, id figure 1080p60 would become more normal now.
Mar 13 2012 9:52PM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,329
i don't see how a pretty small difference can go from something being a "normal" to a "downfall". most ski/board edits are just bound for the web anyway.
Mar 13 2012 9:56PM
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eheath
Posts: 61650 - Karma: 123,503
I guess its more than just the frame size, but the resolution to me. If this bolex camera has 1000+ lines of resolution, 1080 vs 720 is much better. For a dslr, which is 700-800 lines of resolution, 1080vs720 is similar. I could just be spoiled but in 2012, i feel like any new camera should have 1080p60.
Mar 13 2012 9:59PM
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,395
This.

But who knows, they could pull an a card out of their sleeves and upgrade the framerates.
Mar 13 2012 10:00PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
I'm curious to see how the Kodak sensor holds up. Until then all these specs mean nothing.
Mar 13 2012 10:03PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
for sure, i misunderstood what you were saying. i thought you were assuming it only had 24p (for indie filmmakers), and that the lack of 720p60 was a downfall for sports.


i agree though. people do sort of have a point by saying that most stuff goes to web, but we can't forget that vimeo and youtube support 1080 and it's becoming more standard pretty quickly. not giving it 1080 60 sort of gives it a bit of a disadvantage right from the start.
Mar 13 2012 10:45PM
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