Nowadays, DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are very good at recording video and audio footage, too. Switching between photography and videography has never been easier. However, when you pass beyond the beginner level as a filmmaker, you start to feel the need to upgrade to a cinema camera. Getting good video and audio isn’t enough anymore, as you are after the look and feel of Hollywood productions. Nevertheless, cinematic cameras may be expensive, so, to make your investment worthwhile, some research is required. Read along to find out when you may need a cinema camera and what to look for when purchasing one.
What Is a Cinema Camera?
A cinema camera refers to a dedicated camera for recording videos. It captures high-resolution videos and high-quality audio and saves them using high-quality video and audio formats. Also, supports large and fast memory cards, and, most importantly, creates a cinematic look.
A cinematic look has a few unquestionable characteristics given by the camera and the way the movie was filmed. It resembles images shot on film, has a wide-screen aspect ratio, and is often filmed at the appealing 24 fps frame rate. It includes color grading that makes the image look less real and more like a world of its own. The contrast is toned down and the sharpness may even be dialed a little back to achieve an atmosphere one can only see on the big screen.
A cinematic look also includes many aspects that have nothing to do with image and sound quality. Such as intentional camera shake, slow-motion scenes, lighting, and directing guidelines. From time to time, the filmmaker decides to use a handheld camera to follow their characters around, in the spirit of the French New Wave movement and his pioneer, Jean-Luc Godard. None of these can be achieved by applying a post-processing cinematic effect.
Therefore, the definition of a cinema camera is loose. Mirrorless cameras with exceptional video features are sometimes labeled as cinema cameras. And they might be quite good for some filmmakers and not good enough for others. Creating a cinematic effect has much to do with your storytelling skills, lighting design knowledge, and directing. However, as we will see later in this article, a few distinct features indicate whether a cinema camera is good for the job.
Why You Need a Cinema Camera
A professional filmmaker rarely uses anything other than a cinema camera. Look at the cameras used for making artistic motion pictures. They aren’t DSLRs with a video recording function. The main reason for that is the cinematic look. No matter how good a photo camera is at recording videos, it will never be as film-realistic as a cinema camera. Designed with video quality in mind, cinema cameras’ features (e.g., sensor size, resolution, color, dynamic range, etc.) work together to achieve the cinematic feel.
You may also want a cinema camera for its high resolutions, usually from 4K up, and high frame rates, such as 120fps for shooting action in slow motion. Notice that a cinema camera provides video and audio formats supported by professional video editing software (e.g., RAW video data), ports to connect dedicated video and audio accessories, and an interface intended for filmmakers. Overall, a cinema camera grants more artistic freedom because it has better performance in areas that matter to a filmmaker.
To conclude, you need a cinema camera when making movies is your number one priority and when cinematic quality is not a good-to-have effect but the standard.
What to Look for When Buying a Cinema Camera
Regardless of whether a camera is labeled as a cinema camera or not, a few features tell you if you are in the presence of a camera able to produce outstanding video quality and cinematic look. They are as follows:
Resolution
The standard HD (1080p) is good for YouTube videos but not for movies. A cinema camera should provide a resolution higher than 4K, such as 6K or even 8K, to allow you to recompose in post-processing (or crop the frame to stabilize the footage), capture sharp details, zoom in, or pan within the frame.
Frame Rate
A cinematic look requires 24fps, which most cameras can provide. However, to create slow-motion scenes you need high frame rates, such as 60fps, 120fps, and 240fps. Because the higher frame rates are not always offered at the highest resolution possible. Check if the cinema camera of your choice offers a high frame rate and at least 4K resolution.
RAW Recording
Similar to photography, RAW video recording allows you to edit your footage extensively. Furthermore, it provides higher color accuracy and detail level. It allows you to push the footage much more in post-processing, and apply a certain look to it without losing quality.
Lens Mount
Lens selection should always be on the back of your mind because the lens is a fundamental aspect of film quality and cinematic look. The lens mount range varies from DSLR and mirrorless mounts that allow you to use lenses from your current camera to the PL mount used by high-end cinema cameras. If you want a blockbuster movie feel, go for the PL mount. If you are on a budget, stay with the less expensive lens mount options.
Dynamic Range
Dynamic range refers to how many luminance levels can get in between pure white and black. The wider the dynamic range is the more clarity, sharpness, and contrast the image has. To achieve a cinematic look, you need a camera with at least 12 stops of dynamic range.
Interface
Cinema cameras are designed for filmmakers and prioritize their needs when it comes to usability. As a result, the controls you use more often, such as color temperature, white balance, frame rate, etc., are accessible right away.
Advanced Exposure Tools
The classic histogram is no longer of use to videographers and filmmakers. They need built-in advanced exposure tools, such as false color and waveforms, vector scopes, and parades. Go for a camera that provides these tools and makes them accessible on a touchscreen with just a few clicks, if any. Note
Timecode System
Another good-to-have feature in a cinema camera is a good timecode system. Because you work with multiple video and audio tracks, you need a way to synchronize them. And the only way to do it is by relying on timecodes. Choose a camera able to generate its timecodes and record them using a dedicated timecode port.
Top 3 Cinema Cameras
The following products aim to provide all the features a filmmaker requires in a cinema camera. They aren’t, of course, the only options but are a starting point if you are looking for your first cinema camera.
Canon EOS C400 Cinema Camera
Canon EOS C400 features 6K resolution thanks to its full-frame BSI sensor, internal 12-bit RAW recording, built-in ND filters, and an advanced autofocus system. The camera offers a 16-stop dynamic range for excellence in low-lighting conditions, 5-axis image stabilization, and support for 4-channel 24-bit audio recording.
It supports Super 35mm and Super 16mm lenses and has an RF lens mount system compatible with Canon mirrorless cameras. EOS C400 is compact, ergonomic, and maneuverable, has a touch-screen LCD monitor with adjustable angle and distance and a customizable interface, and comes with a remote control.
RED Digital Cinema KOMODO 6K Camera
RED Digital Cinema KOMODO is also a 6K camera with a 19.9 MP Super 35mm Global Shutter CMOS sensor. It features internal RAW recording, frame rates between 40fps and 120fps, and outstanding dynamic range. The sensor is not phased by flash or other lighting equipment, and the performant IPP2 system takes care of color management.
Its boxy form makes it perfect for traveling, increases image stabilization, and offers a high-resolution touchscreen for optimal control. KOMODO comes with the Canon RF lens mount system. However, you can switch to other lens mount systems, such as EF, PL, and others, by using adapters. It also features a remote control and full access via iOS and Android devices.
Sony FX6 Full-Frame Cinema Camera
Sony FX6 is a full-frame 4K camera with 16-bit RAW recording, a fast autofocus system with real-time eye and face detection, an ultra-wide ISO sensitivity range (up to ISO 409600), and a 15+ stop dynamic range. The camera offers the same 4K resolution and autofocus capabilities for frame rates of up to 120fps, making possible a slow motion up to 5x slower than the actual time.
FX6 is small and compact, has a smart handle for handheld shooting, displays waveforms and other exposure tools on the LCD, and includes ND filters. It comes with Sony’s E-mount system, but you can mount other lenses, including PL-mount and Canon mount lenses, as well by using an adapter.
Get started for less with the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro
Suppose you are not yet ready to take the big jump to high-end cinema cameras. In that case, Blackmagic Design has a more affordable cinema camera, the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro which offers 6K resolution, 60 fps up to 4K, and up to 120 fps (at Full HD). You can choose models. It has inbuilt ND filters and a monitor, which the above options lack. The mount is EF compatible, and you get dual native ISO of 400 and 3200. It could be a great choice if you want to enter into the more professional filmmaking space at a more affordable price point.
Conclusion
Switching to a cinema camera is a big step. It shows your commitment to filmmaking but also that you found your artistic voice. In a nutshell, a cinema camera provides everything you need to forget about technical aspects and focus on storytelling: high resolutions to have room for post-processing retouches, RAW data for flexibility, tools and controls designed for filmmakers, and the well-known cinematic look. All you need now is a narrative.
