Recommendation for DIY HD Cinema Camera at DVinfo.net

Trip Gould · August 6th, 2009, 09:07 PM

Got a question. I'm kind of techie, but not an engineer. I'm intrigued at the thought of making my own HD cinema camera, even if just for the fun of it. I'm not expecting to create a RED killer or anything like that. Anyway, what would be the best compromise between complexity and cost from the available sources that I've read about here on the forums? SUMIX, Elephel, ???

What would be a good starting point? Looking for something that, in the end, would be able to do at least 24FPS true HD (preferably 60 or even 120 at lower resolutions), 2/3" sensor at a minimum, flexibility in regards to lens mount (PL, C, still). Any suggestions? Again, it would need to be something that has a strong enough support base that it wouldn't be left to me to do all of the programming, as I'm somewhat limited in that territory.

Thanks for the help.

Sebastian Pichelhofer · August 30th, 2009, 08:33 AM

Well since I am involved in the Apertus project and know the SUMIX camera only from forum posts don't expect any unbiased input from me:

current Elphel Camera 353:
24FPS true HD (preferably 60 or even 120 at lower resolutions) ... yes
2/3" sensor at a minimum ... no, its 1/2.5" currently, Elphel 373 is in development and will come with a new range of still undecided but definitely bigger sensors
lens mount (PL, C, still) ... C and CS mount out of the box, 3rd party ring adapters are available
support base ... the best ;), and all efforts (software and hardware) are under the GPL so you will always get the max out of it

What exactly do you want to do or in what area do you want to be active?

August 6th, 2009, 09:07 PM	#1
Trip Gould Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 40	Recommendation for DIY HD Cinema Camera Got a question. I'm kind of techie, but not an engineer. I'm intrigued at the thought of making my own HD cinema camera, even if just for the fun of it. I'm not expecting to create a RED killer or anything like that. Anyway, what would be the best compromise between complexity and cost from the available sources that I've read about here on the forums? SUMIX, Elephel, ??? What would be a good starting point? Looking for something that, in the end, would be able to do at least 24FPS true HD (preferably 60 or even 120 at lower resolutions), 2/3" sensor at a minimum, flexibility in regards to lens mount (PL, C, still). Any suggestions? Again, it would need to be something that has a strong enough support base that it wouldn't be left to me to do all of the programming, as I'm somewhat limited in that territory. Thanks for the help.

August 30th, 2009, 08:33 AM	#2
Sebastian Pichelhofer Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 112	Well since I am involved in the Apertus project and know the SUMIX camera only from forum posts don't expect any unbiased input from me: current Elphel Camera 353: 24FPS true HD (preferably 60 or even 120 at lower resolutions) ... yes 2/3" sensor at a minimum ... no, its 1/2.5" currently, Elphel 373 is in development and will come with a new range of still undecided but definitely bigger sensors lens mount (PL, C, still) ... C and CS mount out of the box, 3rd party ring adapters are available support base ... the best ;), and all efforts (software and hardware) are under the GPL so you will always get the max out of it What exactly do you want to do or in what area do you want to be active?