I would like to request more photos of the SI-2k. Would love to see other views, panels, LCDs, etc. I have only seen one or two photographs from your website. Also, you suggested that there would be slight changes in the body design. Did this happen? Thanks for your time.

I would also like to see more shots of the body....without all the third party accessories.

We have decided to make some changes to the SI-2K body, based on some new generation Intel Core 2 electronics, which will make our overall package more compact (lower profile than current model), more power efficient (could run on a Dionic 90) and more modular (possible future field upgrades).

Of course,the MINI will remain as is and will be continue to be insertable into the SI-2K. We will also offer the option for those purchasing MINI's now to upgrade to the SI-2K DVR package. We will simply ship everything but the MINI, becuase you will already have it!

This means you will have to wait a few weeks for us to share new SI-2K images. We are very excited about these enhancements and I am sure you will too, once you see them ;-) !

Will these ergonomic changes affect your expected shipping date (on january 2007)? Or everything is still as planned? Thank you.

The MINIs are on track to start shipping at the end of the month. The new ergonomic SI-2K will be pushed out 30~45 days. However, buying an SI-2K would get their MINI shipped right away.

Are we talking about february now? or you mean 30-45 days after the Mini starts shipping...

So, I guess no more photos are available at this time :)

Carlos,

Yes, we are talking February. We dont have any photos of the new SI-2K body becuase it is being changed. Were there other photos you wanted?

Thanks Ari... no, I'm interested in the SI-2K. Honestly, I have been extending my purchase for several months. I have 2 other options... One of them is shipping in January, and the other has been out for a few months. However, the SI-2K is the only one that I haven't seen in pictures (just one single photo). I understand you must be super-busy with your new product, so... no pressure. Thank you.

I know everyone is anxious here to see the final packaging...including myself :-) !

Once we have a 3D model or prototype of the production unit we will share it. In the meantime, we are preparing to get 2K MINIs into production.

any new updates??

We will be testing some new hardware over the holidays. Based on those results we can do mechanicals around it. I do not expect to see new models before the 15th or 20th.

Carlos,

Try here:

http://siliconimaging.com/DigitalCinema/

Thanks Scott, I have been checking this site very often, but I don't see any updates made, in several weeks :)

Hi Carlos,

I know the news has been sparse on our end, but we've been working hard and we're making very good progress on our end . . . I think you'll be very pleased with the results.

Hi Jason

What is weight of this camera going to be and will it have the ability to capture a sky full of stars? I've seen this shot a number of times on wide angle and it looks very close to how your eyes see them.

Leon Lorenz
www.wildlifevideos.ca

We expect the weight will be 12~15lbs.

It's a lot for a digital camera as such as the goals of this one. It should be lighter for your good own sake, aside the Mini model.

What is the ideal target weight?

What other model camera are you using for the golden benchmark?

What is the ideal target weight?

What other model camera are you using for the golden benchmark?

I think that around 12lbs max with the battery, but without a lens, should be regarded as a target weight (a bit less if possible). That's roughly the weight of a Sony HDW 750 without a lens.

I Know a loaded Arri 16SR3 weighs around 15 lbs - the Aaton XTR weighs approx 13lb and I suspect the LTR a bit less. However, I feel that people will be comparing the SI more with the later HD cameras than film cameras.

Also, I suppose it does depend what you''re including in your quoted weight. If it includes your monitor, that could cause it to weigh more than a camera with just a V/F. I notice some video camera weight specs include a lens and some don't.

Brian,

Thanks for the quick response. Yes, the quoted 12~15lbs would be from variations of rods, battery and viewfinders, etc..

Is there a weight which is too light?

Brian,

Thanks for the quick response. Yes, the quoted 12~15lbs would be from variations of rods, battery and viewfinders, etc..

Is there a weight which is too light?

I suspect the JVC HD 100 at around 7 lbs is about the lightest. It has just about enough weight to offer stability when hand holding without needing image stabilizers. However, the balance is extremely important and this camera is even better with the IDX battery fitted.

A weight of around 14lbs with a 16mm zoom fitted would be comparable with a DSR450 with a lens. Although one complaint I've got about the DSR range is that the build quality isn't great. The DSR 450's body weight is just over 8 1/2 lbs and I believe that doesn't include the V/F etc.

In a drama configuration weight is less of an issue.

BTW Being able to use a shoulder strap makes a big difference to carrying these cameras when shooting on your own.

Hi Ari

Thank you for your answer on the weight of the camera. How good will the low light gathering be? To put this questain another way, how much better than the 1/3" chip HDV cameras out there now? Thanks.

Leon Lorenz
www.wildlifevideos.ca

Leon,

The low-light sensitivity at video rates will be comparable becuase of the SI-2K 2/3" larger pixels. However, the dynamic range within our image is far superior.

In long exposure modes, slower readouts, the CCD's will have an advantage with their lower dark currents, but you might be better off with a sequece of DSLR images.

You can always get a MINI-MONO for shooting at night. You will get over 1000 lines of resolution!

Ari,

Sounds like these are going to be great cameras. Will be watching for feedback once they get into the hands of filmmakers, hope it makes a stunning wildlife camera. Thanks.

Leon Lorenz
www.wildlifevideos.ca

I would like to request more photos of the SI-2k. Would love to see other views, panels, LCDs, etc. I have only seen one or two photographs from your website. Also, you suggested that there would be slight changes in the body design. Did this happen? Thanks for your time.
It's now 2007 and I haven't seen any new aspects to the design of the camera? Are there any updates in design and content? I'm sitting here mulling over my next HD camera buy and I'm really interested in the SI-2k but I must confess, the present design (on the SI-2k site) is just too bulky and blocky for my taste!

Ari, my first impressions of the low light performance of this camera is that it is actually very noiseless in low light conditions! In fact, I find it hard to get noise. Maybe when I hook up with my DP friend, he'll set me straight, but to my eyes this thing is quite different from the noise I used to get from the DVX, and from what SOME people feel is an issue with the HVX.

Maybe I'm not looking hard enough!

Personally, I like the 12 to 15 pound range.

Dean, the SI-2K isn't going to look like the camera in that photo. Though, I have to confess, I'm probably one of the few who wouldn't mind if it did. Well, maybe a little shorter.

Ari-

I would rather wait a few more months and have a better product, so please take your time. I have years and years of experience with raw still photography workflows, so I am very excited about this imaging system for high end corporate media production. The 12-15 pound range is absolutely perfect, because it is the perfect mass/weight for my steadicam.

-John

Today at the Hollwood Post Alliance, Silicon Imaging officially announced the SI-2K is achieving 11 F-stops (but you already knew that before the rest of Hollywood!).

Here is snippet from Jason's presentation:
"These Macbeth cover 4.8 f-stops throuh 6.5 f-stop range from chart's black-chip noise floor to white chip highlight clip."

I will let Jason share more details from the conference, upon on his return.

BTW, JFYI, that Macbeth with the EV14 looks grainy because it's been normalized to show where the noise floor lies . . . It's roughly the equivalent of ISO5000 on our camera . . . ISO5000 on any camera is going to be grainy!