Hello Everyone,

Here is the first salvo in our NAB 2007 press releases:


Silicon Imaging Announces Availability of SI-2K Digital Cinema Camera Powered by AltaSens ProCamHD™ CMOS Sensors (http://www.siliconimaging.com/DigitalCinema/News/PR_04_11_07_AltaSens.html)
Next-generation design combines 12-bit CMOS sensor technology with CineForm RAW™ direct-to-disk recording to revolutionize film and HD television production.


Jennifer Sciole Goes for Blood (http://www.siliconimaging.com/DigitalCinema/News/PR_04_11_07_Blood.html)
A Hollywood fresh face and up-and-coming star Jennifer Sciole will star in the visually inventive, highly stylized, thriller-horror that will be the first in the Horror genre to have the look and feel of 300 and Sin City.

Some more exciting new announcements:

Silicon Imaging and P+S Technik Launch Strategic Partnership to deliver Modular SI-2K™ Digital Cinema Cameras, Optics and Production Equipment (http://www.siliconimaging.com/DigitalCinema/News/PR_04_12_07_PS_Technik.html)

P+S Technik enables new ergonomic modular form-factors and universal lens mount system for Silicon Imaging SI-2K™ cameras including the 2K-B4™ lens adapter, 2K-35™ 35mm lens converter, and cinema-optimized Zeiss 35mm prime lenses.

Silicon Imaging Integrates SpeedGrade Color-Correction and Green-Screen Keying into SI-2K™ Cinema Cameras (http://www.siliconimaging.com/DigitalCinema/News/PR_04_12_07_Iridas.html)

IRIDAS’ color-correction and keying toolset allows for intuitive color manipulation with live feedback in the camera interface.

I'm posted more body pictures on my blog here : http://cineform.blogspot.com/

The camera looks great, a big improvement on the early prototype. Will the NAB pictures have a viewfinder fitted and a typical shooting rig?

What's the angled mount on the rear, behind the handle for?
I assume the inputs/outputs are on the far side.

This market sector is being extremely well served with the new cameras being introduced at this years NAB.

What is the situation with the viewfinder for this camera (where is it and where does it go). Also, is this able to do 150fps in 2k or is it windowing down to some smaller res? Is able to do any speed in between?

There will be a viewfinder *prototype* for display in our booth at NAB. We're still working on it, and don't want to delay the release of the cameras themselves. But yes, a high-resolution 1280x720 viewfinder is on the way.

As far as 150fps, the press-release mentions this is though windowing . . . specifically it's at half-HD resolution, so 960x540. We figured that temporal speed is harder to fake that scaling the picture . . . i.e., nothing beats actually capturing the temporal resolution of a shot a slow speeds. Optical flow algorithms are great, but they often lead to unwanted "heat-wave" artifacts where objects interact with each other. Frame-blending also adds odd ghosting artifacts. Scaling algorithms on the other-hand do not have as objectionable a result on the final image, and you can get away with more. So capturing the true temporal resolution is the first priority.

And yes, the camera also supports other frame-rates besides 150fps, although there is no ramping.

The camera looks great, a big improvement on the early prototype. Will the NAB pictures have a viewfinder fitted and a typical shooting rig?

Definitely . . . but again, as mentioned above, the viewfinder will be a prototype, and we're looking for feedback.

By looking at what is included I can't get an idea if the control/viewing monitor is included in the kits. Is it included in any of the kits both or only the big one?
If not what will it cost extra?

There's actually a couple options for monitoring now . . . the SI-2K has a hardware pointer built-in now, and as a result, you don't need the touchscreen anymore . . . so it's now an option rather than a requirement. As noted, a HD viewfinder is on the way as well. Rather than force you to purchase gear that is not needed, the packages include gear that you will need to shoot, and you can add accessories like monitors, viewfinders, etc. from there as you see fit, and as you shooting conditions require.

One more note . . . we plan on shipping the viewfinder this summer . . . it's not a huge delay on the viewfinder. It just won't be available right now to coincide with the cameras that are either shipping in the next two weeks (the MINI), or the next 45 days (SI-2K).

Jason, thanks for info. Will you be posting any more photos of this like the built in pointer and the DVR interface.

Are you planing to use a zebra or a histogram style exposure indicator in the viewfinder?

Sorry but here's some more questions.

I rather liked the combined monitor/interface is it possible to get that and what would it cost?.

Do you have any small monitors (small ones used for camera operating) that you will be offering as an accesory for the si.

Are there any other monitoring outputs than vga and hdmi? (hd-sdi, component).

Have you set any price for the viewfinder?

What is the approximate weight with battery and lens(I know it varies but is it lighter or havier than a fullsized eng camcorder?

This may be a stupid question but what is the hardware pointer. Is it like a joystick or touchpanel so you can manouver the menus on a monitor(any monitor that you attach) or is it something else?

Last question. Will it be possible to power the camera with v-mount batteries or is it only anton bauer mount?

Sorry for all the questions I hope there are more then me that have the same or similar questions.

Are you planing to use a zebra or a histogram style exposure indicator in the viewfinder?

Hi Brian, sorry, lack of screen-shots, but we've had those features incorporated for quite some time now.

I rather liked the combined monitor/interface is it possible to get that and what would it cost?.

Hi Teodor, Yes, it's still available, and a price list will be posted shortly.

Do you have any small monitors (small ones used for camera operating) that you will be offering as an accesory for the si.

In addition to the touch-screen, no. There are other monitors on the market that you can accessorize with though if you'd like.

Are there any other monitoring outputs than vga and hdmi? (hd-sdi, component).

No. But also remember that VGA is component with sync-on-green, so anything that can accept that should work as well.

Have you set any price for the viewfinder?

No. It's going to be a protype, and we will be getting pricing feedback at NAB. You can also tell us what you'd like to see in it as well here on this forum as well. All feedback is greatly appreciated.

This may be a stupid question but what is the hardware pointer. Is it like a joystick or touchpanel so you can manouver the menus on a monitor(any monitor that you attach)

Yeah, basically . . . but it's not a touchpad, and it's completely weather resistant. It can also be operated with gloves on. You can see it in the pictures on the operator side of the camera.

Will it be possible to power the camera with v-mount batteries or is it only anton bauer mount?

Yes, but you'll need an adapter (which is sold at B&H or other pro video stores).

Will there be adapter mounts for Nikon/Canon Lenses? Similar in concept to the Redrock M2? Or am I missing something in the technology that doesn't allow this to happen?

I believe Nikon is listed in the press release. If not, it should be.

I believe Nikon is listed in the press release. If not, it should be.
Yup - I missed that somehow... Thanks! :)

I believe Nikon is listed in the press release. If not, it should be.

What about Canon EF-lenses? David Newman's blog mentions also Canon EF. Any idea of the magnification factor compared to 35mm SLR cameras?

Another question about the monitor. As my field in wildlife films, is there, or is it possible to attach a small monitor (or any EVF) and fully control the camera outdoors without additional equipments?

Found this in the PS technik site:

"This includes the new ergonomic and modular designed Silicon Imaging SI-2Kä cameras with interchange lens mount, the 2K-35™ format converter for use of 35mm optics to achieve increase depth of field control and the 2K-B4™ optical mount, for use of 2/3” Cinema lenses. In addition, a variety of tripod mounting, rod support and rig accessories will be shown."

"An integrated P+S Technik interchange lens mounting system now gives users the unprecedented ability to hot-swap between Arri PL, Nikon F, Canon, Zeiss, Leica, C, 2K-B4™ and 2K-35™ Mounts."

"Pricing for the SI-2K™ Digital Cinema Camera with PL-mount is $23,500 or with a 2K-B4-Mount is $24,500, with a NAB promotional discount of $2,000. The SI-2K™ is currently available for order with shipment in June.
The 2K-35™ 35mm lens converter is $4,000 and Cinema Primes Lenses at $2,200 each, with availability in early 3Q’07.
The SI-2K™ digital cinema camera series, along with various P+S Technik accessories, will be shown in the joint CineForm and Siliicon Imaging booth, SL7826."

This clears a bit the SI press release.

I have the following questions:

Does the 2K-35 has a moving ground glass - and the ensuing light loss - similar to the pro35 (35mm lenses to 2/3 B4 mounts) convertor that PS technik sells for 20000EURO/26800USD and if they are almost identical how the price difference is explained?

Does the 2K-B4 mount also has an Fstop penalty and if yes how much?

I've used the Optex B4 to PL adapter and there was no light loss problems so I'm assuming that the P+S Technik would be along the same lines.
With the light loss and image softening that the Pro-35 produces I really hope that the 2k-35 isn't using a ground glass to transfer the 35mm image but P+S are expanding the range of Pro & Mini 35 so.....?

I've used the Optex B4 to PL adapter and there was no light loss problems so I'm assuming that the P+S Technik would be along the same lines.
With the light loss and image softening that the Pro-35 produces I really hope that the 2k-35 isn't using a ground glass to transfer the 35mm image but P+S are expanding the range of Pro & Mini 35 so.....?

At the very least, they'd have to do a mod to the optics on their traditional Pro 35s because they're designed for use on 3 x CCD cameras.

A single sensor version of the 35mm to HD converter that doesn't have a ground glass would be good: http://www.cine-one.com/pdf/angenieux_hdconverter.pdf

The pictures from the JVC's 16mm to 1/3 CCD "ground glass free" adapter look extremely promising. However, they're not simple to design nor cheap.

A couple of questions/thoughts regarding power-

1) Someone asked before about V-mount batteries. According to the website, the cam draws 80 watts.... IDX offers the powercube high-draw batteries, which are v-mount only. 80 watts without accessories could slaughter li-ion batteries pretty quickly. Could be nice to offer a v-mount from the factory to allow powercube use.

2) Will the camera offer accessory power via powertap or lemo for cine-style accessories, incl. cinetapes, focus motors and witness monitors?

thanks! the camera is looking much more streamlined, I'm interested to give it a try once its in production.

SI-2K has Lemo connectors for Regulated 12VDC and 5VDC power. There is also a dedicated 3-pin Fisher for Stop/Start Switch operation.

Nice Job !
It looks Great !

80W is an old number with the previous electronics in the older SI-2K cameras from last year . . . I need to change that.

The camera we're showing this year is using up a reasonable 55W.

Since I didn't notice any listed, how many hard drive units come with the camera?

I'm assuming you can swap these through the day for downloading etc.

There is one USB HDD cartridge in the unit. But there are two slots which can be used. The 2nd slot currently has a 4-port USB hub. Remove this device and replace with 2nd HDD.

You can buy spare drive cartridges for $20ea.

You can buy spare drive cartridges for $20ea.

Just wondering if there's a zero missing in the cost? I did a quick Google and there are quite a few USB HHDs cartridges seem to be around the $200 mark.

Just wondering if there's a zero missing in the cost? I did a quick Google and there are quite a few USB HHDs cartridges seem to be around the $200 mark.

You probably supply your own drive.

How big is the drive that comes with the camera?

How big a drive do you need? We're not restricting the drive size . . . you can go up to 250GB for 6 hours of on-board recording . . . or there are flash-drive options hitting the market soon.

I think I'll probably stick around 100gig drives, but I am really interested in the flash drives (I know of the Samsung and SanDisk, are there any others). Do you have any idea when those are coming on the market?