Best Affordable Uncompressed HDMI Capture Device for When We Get the April Firmware? at DVinfo.net

Steven Schuldt · November 5th, 2012, 11:41 AM

I'm looking for recommendations for capturing the forthcoming uncompressed HDMI out from the 5d Mk III so I can maybe start saving my pennies for (or looking for rental houses that offer) the right device.

In an ideal world the device is portable (I don't want to lug a Mac around attached to my camera), captures to ProRes HQ (I work in FCP) although I'd consider shooting in RAW. I'd also like it to eliminate things like 60i pulldown issues on capture (c'mon, I just want pristine 24p footage I can bring into my editor, I don't wanna go backwards here!)

Have been tempted lately to ditch the trusty 5d Mk III in favor of a BlackMagic Cinema Camera but maybe I stay if I feel I can neutralize a big advantage the BMCC has in capture codecs, as shooting with the BMCC comes with a veritable Pandora's Box of its own issues. Can't do much about the greater resolution and exposure latitudes of the BMCC, but I can maybe live without those for one or two more features on my full-frame beauty.

Many thanks in advance!

Seth Bloombaum · November 5th, 2012, 09:48 PM

Uncompressed out to an HDMI recorder is going to be great for a lot of purposes, especially keying and heavy grading.

No 5DM3 here, but, I just picked up a Nanoflash. Wow, a geeky delight, to be sure. No ProRes (see Atomos Ninja), no built-in monitor, but, HD-SDI in *and* out, HDMI in *and* out, conversions in both directions, Sony MXF, Quicktime, and MPG, in a slew of long-GOP and I-frame-only bitrates up to 280Mbps, all in true 4:2:2. I expect to mostly work at 100Mbps Long-GOP, a recommended sweet spot.

I've barely cracked this thing open (battery on-order), but per specs, the MOV is very FCP friendly. Will try that one day soon. So far, the Sony MXF is pretty cool. And, I *really like* that it is SDI/HDMI, a real switch-hitter. With both outputs hot in either mode, you can monitor with an SDI or HDMI screen, or both! Skip buying the spendy little conversion boxes... and I look forward to a long useful life, beyond my current HDMI acquisition and on to HD-SDI on rental cameras.

The Nanoflash is built around a Sony hardware encoder, same one as goes in a PDW-800 camera, but, unleashed!

Send me your 5DM3 and I'll send you some test video, if you like ;-)

Do check out the Nanoflash, Ninja, and other solid-state recorder forums here at DVInfo.

PS. there is some pulldown on record, too, that I've not checked out yet.

John Carroll · November 7th, 2012, 04:17 PM

Shame this update is so far away!
Here's a recording solution you may want to consider...
Blackmagic Design: HyperDeck Shuttle

Seth Bloombaum · November 7th, 2012, 08:06 PM

Aja Ki Pro is also highly respected locally, some folks I work with use it all the time and love it.

November 5th, 2012, 11:41 AM	#1
Steven Schuldt Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: USA Posts: 90	Best Affordable Uncompressed HDMI Capture Device for When We Get the April Firmware? I'm looking for recommendations for capturing the forthcoming uncompressed HDMI out from the 5d Mk III so I can maybe start saving my pennies for (or looking for rental houses that offer) the right device. In an ideal world the device is portable (I don't want to lug a Mac around attached to my camera), captures to ProRes HQ (I work in FCP) although I'd consider shooting in RAW. I'd also like it to eliminate things like 60i pulldown issues on capture (c'mon, I just want pristine 24p footage I can bring into my editor, I don't wanna go backwards here!) Have been tempted lately to ditch the trusty 5d Mk III in favor of a BlackMagic Cinema Camera but maybe I stay if I feel I can neutralize a big advantage the BMCC has in capture codecs, as shooting with the BMCC comes with a veritable Pandora's Box of its own issues. Can't do much about the greater resolution and exposure latitudes of the BMCC, but I can maybe live without those for one or two more features on my full-frame beauty. Many thanks in advance!

November 5th, 2012, 09:48 PM	#2
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: Best Affordable Uncompressed HDMI Capture Device for When We Get the April Firmwa Uncompressed out to an HDMI recorder is going to be great for a lot of purposes, especially keying and heavy grading. No 5DM3 here, but, I just picked up a Nanoflash. Wow, a geeky delight, to be sure. No ProRes (see Atomos Ninja), no built-in monitor, but, HD-SDI in and out, HDMI in and out, conversions in both directions, Sony MXF, Quicktime, and MPG, in a slew of long-GOP and I-frame-only bitrates up to 280Mbps, all in true 4:2:2. I expect to mostly work at 100Mbps Long-GOP, a recommended sweet spot. I've barely cracked this thing open (battery on-order), but per specs, the MOV is very FCP friendly. Will try that one day soon. So far, the Sony MXF is pretty cool. And, I really like that it is SDI/HDMI, a real switch-hitter. With both outputs hot in either mode, you can monitor with an SDI or HDMI screen, or both! Skip buying the spendy little conversion boxes... and I look forward to a long useful life, beyond my current HDMI acquisition and on to HD-SDI on rental cameras. The Nanoflash is built around a Sony hardware encoder, same one as goes in a PDW-800 camera, but, unleashed! Send me your 5DM3 and I'll send you some test video, if you like ;-) Do check out the Nanoflash, Ninja, and other solid-state recorder forums here at DVInfo. PS. there is some pulldown on record, too, that I've not checked out yet. __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.

November 7th, 2012, 04:17 PM	#3
John Carroll Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 156	Re: Best Affordable Uncompressed HDMI Capture Device for When We Get the April Firmwa Shame this update is so far away! Here's a recording solution you may want to consider... Blackmagic Design: HyperDeck Shuttle

November 7th, 2012, 08:06 PM	#4
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: Best Affordable Uncompressed HDMI Capture Device for When We Get the April Firmwa Aja Ki Pro is also highly respected locally, some folks I work with use it all the time and love it. __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.