Camera design has come a long way. Some things have changed, while others stayed the same. The design of high-end digital cinema cameras such as the ARRI Alexa and the Sony F65 for example carries over the DNA from the classic legacy design of legendary film cameras from ARRI and Panavision. However, the cinema camera landscape overall has changed drastically.
What is a cinema camera? To some it’s a RED Epic, to others, it’s an ARRI Alexa, and to others it’s whatever they can get their hands on – a Canon C300, a C100, a 5D Mark 2, or a GH4, an A7s etc.
The form factor has changed/evolved in the mid and lower-level tiers of digital acquisition. Today’s affordable digital cameras carry the ergonomics, for better or worse, of photographic stills cameras. This can be a benefit and a detriment at the same time, depending on what point of view you take.
On one hand, DSLR’s and derivatives such as the Canon C100/300/500, 1st generation Blackmagic cameras – BMCC, Pocket Cinema Camera, and the BMPC as well as mirrorless cameras such as the GH4 and the A7s are lighter and smaller. However, outfitting them or rigging them for the demanding rigours of field production can be a painful process, which often requires substantial resources (often exceeding the cost of the cameras) and sourcing different bits from multiple manufacturers – such as V-lock/Gold Mount batteries, or other (NP-F, Canon, etc.) battery plates, 15mm rods, Should support, quick release plates, etc.
There’s also an option to get a full rig designed for a specific cameras. The folks at Cinoflex have gone even further. The Cinoflex type-SA7S is a full “cameras system” for the Sony A7s. “More than just a rig” is often mentioned on their Facebook page, and the photos of their custom designed power/wireless/all-in-one professional Cinema Camera solution speaks for itself.
The complete Sony A7S CINOFLEX Type-SA7s Camera System consists of the following:
- Sony A7s
- Designed and manufactured with the operator in mind
- Accepted within the professional camera industry Union – IA 600 ICG
- Perfect for studio/remote operation/handheld work
- Industry standard I/O connections
- Power all you accessories from single/dual battery
- 4 x dedicated HD-SDI Video outputs
- 4:2:2 UHD (3840 x 2160) 4K Output via HDMI Recorder
- Expandable Sensitivity: ISO 100-409600
- Full Pixel Read-Out, S-Log2 Cine Gamma
- Full-Frame Sensor (36x24mm) or Super35
- Available in PANAVISION/PL/Nikon F/Canon EF Mounts
- In-Camera Anamorphic 2.40:1 Guide marker
- Up to 120 fps High Speed Video Recording (1280 x 720p)
- Flexible Timecode Options
- Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
- Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) Codec OPTION – via external recorder (Convergent Design Odyssey 7Q)
- Monitor with LUT support/Focus Assist/False Colour/Waveform
- 7.7″ OLED capacitive touchscreen with a 1280 x 800 DISPLAY (7Q)
- High-intensity Iris Rods for Follow Focus/FF motors etc.
- Built-in HDMI anchored port
- Built-in HDMI to SDI Converter (to use with Viewfinders or Odyssey 7Q for example)
Pricing is around $10,000 and includes A7s Body, Monitor-recorder (Odyssey 7Q), Anton Bauer batteries x 2, Cinoflex rig, cables.
This beast of a “rig” is a beauty and really transforms a stills/hybrid mirrorless camera into a fully professional motion picture camera with the requisite connectivity to withstand the demands of the modern production environment. For some, and it certainly has been the case for me, constructing a “Franken-rig” by assembling bits and pieces from all sorts of places and trying to come up with the most comfortable and ergonomic solution requires a huge amount of time, effort and resources.
For the DIY’s the Cinoflex type-A7S might not be a good fit, but for those looking to use the A7s on feature films, commercials or documentaries and those who want to get an all-in-one solution – Cinoflex has you covered. We’ll dig around for some more pricing options for those who already own an A7s/monitor-recorder and we’ll update you.
In the meantime, check out some behind the scenes photos of the Cinoflex C300/C500 camera system in action from a shoot they did for Canon Imagination 2013 featuring Eva Longoria.
For more information check out their official Facebook page at Cinoflex. We’ll be updating you with more news bits relating to the development of this professional camera system as it becomes available.
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Very insightful and objective statements about our Cinoflex camera system. 4K shooters is truly at the forefront of camera tech and the evolution in the motion picture industry. 4K shooters is more than a website or simple blog, they are working, thinking, practicing camera people devoted to the skill and craft of cinematography. It is clearly evidenced by -A Closer Look at the Post-Production of David Fincher’s 6K Shot “Gone Girl”- Which Codec Is Most Suitable for Your 4K Workflow?- Dropbox Pro Now Offers 1TB of Cloud Storage For The Price of 100GB – all subjects that effect cinematography around the world, but are overlooked for the same old, “here’s the new blackmagic camera, oh wow”. Great job and great service to our community, thanks 4K SHOOTERS!
from
CINOFLEX
Wow, thanks for the kind words guys! Huge fans of your camera systems. I’ve been following since the early stages of the Cinoflex C300, and now that you’re doing the type SA7S – that’s just music to our ears. Keep in touch with updates and we’ll be more than happy to feature it on the blog. Thanks for the support again!
Cheers,
Ogy
ALL CINOFLEX PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATELY
IN STOCK
CONTACT US AT : [email protected]
FOR A CUSTOM QUOTE AND ASSISTANCE
THANK YOU
Why do we have such high regard for the Sony A7s……….because it’s a great camera. At Cinoflex we are interested in finely crafted, well designed, expertly manufactured products that produces excellent results. We have no stake in Sony, nor do we sell the Sony Camera(s), we just believe that it is an incredible video camera, PLAIN and SIMPLE! As much as we believe in quality products, we have honest opinions that will also warn our customers and friends of poor products (that is why we tell people to stay away from battery/charger manufacturers making products in China with V-Mounts)
I concur. The A7s is incredible, all it needs is a proper rig 🙂
You dont sell? As in licensed dealer right? Your $10,000 rig says it comes with the Sony A7s, so just curious about that statement.
Just stating the price of different items.
SONY A7S CAMERA MSRP $2495.00,
please excuse us if we have mislead you. Do you own or plan to own this camera? great, it is not of our concern. Buy wherever you’d like.
Please buy the Sony Camera from a trusted source, or don’t.
We do not sell Sony products.
We do sell Cinoflex products, that we design and manufacture.
thanks you
Ridiculous options, unreal future, the digital world is welcomely ripping apart. Story will and is soon to take second place to experience via the oculus rift type experiences . I’m starting to shift my gaze…
I don’t think that story will ever take a back seat. The tools we have available today only assist us in telling that story.
Story is key! ! ! ! no doubt.
SEVEN
THE GAME
SOCIAL NETWORK
GONE GIRL
Zodiac
House of Cards
Justin Timberlake Ft. Jay-Z: Suit & Tie
Panic Room
Express Yourself
Aerosmith: Big Ones You Can Look at
COKE: Blade Runner
nIKE: sPEED
All Features / Commercials / Television
Shot and produced using different formats, lenses, cameras, aesthetics.
One person chose to tell these stories with the most technically advanced tools at the time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PANAVISION MIL XL
PANAVISION PRIMO LENSES
ZEISS MASTER PRIMES
RED ONE
RED EPIC
RED DRAGON
ANGENUIEX HR 10-1 ZOOM LENS
LEICA
ARRIFLEX 16S3
PANAVISION “E” SERIES ANAMORPHIC LENSES
PANAVISON ULTRA SPEED LENSES
ARRIFLEX ALEXA
THOMPSON VIPER / 4:2:2 – 4:4:4
PANAVISION ARRI3 HIGH SPEED
ARRI 435ES XTREME
SUPER 8 BOLEX
ETC. ETC. ETC ETC.
Use the tools, they are tools for creating, not prejudice.
Is Cinoflex or anyone going to make a run and gun documentary rig for the Sony a7S?
we have a smaller more lite option as well.
thank you
Run and gun rig for the A7s…good!
Thanks for thinking on a smaller scale!
david
Interested in the smaller as7 rig. Would purchase immediately. Please send details! -James
Where can you purchase your rig for an A7s? Do you have a sales email?