This week, Fujifilm introduced the event of a brand new digital camera designed with filmmakers in thoughts, the Fujifilm GFX Eterna. The digital camera builds on Fuji’s GFX line of medium format nonetheless cameras however will likely be targeted on video seize and is aimed toward unbiased filmmakers and documentarians.
This growth discover wasn’t one which was high of my thoughts, but it’s one which makes a variety of sense. Whereas within the nonetheless world, taking pictures full body is taken into account commonplace, and medium format is even one other step up, within the filmmaking world, crop sensors nonetheless rule the roost, with full body sensors solely coming into vogue lately. Bigger format sensors like Alexa 65, IMAX, and many others., which may supply the final word in readability and picture high quality, are largely solely inside attain of probably the most profitable filmmakers. I’m speaking to you, Christopher Nolan. But, even that’s altering with cameras equivalent to Blackmagic’s forthcoming 17K 65mm digital camera set to shake up the market much more.
In fact, sensor dimension isn’t all the pieces. Want I remind you that tremendous 35mm crop sensors are nonetheless the business commonplace for many video cameras, and if Roger Deakins can shoot Blade Runner 2049 with the tremendous 35mm 3.4K Alexa Mini, you darn certain don’t “want” an 87K digital camera to make your masterpiece brief movie. However to hunt the most effective picture high quality is a built-in attribute of a visible artist, and a video digital camera constructed on related sensor know-how to the GFX 100 system has a variety of prospects.
In a current dialog with CineD, Product Planner Makoto-san steered the digital camera can be a “filmmaking” digital camera versus a “cinema” digital camera. Attempting to parse the quote, it appears to counsel the digital camera could also be extra aimed on the owner-operator/content material creator facet reasonably than a large-scale manufacturing mannequin and won’t include all of the manufacturing comfort bells and whistles you would possibly discover on a digital camera like an Arri Alexa or Sony Venice. In fact, that’s all conjecture because the product continues to be in growth, and I do not know what is going to or is not going to be on the digital camera physique.
Makoto-san stated the digital camera can have inside NDs. The sensor is similar as within the GFX100 II however will arrive alongside a newly developed F-Log Gamma Curve that may additional improve efficiency. Options equivalent to rolling shutter efficiency needs to be equivalent. However, for the reason that digital camera continues to be in growth, I assumed I’d throw my two cents in on what I’d like to see as a part of the potential GFX Eterna digital camera that I feel would assist it raise off inside the filmmaking group.
Picture High quality and Dynamic Vary
I’ll put this primary, as it’s each the obvious and the one I’m least involved about. I owned the unique GFX100, which I used primarily for stills. I’ve written about that digital camera a number of instances earlier than. Lengthy story brief, some points of the digital camera made it not the correct match for my specific taking pictures model and wishes as a business photographer based mostly on my particular use case. However one factor was clear: the GFX 100 had, by far, the most effective picture high quality I had ever shot with for images. That sensor was downright superb. And whereas I haven’t but shot with the newer GFX100 II physique, I can solely think about that they’ve improved the product much more since I final used it. So, I’m not in any respect doubtful that the picture and dynamic vary from this digital camera will likely be top-notch.
Connectivity
From the photographs I’ve seen of the mockup of the longer term digital camera, it seems as if it’s going to undoubtedly have ports for monitoring. I wasn’t in a position to verify from the few photographs I’ve seen whether or not the digital camera has SDI compatibility as effectively. I additionally am unsure whether or not or not the digital camera can have built-in Timecode and Genlock ports. However there does seem like a lot of connectivity to the digital camera from the restricted photos I’ve seen.
Recording Modes
The GFX100 II, which shares the identical sensor as this potential digital camera, can document as much as H.265 10-bit 4:2:2 DCI 4K as much as 30 fps (and as much as 60 fps at 2K). It may possibly document 4K RAW video externally through HDMI.
With the GFX Eterna being a filmmaking-first physique, I’d love to have the ability to document uncooked internally. I’d additionally love to have the ability to document ProRes 4:2:2 or 4:4:4 internally as an possibility. It’s been a few years since I owned Fuji our bodies (each the GFX and X traces), however I do bear in mind modifying the H.265 footage wasn’t all the time my favourite. So having a ProRes possibility would possibly enhance the publish course of. And, whereas I’m guessing that since this is similar sensor, it might not be able to recording uncooked video internally, that’s one thing I’d like to be unsuitable about.
The GFX100 II information to SD playing cards, which can additionally restrict sure taking pictures speeds. I’m hoping the GFX 100II comes with CFast Specific Kind B. Selfishly, this may save me cash on shopping for playing cards. However, virtually, I discover that the CFast Specific format performs higher when coping with bigger recordsdata.
Lens Compatibility
Fujifilm has an extended historical past of manufacturing superb glass for movie and video manufacturing. So I don’t doubt their skill to create some lovely lenses optimized for the GFX system. There are already some nice selections that may cowl the sensor already available on the market. However, because the GFX cinema lens lineup would essentially take a while to develop, I’ll be curious to see the options that enter the marketplace for adapting current cinema lenses to the GFX Eterna. Particularly contemplating the big format sensor, the obtainable high-quality lenses that may cowl it have a tendency to come back at a fairly hefty price ticket. One can all the time lease, thoughts you. However I’m curious to see, straight out of the gate, what options will likely be obtainable for PL and LPL mount particularly, and which glass performs greatest with the brand new system.
From the corporate’s description, this digital camera appears to line up with Fujifilm’s custom of crafting full ecosystems with choices for various use circumstances. The X line, as an example, all the time has the identical sensor throughout the identical era inside the line, and what differentiates the merchandise is the shape issue that matches your use case. With the GFX Eterna, it appears like the corporate is making use of the identical thought to the GFX line. The sensor itself is similar as within the GFX100 II. However the kind issue of the digital camera itself will likely be designed with filmmakers in thoughts. step. I’m trying ahead to seeing (with growth estimated to run by way of 2025) what the top end result will likely be.
What are your ideas? What are you trying ahead to seeing from the GFX Eterna? They haven’t but launched pricing info for the digital camera, however does this digital camera look like one thing that might be your subsequent funding?
