Hi everyone!
I just got back from Toronto, and I have a lot to report.
First off, on the fun side, we had Digital Bolex Class Picture day, so you could start to get to know the rest of the team in Toronto. We’ll be updating our “History” page soon to be an “About Us” page, and provide more info about everyone who’s working on the project. Exciting!
Now, on to the real news!
We have completed the final board which is the DSP board…
This board converts the raw data into three streams of video that can be seen working in this video…
You can see a little preview of our GUI overlay being demoed here, which is another element we’re still finalizing.
The primary goal of this meeting was to finalize the body details. We are very close, but of course, there are always hiccups. Luckily, very few.
One thing we came across was a conflict in the way the interchangeable lens mount front end was interacting with the sensor board. Up until this last revision there was the possibility for there to be a .2mm variation based on lens mount placement. Two tenths of a millimeter might not sound like a lot, but in critical focus land, it could be potentially bad. So we decided to separate the actual lens mount from the front skin.
The new lens mount will be made out of machined brass and mount directly to the sensor structure, using 4 screws, ensuring perfect placement. Then the front aluminum skin of the body that helps keep out the elements will be placed over that with 4 more screws. So changing the lens mount will be a two step process instead of one, and it will require removing twice as many screws as originally planned, but this will ensure good back focus and proper lens centering, which is essential.
Another debate we’re having is a good solution to help protect the HDMI cable. Currently we feel it is not in an opportune place and are having trouble building protection for it because it is too close to the XLR ports. I feel like we are close to a solution here though.
Unfortunately, there is some bad news. We were really excited to receive the FPGA board around the time of our last update, which was designed by two freelance contractors that we hired outside our core team to speed up the process. We tested the board on its own, it worked well, and then we tried to connect it to the sensor board, and… it didn’t fit. Turns out the freelance designers weren’t staying in regular contact with our in house engineers. We’ve let the outside designers go, and both boards are already in the process of being redesigned, but it’s not clear how much time this error has cost us.
The silver lining is that we’ve hired an additional hardware guy, and two more software guys to work in house, so from now on we won’t be using any outside contractors for our engineering work. It will take a little time to get them up to speed, however. But once they’re settled in we should be moving a lot faster.
The best thing to come out of this meeting is a feature we’ve been working on for quite some time, and are very happy to announce: we will be adding in-camera playback!
We know that playback is crucial for many of you who prefer the advantages of a digital workflow rather than the traditional film workflow, and after many discussions about the most appropriate way of implementing playback, we’ve come to a good solution that our engineers have signed off on.
As the camera moves into its final stages, we’ll be heading up to Toronto more frequently, as it seems many of the hiccups we’ve encountered are more quickly solved when everyone is in the same room. We wish things were moving faster at this point, but the discussion, detail, and precision we’re putting into every aspect of the camera will definitely be worth the wait. Thanks for all your support!
Joe, Elle, and the Digital Bolex team
Thanks for the update!
I know people will ask about delays, but I’d like you to develop more about the in-camera playback feature
Thank you for the update.
If the delays mean a more robust lens mount and in-camera playback and an overall more thoroughly tested camera; then by all means take your time.
Also the GUI (what can be seen of it) looks very simple and clean. I really like that so hopefully it won’t change much. Personally I just want the essentials. I can play with everything else between takes.
Merci de nous tenir informés … Thank you for this feedback …
May the force be with you
No worries, mate. We have time and time is on our side. I have received my digital Bolex DVD. thanks a lot !
best regards
jla
Glitches happen. But overall seems like great progress.
In camera playback! Yay!
Worth the wait.
Great review!
Thanks for updating, guys!
I still take a look at your homepage everyday hoping that there’s a new post.
I love the design of the camera but i love more what it is able to do, can’t wait to use it soon
Greets from Austria (not australia)
Can’t rush perfection
Keep up the awesome work! This is looking amazing!
Exciting times! Good luck with the continuing development!
eight srews? Better than tilted focal plane. But still, may I once again pledge for you considering to offer an IMS mount. It is the only mount I know of that allows using C-mount lenses, with a simple bayonet adapter (OK, that is, aside from mft, but IMS is a true cinematographic mount, i.e. no turning of the lens when mounting). And can be used with adapters for most other lens mounts, including iirc, EF and PL.
We looked into the IMS mount, it was even recommended to us by Peter at Ikonoskop. That is the mount that he uses on the front of the A-cam dii (a camera and company we love!).
The thing is, it’s huge compared to the front of our camera and we felt it would completely ruin the aesthetic of the camera. Also it isn’t cheap it would add at least $500 maybe $1000 to the cost of the camera!
And the different lens mount adapters aren’t cheap either. So for instance the EF mount adapter is over $500 by itself…
http://store.pstechnik.de/all-products/interchangeable-mount-system-ps-ims/all-ps-ims-lens-mounts/#cc-m-product-6012174086
Our passive mounts will be much cheaper.
That doesn’t mean we can’t build IMS mounts too if people really want them, but I am going to assume if the IMS is $750, and each adapter is over $500 it will be priced out of range for most D16 buyers.
It is a great mount though, and on a camera like the A-cam Dii it totally makes sense and looks great!
Thanks, Joe
When I talked to the people from P+S Technik, I got the impression that the price could be at around 500 Euro. I fully understand that this should not be the standard mount, but I still consider it an interesting option. And while the EF adapter may be expensive (I don’t have any EF lenses, so I did not memorize that), the IMS is the only approach that I am aware of presently that would allow the use of c-mount lenses in a PL-bayonet style, via the c-mount-to-IMS adapter. Which happens to be rather low cost.
Otoh, maybe it would be possible to develop another, cheaper bayonet mount for use with adapted c-mount lenses?
Why do you not like the standard screw in C-mount format?
For someone to get an IMS mount for $500 or $750 and then adapters for $500 each would be much more expensive than any of the mounts we have planned currently.
1. Screwing is more time-consuming than “bayonetting”
2. Each lens has to be aligned to the thread for a particular camera; at least if you want to have the markings at some specific position.
3. Subjective aspect of tightening the lens, with associated flange distance deltas.
4. More care required, in order to not damage the threads (not sure about that one)
As far as I can see, the price would be about 500 Euro for the mount, but I guess that most people would need one adapter for an entire set of lenses, and keep the adapter on the mount. (with the exception of c-mount lenses, but as I said, the adapters for those are rather cheap). Only people who want to mix different mounts need several adapters. However, these people will have problems with your present approach as well.
It could well be that I missed something, and that it will turn out to be no problem at all. I just can’t tell yet.
What about the Bolex bayonet?
Excited that you are making progress! Can’t wait to shoot another installment! Keep me in the loop, talk to you soon my friend!
-Adam
Any chance of knowing a SUPER GUESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL? :p like when do you guys hope it will be done by? this isnt impatience, this is EXCITEMENT!!!!
Thanks for your support!
I don’t want to say a specific date, but we are shooting for early next year
We are excited too! Can’t wait to get these cameras out there!