PRONEWS AWARD 2024 Cinema Camera Category

PRONEWS AWARD 2024 Cinema Camera category nominees

2024 was a year in which a large number of cinema cameras were announced and released, which is rare in recent years, making it an active year for PRONEWS, which means the award this year is going to be tough to decide!

In particular, the announcement of the 65mm format cinema cameras “ALEXA 265” and “Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K” attracted a lot of attention. Cooke followed up with the announcement of the 65mm compatible “Panchro Series”, and it was a year in which attention was focused on 65mm format video production. In addition, Fujifilm finally announced the long-awaited “FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA”, and the cinema camera market is expected to be crowded from next year onwards.

Note “ALEXA 265”, “Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K”, and “GFX ETERNA” are scheduled to be released in 2025, so they are not eligible for this year’s PRONEWS AWARD.

In addition to these, various companies have released a number of cinema cameras that will provide new options in 2024. The following seven products have been nominated in this year’s Cinema Camera category.

Sony BURANO

Release date: February 9, 2024

Sony’s “BURANO” is an attractive product that can be called “the arrival of a dream camera.” Equipped with a 35mm full-size (35.9 x 24.0mm) 8.6K sensor used in Sony’s flagship VENICE 2 series, it inherits the same technology as the VENICE, which is familiar from filming major movies and dramas. And yet, its big appeal is that it is equipped with an electronic variable ND filter and image stabilization at the same time, and has a small, lightweight body.

With the VENICE series, it was difficult to shoot with a gimbal or crane without using an extension system, but the BURANO is 33% lighter than the VENICE 2, making it easier to shoot handheld or on the shoulder. It is also attracting attention for being easier to use for one-man operation.

Canon EOS C400

Release date: September 20, 2024

The EOS C400 is a cinema camera equipped with a 35mm full-size CMOS sensor, featuring 6K resolution and a compact design. It is extremely small even when equipped with a V battery and microphone, making it easy to shoot handheld or with a gimbal, and is equipped with functions ideal for shooting with a small number of people.

The triple base ISO of 80, 3200 and 12,800 is revolutionary and allows for flexibility in low light conditions, plus it supports internal Cinema RAW Light recording and comes with a choice of 3 standard ND filter levels (up to 6 stops in increments of 2 stops) and 5 extended ND filter levels (up to 10 stops in increments of 2 stops).

Equipped with two Mini-XLR audio inputs, it is priced competitively at 1.25 million yen. Equipped with Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, it not only boasts powerful autofocus performance, but also excellent image stabilization of the camera body. It supports tally linkage and return input, making it suitable for live shooting. It is also attracting attention for its usability in a wide range of locations.

Blackmagic PYXIS 6K

Release date: November 2024

The Blackmagic PYXIS 6K is a long-awaited box cinema camera with a 36mm x 24mm (full frame) sensor. Its biggest selling point is its compact body that can be held in one hand, and it is also worth noting that it has a dynamic range of 13 stops.

It is difficult to compare directly with the C400 and BURANO because they are in a different price range, but the fact that it is compatible with Blackmagic RAW is a major strength. The mount can be selected from L-mount, EF, or PL, making it highly flexible. Although it does not have an internal ND filter, it is also characterized by its realistic price of 498,800 yen including tax, making it a realistic price for individual ownership.

Blackmagic also sells the Blackmagic PYXIS Monitor, an external monitor exclusively for the PYXIS 6K. It supports USB-C connection and allows you to operate the camera via a touch panel, making for intuitive and convenient operation.

Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF

Release date: November 2024

This cinema camera was made possible by Blackmagic Design CEO Grant Petty’s desire to “make the camera of our dreams without worrying about the cost.” True to his words, the camera is chock full of ultimate specs. Its biggest feature is the inclusion of a full frame 12K sensor designed exclusively by Blackmagic. It uses RGBW instead of RGB to achieve an excellent dynamic range. The horizontal resolution reaches 12,888 pixels, the vertical resolution reaches 8,040 pixels, and it boasts a dynamic range of 16 stops.

The URSA Cine 12K is particularly great because it can capture images using the entire sensor, regardless of whether you select 12K, 8K, or 4K resolution. In addition, it achieves a maximum frame rate of 80 fps at 12K in 3:2, providing overwhelming capture performance.

Until now, Blackmagic’s cinema cameras, mainly the low-cost Pocket Cinema Camera series, have been well received by individual creators and small productions, but they have not had much of a presence in the film production field. However, the arrival of the URSA Cine series could dramatically change that perception.

Canon EOS C80

Release date: November 6, 2024

Canon announced the EOS C400 in June 2024, followed immediately by the EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II in July, and the EOS C80 in September. This year, the company surprised the industry by introducing a series of hot new products to the video production market.

The EOS C80 is a model that can be considered a lightweight version of the EOS C400. It is equipped with the same 6K full-frame back-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor as the EOS C400, and the DIGIC DV7 image processor provides fast and accurate Dual Pixel CMOS AF II technology. The same triple base ISO as the EOS C400 allows high-quality shooting even in extremely dark environments.

While its body size is equivalent to the “EOS C70” in its small and lightweight body, it has expanded interfaces such as SDI compatibility, and is equipped with a heat dissipation fan to support non-stop recording. Another major feature of the “EOS C80” is that it is equipped with various interfaces that were not available on the “EOS C70”, such as built-in Ethernet, Wi-Fi, SDI output, and a digital multi-function shoe.

RED V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV /V-RAPTOR XL [X] 8K VV

Release date: February 2024

The arrival of the V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV camera was also a historic moment. RED’s lineup of cinema cameras was divided into the “V-Raptor,” which was suitable for a variety of production styles, and the “Komodo,” which had a palm-sized body and a global shutter. The “V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV” is a dream cinema camera that combines the advantages of both models.

The resolution is 8K and it is equipped with a VistaVision compatible global shutter sensor. It supports up to 120fps at 8K, and by turning on the extended highlight mode, it achieves a dynamic range of up to 20 stops or more. It seems to have achieved specs that are one step above competing cinema cameras.

ARRI ALEXA 35 Live

ARRI released the ALEXA 35 in 2022. The ALEXA 35 Live is a model of the ALEXA 35 adapted for live production. This camera is specialized for live production of concerts, events, sports, etc., and consists of the ALEXA 35 Live camera, the LPS-1 Fiber Camera Adapter, and the FBS-1 Fiber Base Station. It is a groundbreaking system that enables cinematic looks, HDR, and creative control in live shooting.

Although the ALEXA 35 and ALEXA 35 Live are cameras with different specifications, you can upgrade to ALEXA 35 Live by purchasing a Multicam license. Conversely, you can switch from ALEXA 35 Live to ALEXA 35 by purchasing the optional Cine license.

The above are the nominated products in the 2024 PRONEWS AWARD Cinema Camera category.

PRONEWS AWARD 2024 Cinema Camera Category Gold Award

Sony BURANO

From its announcement in September 2023 to its release in 2024, the cinema camera that has been the most talked about in film and mid-scale productions is undoubtedly Sony’s “BURANO.” In addition to a built-in ND filter, it is the first cinema camera to be equipped with image stabilization. The fact that it has both functions at the same time is groundbreaking. Furthermore, despite being a cinema camera, it is also compatible with Sony E-mount autofocus lenses. It was selected for the Gold Award in recognition of the way it has combined these innovations into a compact, well-balanced design.

Traditionally, professional cinema cameras such as VENICE, RED, and ALEXA have mostly been manual focus cameras, with limited or no autofocus functionality. By adopting the E-mount, BURANO can be combined with Sony prime lenses and zoom lenses, and Sigma Art lenses, and the autofocus function can be utilized. This function allows efficient shooting by one person, even in scenes with fast-moving subjects, such as documentaries and wedding photography.

In addition, compared to the expensive AXS memory cards used in the VENICE, the BURANO uses dual slots for CFexpress Type B memory cards, reducing recording costs and streamlining workflow. Furthermore, the high-quality image sensor and color science such as S-Log3 inherited from the VENICE, while still achieving a small and lightweight body, were also factors that helped the camera win the Gold Award.

PRONEWS AWARD 2024 Cinema Camera Category Silver Award

RED V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV /V-RAPTOR XL [X] 8K VV

This is a cinema camera that is equipped with the industry’s first Vista Vision global shutter sensor, achieving astonishing specifications. There are no other cameras with these specifications. As the one and only camera that completely solves the rolling shutter problem, we have selected it for the Silver Award this time.

Until now, global shutter cameras have had to make trade-offs such as reduced dynamic range and image quality degradation in low light conditions. However, RED has achieved a high dynamic range in standard mode, and in “Extended Highlights” mode, although it is limited to still subjects, it can capture up to 20 stops of dynamic range. This technological advancement stands out.

In the early days, RED established its brand with cinema cameras that overwhelmed other manufacturers, but in recent years, its presence has been fading. However, the introduction of the “V-RAPTOR 8K VV [X]” is a model that gives a sense of RED’s unique style for the first time in a long time. 2024 was a year that symbolized RED’s transformation, with major developments such as entering the broadcast business and becoming a subsidiary of Nikon. Further leaps are expected in 2025.