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"Black Betty": Custom built RAW camera using SI-2K Mini & Mac Mini
  • CRFilmsCRFilms

    This artice of a custom camera that was made using a SI-2K Mini and a Mac Mini in a custom housing to resemble a film camera.

    http://blackbettycameras.com/first-camera/

    Interesting cam. Since some old Mac Mini's use 12v unregulated power, you can rig them up to a battery. It shoots cineform raw. It reminded me of this old topic. http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/3725/4k-usb-3.0-camera-with-raw-option-less-than-1k/p1

    The Flea3 costs $900(you need to register to see prices) and can do 4k at 21fps and lower res at 24fps, but not sure what res. Another cam with max res of 2k and 60fps costs $650.

    BlackBetty.jpg
    600 x 400 - 77K
  • 17 Replies sorted by
  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    I think it was their source - http://cinescopophilia.com/black-betty-camera-is-a-si-2k-plus-mac-mini-and-that-equals-a-16mm-shoulder-camera/

    nofilmschool are usually copypasters who add bunch of their thought to it :-)

  • CRFilmsCRFilms

    @Vitaliy_Kiselev In this case they did break it first. http://nofilmschool.com/2013/08/new-digital-cinema-camera-exclusive/

    That tease was posted yesterday, before the other site.

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    @CRFilms

    I checked few times and almost always their exclusive things were not so exclusive :-)

    I know slightly how such sites work ( I mean paid bloggers aggregators with payment by word count).

  • stipstip

    when someone posted a link to the Black Betty homepage in the comments section of the teaser-post, they shut down the comments section and deleted some comments. I and others complained about that, hours later they surrendered and opened up the comments again...

    Pretty lame move besides the fact that this camera is such a niche product that noone will ever put their hands on it (you'd have to rent it near Boston area to do so).

  • gabiloursongabilourson

    Very interesting this camera, more than the digital bolex, don't you think?

  • BurnetRhoadesBurnetRhoades

    If they don't think going retail with full cameras is doable, because of the Mac Mini dependence, they should at least entertain the idea of users buying a conversion, sending along a previously purchased Mac Mini, SI2K and small HD. In return they get the camera conversion and software, if just selling the casing and software in kit form is just too hairy.

    Kinda like how folks were sending their DVX100 for Andromeda conversion to shoot uncompressed to disc.

    I kinda love the design of this thing.

  • CRFilmsCRFilms

    You don't necessarily need a mac mini. I've been looking to see if there are any DC powered PCs and there's a few mini pc's designed for Car installations. http://www.mini-box.com/Car-PC-Automotive-Computing-Solutions

    I found the link on BMCuser of the guy who bought a Flea3 camera and made his own custom capture setup. Not as easy as it looks. I'll post it in that thread.

  • BurnetRhoadesBurnetRhoades

    SI2K would be the smallest I'd ever be interested in going, sensor-wise. The Fleas are small enough to beg for a "ground glass" setup like the Belflower guys rigged up their SI2K.

  • robertGLrobertGL

    I wish somebody would focus their attention on making digital mags for existing film cameras

  • gabiloursongabilourson

    The SI-2K Mini Camera cost... 10000 dollars...

    http://si2kforsale.webs.com/si2kcameras.htm

  • grierdillgrierdill

    I think what's most interesting is "What's Next" http://blackbettycameras.com/whats-next/

  • CRFilmsCRFilms

    Here are a couple of other options than the SI-2k or Flea3.

    http://www.ptgreystore.com/zebra2-28-mp-color-gige-hd-sdi Machine vision camera with HD-SDI output, global shutter CCD. Only does max output of 1928 x 1448 at 26FPS. Costs $1500.

    http://www.ptgreystore.com/blackfly-23-mp-color-gige-poe Gigabit Ethernet output, rolling shutter CMOS. Max res of 1920 x 1200 at 27 FPS. Costs $315. Looks like this is the cheapest one they have that's usable for 1080p 24fps raw.

  • robertGLrobertGL

    CRFilms that is a 1/2.8" sensor on the blackfly.. tiiny

  • gabiloursongabilourson

    I had emails exchange with black Betty's inventors ... They think about sell DIY camera with Mac mini, sensor... Why not ? Just wait a price ! It will take time but this project is very cool and interesting...

  • eatstoomuchjameatstoomuchjam

    I'd halfway be interested in building one of these around something like a CuBox since it'd save some money and be more portable. They're all DC-powered (5V DC/2A for all but the fastest which is 5V DC/3A) and the two higher-end units both have a gigabit ethernet port and an eSata port. Recording raw shouldn't take a huge amount of CPU and gigabit ethernet should theoretically be able to handle something near 1920x1080@30p before getting saturated.

    http://cubox-i.com/

  • Jean71Jean71

    @Vitaliy

    Not that this matter something, or i have something against these people, but i second you about "exclusive" on nofilmschool.

    Other than that, I'll cancel my subscrition, because it's 3 days i'm writing them to ask them if they still have a discount code for "The Tao of Color" online seminar (Resolve for Alexa RAW), and i received no answer. But when they need it, they write to you to ask for surveys.

    Anyway, maybe it's the summer and they are short of people, i don't know.

    I never found useful information there, and from last three weeks ago they are putting Scorsese stuff that i studied in cinema school in 1993, maybe it's me...

    End of rant about NFS.

    Speaking in topic, i think the article by blackbetty makers has some nonsense.

    First of all, they say that they shoot some stuff with Red One Mx at 2k with 16mm lens, and the Red was too heavy.

    The R1 IS VERY heavy, but for 2k shooting many cameras exist that can do a great job, starting with BMCC @2.5k in MFT adapted to C lenses. (You have the 16mm FOV and you can crop 2.5 to 2k in post if you got vignette on wider lenses).

    If you want a nice 2k, shoot 4k and debayer-transcode in 2k. Who are the genious that shoot 2k with R1 for the sensor crop? I see the point only if you want to shoot @ 120FPS.

    Also, NFS are shitting on Sony FS100/700 for form factor over Arri Alexa, and they point this thing like a factor that makes great DPs to choose Alexa (FS100 costs like 3 days of Alexa renting).

    http://nofilmschool.com/2013/08/new-digital-cinema-camera-exclusive/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nofilmschool+%28nofilmschool%29

    At the end of the game i don't see something new by these Betty people (except for mac mini), just i can have esteem for the fact they are building something, and i always respect that, even if i don't see the future in this particular thing (my two cents, but good luck anyway).

  • treehousemafiatreehousemafia

    We just finished shooting a movie with the si-2k, and If anyone is interested in acquiring a second generation si-2k mini, we are selling one and several accessories/batteries for $7500.

    We have: 2nd generation SI-2k mini camera si-2k sync/power cable si-2k mini gigabit ethernet cable PL mount adaptor for PL lenses 1 anton bauer gold plate wired for si-2k (wiring needs to be fixed, its a little touchy) 1 BP-type Li-ion replaceable battery (14.4 v 8.8ah 130 Wh) (similar to Anton Bauer Gold Battery) 1 BP-type Li-ion battery charger 7'' wide (16:9) LCD moniter Xenarc 700TSV model with flexible arm attachment

    We were using cineform and the latest version of the DVR for the software.

    You can reach us at treehousemafia@gmail.com.

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