I have been very interested in the Digital Bolex since it was first released in early 2012. But it wasn’t until recently that I really took another serious look at this camera because, after quite a long wait, it finally became available for pre-order. Now that test footage is starting to appear online, I have to say I’m impressed with the image quality so far and think it’s on par with more expensive cinema cameras.
One of the early test shots of the Digital Bolex d16:
For those who need a quick review, here are the specs:
| solve | 2048 x 1152 (Super 16mm mode) + 1920 x 1080 pixels (16mm mode) |
| Format | Adobe Cinema DNG, TIFF, JPEG image sequences |
| color depth | 12 bits – 4:4:4 |
| file size | RAW format 2 to 3 MB per frame |
| sensor | Kodak CCD: 12.85 mm (H) x 9.64 mm (V) – similar to Super 16mm |
| Pixel size | 5.5 micron (compared to the 4.3 micron size of many DSLRs) |
| Frame rate | Up to 32 fps at 2K, 60 fps at 720p, 90 fps at 480p |
| sound | Balanced, 2-channel, 16-bit, 48 kHz, via XLR |
| viewfinder | 320×240, 2.4 inches diagonal, focus assist |
| Video output | 640 x 480 black and white via ⅛” video jack (HD-SDI available in separate unit) |
| port | ⅛” Video, Headphones, USB 3.0, Audio XLR (2), 4-pin XLR |
| Data storage | Dual CF card slots, SSD (buffered drive) |
| strength | Built-in battery, 12V external via 4-pin XLR connector |
| Body | Milling steel and hard plastics |
| Dimensions (body) | Approximately 5″ high (excluding pistol grip) x 4″ wide x 8″ deep |
| Dimensions (grip) | 5” H x 2” W x 5” D |
| lens mount | C interface is standard configuration; PL, EF, B4 are optional |
| weight | 5 pounds |
| ISO options | 100, 200, 400 |
| There are also in the box | Pistol grip, USB 3.0 cable, built-in battery, 4-pin XLR battery, cable, video cable, transcoder/original conversion software |
The spec sheet alone is enough to seduce almost any filmmaker. After all, it shoots 2K Adobe Cinema DNG images using a Kodak CCD sensor – Meaning no jelly or jitter! It’s well built, uses off-the-shelf CF cards, and can even do slow motion, making it a nearly perfect camera. The only challenge with shooting with this camera right now is that you can only shoot at up to 400 ISO. It’s definitely not a low-light camera at the moment, but that will definitely change with firmware updates.
I also like how adaptable this camera is. The C-mount is perfect for this camera because you can use it with just about any lens on the planet, Built-in XLR helps it function like a real video camera. Unlike RED, which only wants to sell its own proprietary accessories (which end up costing more than the camera body), the Digital Bolex team seems more focused on making this camera affordable. Of course, you can go crazy adding accessories to it if you want, but you can also shoot with the lenses and CF cards currently in your 5D, for example. The accessories they make are well thought out and affordable, namely a new line of lenses designed specifically for this camera, that are of the highest quality.
However, I’ll let the images speak for themselves, take a look at the video shot with the d16:
Here is a comparison video between Blackmagic Pocket Camera and SI-2K Mini:
I truly believe this camera is producing one of the most cinematic images available today. The image has the quality to truly replicate the look of Super 16, looking very cinematic out of the box while still maintaining the sharp detail required of modern 2K images.
While it took a long time for this camera to actually be released into the world, I’d say it was worth the wait. Creating a camera from scratch is no easy task, this is a camera created by two filmmakers who had a genuine desire to provide better tools for their work, and that passion really shines through in this product. The image from any camera is the sum of many different parts – the sensor, color science, compression, etc. The d16 team took longer than planned and were obviously doing some legwork to get the images to look just right. So, while other manufacturers race to introduce the next generation of 4K cameras, the d16 remains true to its original purpose – a digital super 16mm cinema camera. I can’t wait to try one of these and it doesn’t look like the wait will be too long.
If you’re on the fence, or considering Blackmagic’s latest 4K camera, Check out my article covering the first 4K Blackmagic footage released here.
Alternatively, if you would like to pre-order a Digital Bolex, please visit www.digitalbolex.com
