IndieGS2K global shutter camera

The new Indiecam indieGS2K is the first miniature CMOS camera with a global shutter, which will mean no rolling shutter issues (like skew and wobble) when you pan the camera quickly or shoot fast-moving subjects.

It is a 2K camera (2048 x 1080 pixels), with a 3G HD-SDI output, and its small size makes it ideal for use in 3D rigs. It can also be used with a 12-bit RAW workflow (using Adobe's Cinema DNG format). In its RAW 10-bit mode it can output 1080p at up to 120 frames per second (in 12-bit RAW and 10-bit 4:2:2 YUV it can do up to 50/60p).

“At last we have a single piece 2/3-inch minicam that can meet the requirements of not just the OB/live production people but also the film production people,” said Steffan Hewitt, Managing Director, Polecam (one of Indiecam’s distributors).

The global shutter means that “CMOS cameras can be fully integrated into high speed sports productions, where rolling shutter has always been a bottleneck in the past,” he added.

“We had it on our stand at NAB and we were very impressed with the picture quality out of the box.”

Its power consumption is just 4W (7-24v DC), it measures 39.8 x 39.8 x 100mm (about 1.5 inches x 1.5 inches by 4 inches) without a lens, and weighs about 170g (six ounces). It has a 2/3-inch sensor and takes C-mount lenses as standard, but can also be fitted with a PL-mount option.

The Polecam Remote Control Panel will soon work with the GS2K and there will also be a small handheld controller for individual camera control and set up.

Four GS2Ks have been used on the set of Rush, directed by Ron Howard and shot by DoP Anthony Dod Mantle. German post-house Cinepost is working on the movie and is using Colorfront's On-Set Dailies system, which supports Indiecam’s InstantRaw workflow, alongside other RAW formats. The new Convergent Design Gemini RAW recorder also supports the InstantRaw format. The cameras were also used to shot a high proportion of Danny Boyle‘s latest movie Trance.

Hewitt has found the small team at Indiecam very ready to respond to feedback. The Austrians had initially been focused just on the camera’s use for movies, and hadn’t given it interlaced output, but when Polecam pointed out how important it would be for broadcast work Indiecam added it very quickly.

For 3D work, the indieGS2K offers an interocular of as little as 40mm, making it one of the most compact 3D-set ups available as a side-by-side rig. The Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute is using the indieGS2K for its hybrid stereoscopic technology in cooperation with imcube labs, while the new P+S Technik PS-Micro Rig for 3D is also designed to operate with the GS2K.

Indiecam has also introduced a new indieFocus Control, which is 100% compatible with the C-motion system.

Related post: Indie shows 3D in the RAW

By David Fox