Comments on: Silicon Imaging SI-2K New Feature Updates http://www.freshdv.com/2007/09/silicon-imaging-si-2k-new-feature-updates.html Serving up fresh, crispy news and views for creators and consumers of digital video Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:53:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: CR http://www.freshdv.com/2007/09/silicon-imaging-si-2k-new-feature-updates.html#comment-183665 CR Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:49:15 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/09/silicon-imaging-si-2k-new-feature-updates.html#comment-183665 Greg I agree allthough thats all a matter of taste. What really concerns me is the backfocus issues fof the SI. On wide angles primes the calibration just isnt correct. I understood the lowpass filter infront of the chip is very thick (3 to 4 mm) what results in a shift of the calibration. Light hits this lowpass filter in a angle and the breakingindex will change. To my opinion this is a problem SI should have fixed long time ago.... The choice of using VGA as a output is something I dont get. Since there is video people are bagging to get some kinda standard and till now that didnt work; except we all work with BNC (HD HDSDI) Why in the world did SI choose for VGA??? Using a converter sounds easier than it is because this converter should also be a scaler... Using the HDMI output is no option; the camera gets very slow and again HDMI is no standard on a filmset. HDMI-connectors are not designed to plug in and out several times a day... The optical viewfinder is absolutely great! Its a pity it only is available in B4 mount... What gives me problems over and over again is the fact I cannot choose to have the cameramenu in my LCD monitor while my viewfinder gives a clean image. Even worse.. set-monitors allso display all things I do on the camera-LCD. Commercial clients will be very nervous to see my Focus Assist or the Fullcolor Zebra on their monitor... Afterall the SI gives a great cinematic image. Its just that the way to get to that image is kinda exhaustive. Especcialy when you dont get a lot of feedback from the manifactures... Greg I agree allthough thats all a matter of taste. What really concerns me is the backfocus issues fof the SI. On wide angles primes the calibration just isnt correct. I understood the lowpass filter infront of the chip is very thick (3 to 4 mm) what results in a shift of the calibration. Light hits this lowpass filter in a angle and the breakingindex will change. To my opinion this is a problem SI should have fixed long time ago…. The choice of using VGA as a output is something I dont get. Since there is video people are bagging to get some kinda standard and till now that didnt work; except we all work with BNC (HD HDSDI) Why in the world did SI choose for VGA??? Using a converter sounds easier than it is because this converter should also be a scaler…
Using the HDMI output is no option; the camera gets very slow and again HDMI is no standard on a filmset. HDMI-connectors are not designed to plug in and out several times a day…
The optical viewfinder is absolutely great! Its a pity it only is available in B4 mount…
What gives me problems over and over again is the fact I cannot choose to have the cameramenu in my LCD monitor while my viewfinder gives a clean image. Even worse.. set-monitors allso display all things I do on the camera-LCD. Commercial clients will be very nervous to see my Focus Assist or the Fullcolor Zebra on their monitor…
Afterall the SI gives a great cinematic image. Its just that the way to get to that image is kinda exhaustive. Especcialy when you dont get a lot of feedback from the manifactures…

]]> By: greg http://www.freshdv.com/2007/09/silicon-imaging-si-2k-new-feature-updates.html#comment-171690 greg Sat, 02 Aug 2008 03:16:26 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/09/silicon-imaging-si-2k-new-feature-updates.html#comment-171690 Hmmm... I'm kinda glad I held off from jumping for the RED. I have to admit. I was a very early champion of the RED, touting it's greatness to anyone who would listen. I still think they have pulled off something amazing. Over time, in my research I've started paying more attention to the SI. I think the images it produces are more cinematic-looking. I know that's undefinable, in a way, but I am going on my gut feeling. The RED does have a sort of digital SLR look about it's images - reminds me of the images I get from my Nikon D70. The footage I've seen from the SI camera look more....organic, for lack of a better descriptor. Hmmm… I’m kinda glad I held off from jumping for the RED. I have to admit. I was a very early champion of the RED, touting it’s greatness to anyone who would listen. I still think they have pulled off something amazing. Over time, in my research I’ve started paying more attention to the SI. I think the images it produces are more cinematic-looking. I know that’s undefinable, in a way, but I am going on my gut feeling. The RED does have a sort of digital SLR look about it’s images - reminds me of the images I get from my Nikon D70. The footage I’ve seen from the SI camera look more….organic, for lack of a better descriptor.

]]> By: 1dog Studios -- Shawn Perrin http://www.freshdv.com/2007/09/silicon-imaging-si-2k-new-feature-updates.html#comment-39483 1dog Studios -- Shawn Perrin Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:34:27 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/09/silicon-imaging-si-2k-new-feature-updates.html#comment-39483 You are absolutely right Matte. The different cameras offer different options. I don't think you can shoot 3D with the RED ONE. Think about it, after you have that nice 1080p plasma screen what would make it really POP, 3D! Maybe thats just the kid in me. The optical viewfinder is a big plus too. I've been waiting for a price on that. You are absolutely right Matte. The different cameras offer different options. I don’t think you can shoot 3D with the RED ONE.
Think about it, after you have that nice 1080p plasma screen what would make it really POP, 3D!

Maybe thats just the kid in me. The optical viewfinder is a big plus too. I’ve been waiting for a price on that.

]]> By: Axel http://www.freshdv.com/2007/09/silicon-imaging-si-2k-new-feature-updates.html#comment-20789 Axel Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:54:40 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/09/silicon-imaging-si-2k-new-feature-updates.html#comment-20789 I'm def going with RED in lue of Silicon's price increase. It's totally unrealistic. I’m def going with RED in lue of Silicon’s price increase. It’s totally unrealistic.

]]> By: Matthew Jeppsen http://www.freshdv.com/2007/09/silicon-imaging-si-2k-new-feature-updates.html#comment-15947 Matthew Jeppsen Sat, 08 Sep 2007 05:28:04 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/09/silicon-imaging-si-2k-new-feature-updates.html#comment-15947 There are some key advantages to the SI-2K...as always it comes down to user preference and "what are you willing to live with"? For starters, you can actually <i>order</i> a camera from Silicon Imaging. If you need a high quality digital cinema camera now (not <i>possibly</i> in March '08...or later...) then the S1-2K is your huckleberry. I don't say that to knock the Red, but delivery timeframes and limitations are a very practical consideration...there is a long line of people waiting for camera deliveries, and you'd be at the back. Another advantage that some DP's will prefer is the optical viewfinder option. And the SI-2K remote head compact shooting solution is well-suited to a variety of unique and challenging SFX and environmentally-limited setups. RED built an amazing camera, to be sure. But it isn't for everyone, and there's nothing wrong with that. -Matt Jeppsen There are some key advantages to the SI-2K…as always it comes down to user preference and “what are you willing to live with”? For starters, you can actually order a camera from Silicon Imaging. If you need a high quality digital cinema camera now (not possibly in March ‘08…or later…) then the S1-2K is your huckleberry. I don’t say that to knock the Red, but delivery timeframes and limitations are a very practical consideration…there is a long line of people waiting for camera deliveries, and you’d be at the back. Another advantage that some DP’s will prefer is the optical viewfinder option. And the SI-2K remote head compact shooting solution is well-suited to a variety of unique and challenging SFX and environmentally-limited setups.

RED built an amazing camera, to be sure. But it isn’t for everyone, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

-Matt Jeppsen

]]> By: Former SI customer http://www.freshdv.com/2007/09/silicon-imaging-si-2k-new-feature-updates.html#comment-15877 Former SI customer Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:23:55 +0000 http://www.freshdv.com/2007/09/silicon-imaging-si-2k-new-feature-updates.html#comment-15877 SI probably set a record for the least time it takes a camera to become obsolete. Offering 2K/2/3" for 31,000$ (for camera&software package) the same week Red starts shipping 4K/S35 sensor cameras for 17,500$, with such amazing samples? In the digital cinema race, SI has definitely managed to alienate their customer base, raising their prices by 5,000$ since NAB. I expect a surge of potential SI customers switching to Red. I know I will. SI probably set a record for the least time it takes a camera to become obsolete.
Offering 2K/2/3″ for 31,000$ (for camera&software package) the same week Red starts shipping 4K/S35 sensor cameras for 17,500$, with such amazing samples? In the digital cinema race, SI has definitely managed to alienate their customer base, raising their prices by 5,000$ since NAB. I expect a surge of potential SI customers switching to Red. I know I will.

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