Blackmagic vs Magic Lantern (Round 4)

Magic Lantern have gone and done it [here we go] again!

First it was "Magic Lantern finds RAW Video!",  back in May of last year the Magic Lantern team found a "2K" (1931 x 1288) resolution 14bit Raw image that they thought might be used to get Raw video but that didn't stop the Camera Blogs from what I called polluting the internet with uneducated speculation with claims of the 5D mark III surpassing all it's competitors in the DSLR and Cinema world with amazing raw video when in fact it was only 720p for 2 second runtimes. (Note that the ML team eventual got there with with 5D3, the blogs just preemptive reported it.)

Now the blogs are a buzz once again with another misunderstood Magic Lantern development.  The newest tag is "Magic Lantern increases Dynamic Range to 15 stops!"; that's similar to the footage out of a RED Epic and is 3 stops higher than the Canon C500, cameras that cost 10x more, but again the truth is actually far from the headlines.  Hopefully the misinformed blogs will make the appropriate corrections and start paying closer attention to facts rather than buzz words.  

What Magic Lantern has actually done is found the "Digic Registers" or "control points" for the camera's ISO and modified them to get a higher Dynamic Range but no where near the 3 - 4 stop jump to 15 stops that's being reported.  The actual numbers are about half a stop; here is a list of the Dynamic Range stops with the stock firmware versus with the new Magic Lantern feature:

5D3 Canon ML ISO

100 10.98 11.36

200 10.90 11.32

400 10.79 11.23

800 10.59 11.01

1600 10.16 10.59

3200 9.53 10.015

6400 8.60 9.16

12800 7.82 8.40

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/34113196/ML/ADTG/DR.PNG

This in it's own is a great improvement, helping the Canon 5D mark III to catch up to its competitors!  Many of the recent DSLR sensors have surpassed Canon's 11 stop Dynamic Range with the latest Nikon and Sony cameras reaching 14.4 stops.  This still can't match those "DR monsters" in low ISO shooting but in high ISOs (where the 5D Mark III is already known for it's clean Image to Noise ratios) this new feature can match the Dynamic Range of the Nikon D800* at ISO 6400 (9.17 vs 9.16 stops) and even surpasses it at ISO 128,000 (8.40 vs 8.16 stops).

So what's all this talk about 15 stops then?  Well the poster who brought this to the blogs attention mentioned that when combining this new feature with Magic Lantern's older "Dual ISO" feature (that works by combing ISO 100 and ISO 1600 to push shadows while pulling highlights) the result would be similar to 15 stops of dynamic range.  Which most just read as "Magic Lantern, blah blah blah, 15 stops of dynamic range, blah blah, RAW!".  Though it is technically capturing more "shades of grey" than just using ISO 100 or ISO 1600 alone; the reason why it's not a practical choice is that the "Dual ISO" process actually reduces the very detail in the highlights and shadows that you are trying to retain and adds extra artifacts such as aliasing, it'll work great for a chart where the shades are uniform but not very effective for every situation in the real world.

Now for the real question, how close does this dynamic range now come to the Blackmagic Cinema Cameras with their claim 13 stops?  Recent tests have already shown that the Canon 5D3's dynamic range in Raw video was very close, I'll wait to do some tests but based on the numbers I'm pretty sure they are now equal now.

*http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Nikon/D800

2015 UPDATED Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera SD Cards

I've made a previous post about SD Cards for the BmPCC but by now everyone knows the BmPcc is very picky with SD cards and will still drop frames with cards that are testing fast enough to write its footage; so I've updated my list with my most recent findings, I have not tested all these cards but my research (reading others results) indicates they work as listed.  All these cards are "rated" with write speeds fast enough for at least ProRes HQ and are recognized by the BmPcc and will start a recording but some start dropping frames after the recording starts, for those I added how long they can record before experiencing a dropped frame during a worst case senario (filling the frame with high detail content).  The more complex your scene, the faster you will encounter dropped frames.   

Please note that the prices fluctuate a lot so I just added the lowest I've seen for a brand new one on Amazon US or eBay US not their current prices.  Given today's prices I would say a 128GB for $100 that can shoot 30fps ProRes (30MB/s) is a good deal ($50 for 64GB and $25 for 32GB) then double those prices for 24fps Raw (60MB/s).  Also note that my write speeds are either the manufacture's rated speed, an estimation based on similar models or quoted benchmark test results from various sites; I have verified none of them.  All of this information is guess work "your miles may very" so spend your money at your own risk.

* = Someone else has claimed these results in a test

** = I've personally verified it

no star means it's assumed because no one has claimed tests for it

! = warning, with a note why

For CinemaDNG 72MB/s (30 FPS):
(28 mins)

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 128GB 60MB/s write ($200) 11 seconds

(14 mins)

SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 64GB 72.8MB/s write ($120) No dropped frames**

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 64GB 60MB/s write ($80) 11 seconds**

(7 mins)
SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 32GB 60.4MB/s write ($60) No dropped frames*

PNY "Red Elite Performance 90MB/s" 32GB 69MB/s write ($50) No dropped frames* !P-SDH32U2H-GES3(Elite-Pro Plus)

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 32GB 60MB/s write ($45) 11 seconds

(3:30 mins)
SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 16GB 57.2MB/s write ($40) No dropped frames*

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 16GB 60MB/s write ($25) 11 seconds

(1:45 mins)
SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 8GB 60MB/s write ($20) 11 seconds

-------------------------------------------------------

For CinemaDNG 60MB/s (25 FPS):
(34 mins)

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 128GB 60MB/s write ($200) 20 seconds

(17 mins)

SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 64GB 72.8MB/s write ($120) No dropped frames**

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 64GB 60MB/s write ($80) 20 seconds**

(8:30 mins)
PNY "Pro-Elite Plus 80MB/s" 32GB 69MB/s write ($140) Shouldn't drop frames !P-SDH16U2-30-GE

SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 32GB 60.4MB/s write ($60) No dropped frames*

PNY "Red Elite Performance 90MB/s" 32GB 69MB/s write ($50) No dropped frames* !P-SDH32U2H-GES3(Elite-Pro Plus)
Toshiba "Exceria Type 1" 32GB 68.6MB/s write ($50) Shouldn't drop frames

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 32GB 60MB/s write ($45) 20 seconds

(4:15 mins)
PNY "Red Elite Performance 90MB/s" 16GB 69MB/s write ($45) Shouldn't drop frames !P-SDH16U2H-GES3

SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 16GB 57.2MB/s write ($40) No dropped frames*
Toshiba "Exceria Type 1" 16GB 68.1MB/s write ($35) Shouldn't drop frames

PNY "Pro-Elite Plus 80MB/s" 16GB 69.2MB/s write ($26) Shouldn't drop frames !P-SDH16U2-30-GE

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 16GB 60MB/s write ($25) 20 seconds

(2:07 mins)
PNY "Pro-Elite Plus 80MB/s" 8GB 69MB/s write ($40) Shouldn't drop frames !P-SDH8U2-30-GE
Toshiba "Exceria Type 1" 8GB 68MB/s write ($20) Shouldn't drop frames

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 8GB 60MB/s write ($20) 20 seconds
-------------------------------------------------------

For CinemaDNG 57.6MB/s (24 FPS):

(36 mins)

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 128GB 60MB/s write ($200) 22 seconds

(18 mins)

SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 64GB 72.8MB/s write ($120) No dropped frames**

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 64GB 60MB/s write ($80) 22 seconds**

(9 mins)
PNY "Pro-Elite Plus 80MB/s" 32GB 69MB/s write ($140) Shouldn't drop frames !P-SDH16U2-30-GE

SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 32GB 60.4MB/s write ($60) No dropped frames*

PNY "Red Elite Performance 90MB/s" 32GB 69MB/s write ($50) No dropped frames* !P-SDH32U2H-GES3(Pro-Elite Plus)

Toshiba "Exceria Type 1" 32GB 68.6MB/s write ($50) No dropped frames*

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 32GB 60MB/s write ($45) 22 seconds

(4:30 mins)
PNY "Red Elite Performance 90MB/s" 16GB 69MB/s write ($45) Shouldn't drop frames !P-SDH16U2H-GES3

SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 16GB 57.2MB/s write ($40) No dropped frames*

Toshiba "Exceria Type 1" 16GB 68.1MB/s write ($35) Shouldn't drop frames

PNY "Pro-Elite Plus 80MB/s" 16GB 69.2MB/s write ($26) Shouldn't drop frames !P-SDH16U2-30-GE

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 16GB 60MB/s write ($25) 22 seconds

(2:15 mins)
PNY "Pro-Elite Plus 80MB/s" 8GB 69MB/s write ($40) Shouldn't drop frames !P-SDH8U2-30-GE

SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 8GB 57MB/s write ($20) Shouldn't drop frames

Toshiba "Exceria Type 1" 8GB 68MB/s write ($20) Shouldn't drop frames
SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 8GB 60MB/s write ($20) 22 seconds

-------------------------------------------------------

For ProRes HQ 27.5MB/s (30 FPS):
(77 Mins)

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 128GB 60MB/s write ($200) No dropped frames*
SanDisk "Extreme 45MB/s" 128GB 43.2MB/s write ($120) No dropped frames* (9 Minutes with 1.5.1*?)

(38 Mins)

SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 64GB 72.8MB/s write ($120) No dropped frames**

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 64GB 60MB/s write ($80)  No dropped frames**

SanDisk "Extreme 45MB/s" 64GB 38.0MB/s write ($60) No dropped frames* (9 Minutes with 1.5.1?)

(19 Mins)
PNY "Pro-Elite Plus 80MB/s" 32GB 69MB/s write ($140) Shouldn't drop frames !P-SDH16U2-30-GE
Delkin Devices "Elite 633x" 32GB 80MB/s write ($80) No dropped frames*

SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 32GB 60.4MB/s write ($60) No dropped frames*

PNY "Red Elite Performance 90MB/s" 32GB 69MB/s write ($50) No dropped frames* !P-SDH32U2H-GES3 (Pro-Elite Plus)

Toshiba "Exceria Type 1" 32GB 68.6MB/s write ($50) No dropped frames*

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 32GB 60MB/s write ($45) Shouldn't drop frames

(9:30 Mins)

Delkin Devices "Elite 633x" 16GB 80MB/s write ($50) No dropped frames*
PNY "Red Elite Performance 90MB/s" 16GB 69MB/s write ($45) Shouldn't drop frames !P-SDH16U2H-GES3

SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 16GB 57.2MB/s write ($40) No dropped frames*

Toshiba "Exceria Type 1" 16GB 90MB/s write ($35) Shouldn't drop frames
PNY "Pro-Elite Plus 80MB/s" 16GB 69.2MB/s write ($26) Shouldn't drop frames !P-SDH16U2-30-GE

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 16GB 60MB/s write ($25) Shouldn't drop frames

(4:45 Mins)
PNY "Pro-Elite Plus 80MB/s" 8GB 69MB/s write ($40) Shouldn't drop frames !P-SDH8U2-30-GE
Delkin Devices "Elite 633x" 8GB 80MB/s write ($30) Shouldn't drop frames

SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 8GB 90MB/s write ($23) Shouldn't drop frames

Toshiba "Exceria Type 1" 8GB 90MB/s write ($20) Shouldn't drop frames

SanDisk "Extreme Plus 80MB/s" 8GB 60MB/s write ($20) Shouldn't drop frames

-------------------------------------------------------

These cards are unsure for ProRes HQ 24 FPS and may need more testing:

PNY "Green Elite Performance 100MB/s" 32GB 45.98MB/s write ($86) !SD32G10ELIPER-EF

PNY "Green Elite Performance 100MB/s" 64GB 52.9MB/s write ($99) !SD32G10ELIPER-EF

PNY "Red Elite Performance 60MB/s" 32GB 32MB/s write ($33) !P-SDH32U1H-GES3 (Pro-Elite)

PNY "Red Elite Performance 60MB/s" 64GB 32.8MB/s write ($40) !P-SDH64U1H-GES3 (Pro-Elite)

Lexar "Professional 600x" 256GB 45MB/s write ($450) !TOO EXPENSIVE

Lexar "Professional 600x" 64GB 45MB/s write ($100) 1 claim no details* !More expensive than Sandisk 80MB/s

Lexar "Professional 600x" 32GB 44.6MB/s write ($28)

Lexar "Professional 600x" 16GB 45MB/s write ($30) !More expensive than Sandisk 80MB/s

ADATA "Premier Pro" 128GB 45MB/s write ($125) !More expensive than Sandisk 45MB/s

ADATA "Premier Pro" 64GB 46.4MB/s write ($45) 1 claim no details*

ADATA "Premier Pro" 32GB 45MB/s write ($36)

ADATA "Premier Pro" 16GB 25.3MB/s write ($21) !TOO SLOW

Delkin Devices "600x" 128GB 45MB/s write ($180) !More expensive than Sandisk 45MB/s

Delkin Devices "600x" 64GB 45MB/s write ($80) !Same price as the Sandisk 80MB/s

Delkin Devices "600x" 32GB 45MB/s write ($40)

Delkin Devices "600x" 16GB 45MB/s write ($23) dropped frames*

Delkin Devices "600x" 8GB 45MB/s write ($20)

-------------------------------------------------------

These cards have failed for ProResHQ and Raw 24 FPS:
Sandisk "Extreme 45MB/s" 32GB 39.9MB/s write ($32) 30 seconds*
SanDisk "Extreme 45MB/s" 16GB 39.4MB/s write ($20) Dropped frames*
SanDisk "Extreme 45MB/s" 8GB 38.8MB/s write ($13) Likely drops frames

PNY "Blue Elite Performance 90MB/s" 32GB 35MB/s write ($25) 4 seconds PrHQ**/13 seconds Raw** !P-SDH32U1H-GE (Pro-Elite)
PNY "Blue Elite Performance 90MB/s" 64GB 35MB/s write ($35) 4 seconds PrHQ/13 seconds Raw !P-SDX64U1H-GE (Pro-Elite)

PNY "Blue Elite Performance 90MB/s" 128GB 35MB/s write ($115) 4 seconds PrHQ/13 seconds Raw !P-SDX128U1H-GE (Pro-Elite)

Sony "UHS-1 94MB/s" 8GB 45MB/s write ($17) Likely drops frames

Sony "UHS-1 94MB/s" 16GB 45MB/s write ($25) Likely drops frames
Sony "UHS-1 94MB/s" 32GB 45MB/s write ($45) 3.5 minutes PrHQ*

Sony "UHS-1 94MB/s" 64GB 45MB/s write ($75) 5 seconds PrHQ*

Toshiba "Exceria Type 2" 64GB 55.1MB/s write ($80) 4 seconds PrHQ*/10 seconds Raw*

Toshiba "Exceria Type 2" 32GB 51.5MB/s write ($34) Likely drops frames

Toshiba "Exceria Type 2" 16GB 56.0MB/s write ($20) Likely drops frames

Transcend "600x" 16GB 48.7MB/s write ($20) Likely drops frames

Transcend "600x" 32GB 52.1MB/s write ($30) Likely drops frames

Transcend "600x" 64GB 58.2MB/s write ($55) Dropped frames* !Many fail claims

Transcend "600x" 128GB 59.9MB/s write ($30) Likely drops frames

Patriot "EP Pro 90MB/s" 128GB 50MB/s write ($100) Likely drops frames

Patriot "EP Pro 90MB/s" 64GB 50MB/s write ($45) 1 minute*

Patriot "EP Pro 90MB/s" 32GB 44.1MB/s write ($45) Likely drops frames

Patriot "EP Pro 90MB/s" 16GB 42.9MB/s write ($45) Likely drops frames

Patriot "EP Series 35MB/s" 128GB 35.9MB/s write ($80) Likely drops frames

Patriot "EP Series 35MB/s" 64GB 34.5MB/s write ($45) Likely drops frames

Patriot "EP Series 35MB/s" 32GB 34.8MB/s write ($35) Likely drops frames

Komputerbay "Professional 600x" 64GB 50MB/s write ($30) Dropped frames*

Komputerbay "Professional 600x" 128GB 50MB/s write ($85) Likely drops frames

-------------------------------------------------------

These in particular would be worth testing for ProRes HQ:

Lexar "Professional 600x" 32GB 44.6MB/s write ($28)

PNY "Red Elite Performance 60MB/s" 32GB 32MB/s write ($33)

PNY "Red Elite Performance 60MB/s" 64GB 32.8MB/s write ($40)

Delkin Devices "Elite 600x" 32GB 45MB/s write ($40)
ADATA "Premier Pro" 64GB 44MB/s write ($45)

Sony "UHS-1 94MB/s" 32GB 45MB/s write ($45) 3.5 minutes*
Patriot "EP Pro 90MB/s" 64GB 50MB/s write ($45) 1 minute*

These are the best priced cards to get at the moment:
(ProRes HQ only)
SanDisk "Extreme 45MB/s" 128GB 43.2MB/s write ($120) !1.5.1 might change this
SanDisk "Extreme 45MB/s" 64GB 38.0MB/s write ($60) !1.5.1 might change this

(Raw and ProRes HQ)

SanDisk "Extreme Pro 95MB/s" 64GB 72.8MB/s write ($120)

Toshiba "Exceria Type 1" 32GB 68.6MB/s write ($50) !More testing required to confirm

I would like to add that shooting with a Sandisk 80MB/s card (64GB) I was able to get 3 minutes in Raw/23.98 without dropping a frame when filming random stuff (book shelf) 5 feet away in a very dim part of my office at ISO 400.  I got 1 minute 30 seconds when filming a spotlight lit very messy desk 10 feet away at ISO 1600.  Exposure settings were 2.8, 180 degrees with a film curve and I used an old (soft) Nikkor 35mm/2.8 pre-AI lens.

I recently tested the Sandisk 80MB/s card at a local hockey game, filmed in Raw/23.98 and got no dropped frames but the rink was dimly lit and my longest take was about 1 minute long.  Used a Tokina 28-70/2.6-2.8, ISO 1600/180 degrees in log.  I think it could be useful in raw, just be mindful of your content and keep the clips short, if it's high detail content filling the frame then you'll only get about 20 seconds.