7 minute read
One of the latest and greatest proposed mods for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6k, the Nexus G1 project, has broken cover and managed to attract a certain amount of heat at the same time.
For a product that is still in the early stages of the design process, the Nexus G1 has certainly managed to stir up a lot of interest and a fair bit of controversy as we kick off 2024. CES might be underway with all its glitz and glamour over in Las Vegas, but Thomas Boland’s Nexus Project, based out of Brisbane, has managed to muscle its way into a fair amount of coverage too.
This is due to its designs of the Nexus G1, a modular box form-factor cinema camera built around the sensor and main electronics of the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6k. This has proved to be a popular idea thanks to many people thinking that a) the BMPCC6K is a wonderful piece of kit, but also that b) it could be easier to use. Specifically, it could have a different shape. Even more specifically, it could be a box camera and you could rig it how you wanted.
Boland even created a video to show it off.
This has proved to be a two-edged sword. While it has helped garner a lot of interest in the camera, it has also brought with it more than a few dark murmurings that the whole thing is a scam. It would hardly be the first project to use renders and animations of conceptual products to try and part people with their cash, but according to Boland himself, that is fundamentally not what is going on here. Whispers though have obviously got loud enough that in the past few hours he’s published a statement saying so in detail.
“Some people may find it peculiar that a "flashy" animated video and high-quality renders are being circulated on the Nexus G1 even though it is a product in only early development stages. This is not usually something that is done - because to get renders and animations done would typically cost a lot of money, which would be better spent on R&D,” he writes on the Project’s Facebook page.
“However, this project is different because I am not only an industrial designer and filmmaker, but also a CGI artist (it's what I do for work) and I am backed by my family who I work together with daily, and this gives us the unique ability to very easily share the project using our own expertise, at an early stage to get critical input from people who have far more experience in the film industry than we do - this "mastermind" input of the community is the foundation of the Nexus project, and what excites me/us most of all.
“The entire project is self-funded, and will continue to be until we have completed development, have proof of concept, and prototypes. While crowdfunding may be the wisest way to fund the production of the Nexus, no plans have been made or even suggested that this will happen yet, and all reference to crowdfunding by people is speculation.”
So there.
Boland says that since the project has broken cover there have been a lot of popular suggestions for features, many of which chime with the team’s own thoughts. That has led to a new round of thinking about elements of the design and a new and more detailed version of what the camera is and the reasoning behind some of the choices that Nexus is making
You can have a look at all that below, which is current as of January 11. Before you do though a word about pricing and availability of the Nexus G1. As anyone who has followed any project on Kickstarter is only too aware, designing stuff takes time and manufacturing takes more. It’s January now. If Nexus can ship anything within a year it will be doing better than many. And the BMPCC6K has a list price of $2000 but can currently be picked up for around $1600, so the G1 will be more than that. Exactly how much more will be interesting to see.
Now, over to Boland for the detailed description.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘂𝘀 𝗚𝟭?
The Nexus G1 is a new, highly ergonomically and technically optimised modular box form-factor cinema camera currently under development, based on the sensor and main electronics of the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6k.
The body of the Nexus G1 will be composite, comprising machined aluminum and polymer elements, for the best of both worlds - light weight and high strength.
It is intended that the Nexus G1 will be made available to people both as a ready to use prebuilt cinema camera, and as a kit for experienced DIY users to convert their own camera.
Here is a breakdown of the features and design we are working to achieve for the Nexus G1:
𝟭. 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 & 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿
1.1. Rear mounted mini/micro v-mount to allow a longer runtime and balance out lens weight for comfort and stability for handheld use. The micro/mini v-mount battery is recessed into the rear of the camera to save space, such that 50w v-mounts will fit flush with the back of the camera, while larger capacity v-mounts will protrude. Mini v-mount is a standardised battery type, so any capacity mini v-mount from any manufacturer will likely fit the Nexus G1.
1.2. We understand that while it saves space, the recessed v-mount battery plate can limit flexibility in battery choice and access. So a flat back option is being considered that will allow all other popular types of batteries such as gold mount, full sized v-mount and NP-F to be used. (TBD)
1.3. Concealed but replaceable LP-E6 battery, which maintains the camera’s timecode and also allows you to swap the main external battery without stopping recording.
1.4. The Weipu power port will be maintained and located behind the main battery, and may be used when the main battery is removed.
1.5. 3x d-tap power ports will be included on the side of the body, so you can easily swap batteries without unplugging cables. Also considering Lemo port option.
1.6. Considering integrating a ground loop prevention feature to protect the camera and accessories.
𝟮. 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹
2.1. The original touchscreen 5” display from the Blackmagic pocket 6k will be turned into an external display, which is connected to the camera via a cable, similar to HDMI. The screen will be attached mechanically to the camera via thread mount or nato rail mount. I foresee that the screen can be positioned wherever you like on the camera, such as on top, or on the side if you prefer shoulder mount, or it can be removed entirely.
2.2. An integrated 3.5” full colour touchscreen display integrated into the top surface of the camera towards the rear, which serves as a control panel to control all the camera’s settings. This control panel allows you to remove the original 5” display, because you can now control the camera without the original display, you may use whatever external HDMI or SDI monitor you like instead.
2.3. Optional custom designed Nexus Grip side control handle, which attaches to the right side of the camera and will provide basic settings controls (Record, Thumb wheel, ISO, Aperture, Shutter, WB, 3 user customizable preset buttons, and potentially an E-ND intensity control wheel).
2.4. By default the Nexus G1 has 1x 1080p60 full sized HDMI output (same as stock).
2.5. Optional SDI module, which provides 1x SDI output and 1x SDI input (maintains simultaneous HDMI output also). Supports camera control protocol conversion for SDI switcher control.
𝟯. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗖𝗗 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗡𝗗 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 (𝗘-𝗡𝗗)
3.1. Optional internal continuously variable E-ND. Basically the ultimate ND solution, most likely will be controllable via the Control panel LCD, a knob on the side of the camera, and or the aforementioned side handle control wheel.
3.2. Also looking at the possibility of having a mode where the E-ND can continuously automatically expose the image to a chosen EV offset value (TBD, in discussion with Blackmagic devs about this).
𝟰. 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 & 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮
4.1. USB-C port will remain and work as normal. Though not intended as the primary storage device, USB-C drives may be used as storage media.
4.2. The Cfast 2.0 port will be relocated to the side of the camera and designed to accept both regular Cfast cards, and 1tb Nexus Drive SSDs.
4.3. Nexus Drive 1tb SSDs will be physically roughly half the size of a Samsung T7 drive, are planned to cost roughly a third that of a 1tb Cfast, and will connect via the Cfast port to free up the USB C port for gimbal camera control etc.
4.4. The SD card slot will remain and work as normal, will most likely be accessed via a slot located at the rear of the camera. (TBD)
𝟱. 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘀
5.1. The camera will come stock with the original Blackmagic pocket 6k EF mount.
5.2. An option will be available to unbolt the EF mount and replace it with the Nexus MultiMount.
5.3. The Nexus MultiMount will be a custom designed positive lock MFT (Micro Four Thirds) passive lens mount. The mount can accept third party adaptors, including speed boosters, and this will allow you to use many types of lenses on the Nexus G1 such as EF, PL, MFT, FD, F, and more. The positive lock ensures the adapters are mounted solidly.
5.4. The EF mount you remove while installing the MultiMount will also serve as an adaptor which connects to the MultiMount, and will provide electronic lens control over EF lenses the same as before installing the MultiMount. MFT lenses and all other adapted lenses will work passively.
5.5. It is also possible that the Nexus G1 active EF mount could optionally include a speed booster element to bring coverage close to full frame equivalent while still maintaining electronic control.
5.6. MFT lenses designed for M4/3 sensors will work without vignetting in 4k crop mode. Some MFT lenses will also cover the whole S35 6k sensor without vignetting (depends on lens model).
𝟲. 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 & 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀
6.1. The Nexus G1 will have a solid aluminium machined subframe which provides overall rigidity and strength to the body, and also provides super strong exterior mounting points.
6.2. Your top handle of choice will attach via thread or nato rail. (TBD)
6.3. Optional detachable Nexus Top handle optimised for the camera with various mounting threads and anchor points built in. (TBD)
6.4. Adjustable 15mm rig rod holders integral to the body of the camera, 60mm LWS spacing.
6.5. Side mounting points for mounting side handles and other accessories. We are currently considering a cage or cage-like option for those who want a larger number of mounting points. (TBD)
6.6. A selection of 3/8 and ¼ mounting points will be provided on the underside of the Nexus G1 for a solid connection to your baseplate of choice.
𝟳. 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼
7.1. Built in stereo microphones will be maintained.
𝟴. 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
8.1. The size of the Nexus G1 body is currently 4.3″ wide x 5.1″ tall x 6.8″ long. However since the lens and battery are recessed into the body, the effective length when compared to other cameras is only about 4.3″
𝟵. 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀
9.1. Ports will include:
• USB-C port
• HDMI (1080p60)
• SDI 3G 1x in 1x out (if SDI module installed)
• XLR audio input (TBD, considering full size XLR)
• Cfast 2.0 (designed to accept Nexus Drives)
• MicroSD slot
• 3.5mm mic jack
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Weipu power port
• External screen IO port
• Nexus Grip side control handle IO port
• 3x d-tap power output port (also considering Lemo option)
9.2. Presently locating the majority of the ports on the right hand side of the camera so as not to obstruct shoulder use. (TBD)
Tags: Production
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