Any 4K camera recommendations for use in Avid Media Composer?

You mean particular cameras / codecs that work well in an MC workflow? Good question.

Yes, exactly.

Let me check with the hardware test guys...

stand by

Marianna

May I suggest that any device that can record and present DNxHR or Prores, is the answer to your question. There are many cameras that record in these codecs; and, even more external recorders that can record in these codecs. Some examples are:

1- Convergent Design odyssey

2- Atomos Flame or Inferno

3- Black magic design recorders

cuervo:

May I suggest that any device that can record and present DNxHR or Prores, is the answer to your question. There are many cameras that record in these codecs; and, even more external recorders that can record in these codecs. Some examples are:

1- Convergent Design odyssey

2- Atomos Flame or Inferno

3- Black magic design recorders

That's a good answer - but should you really pick a high end camera based on how well your editing system works with it? So many other considerations with a camera on whether it is fit for purpose before the back end of editing even comes into the equation. So bottom line - any camera will work. You may have to transcode. You may have to purchase an external recorder if your workflow demands fast turnaround. But i would first consider what I needed my camera to do before any thought of editing compatibility. For example I wouldn't purchase the URSA mini Pro if my work was in dark and uncontrolled lighting situations. It just wouldn't work.

The only proviso to the above is if you are going to edit on Avid at this point in time I'd avoid cameras like the A7 series that record in XAVC-S. There is talk of Nablet bringing out a plug in - but inthe meantime you either have to transcode, or get an external recorder. 

AFAIK - only the Atomos recorders above support DNxHR at this time - although I haven't upgraded to the latest firmware on the 7Q+. They all support ProRes in 4K and DNxHD and Pro Res in 1080P.

The Sony FS7 with XDCA back supports ProRes internally and the Black Magic URSA Series support Pro Res and DNxHD. 

cuervo:

May I suggest that any device that can record and present DNxHR or Prores, is the answer to your question. There are many cameras that record in these codecs; and, even more external recorders that can record in these codecs.

I use my Atomos external recorder with every camera, recording directly in DNxHR (or DNxHD) to an inexpensive 500GB SSD.  AMA linking is flawless and then it's a fast consolidating (not transcoding) to my edit drives because the file is already in the Avid codec.

We are daily working with a lot of footage from FS7, FS5, F5, etc... No problem as long as it is in Sony's XAVC-I (100). It is a consolidate process, going in really fast and we have no problems during editing on our ISIS.

The only downside is, when it comes to encoding outside of MC. It is the same as with XDCam. XAVC, XDCam, etc are all commercial codecs you have to pay for if you want to use it outside of the editing application, for example sorenson. Workaround: After finishing editing, mixdown to DNx and everything is good, or invest like 60$ for a codec-plugin (calibrated for example)

so long & thx

dbiok

stay clear of A7Sii... way too many loops to get clips into Avid...such a disaster too.

The days of putting clips on an SSD and ama linking and editing within 5 seconds are gone...unless I am doing something wrong of course haha

AS7 is a pain.... But it is not the camera, it is simply the XAVC-S codec which is not supported by the nablet plugins. Going through the Sony Catalyst, converting the files, loosing a lot of time....

brett:

The days of putting clips on an SSD and ama linking and editing within 5 seconds are gone...unless I am doing something wrong of course haha

I do it every day.  What is your workflow?

I think the choseing of a camera  takes a lot of consideration - what type of work are you doing, what will be your market,  who are your clients, what is the NLE workflow.

There are many good choices out there - one is the  sony FS7MKll  - very popular can do run and gone as well as cinema style depending how you rig it.  It uses the sony's proprietary  XAVC forgot which one but I beleive aivd can link to it 

I am using a FS700 with Oydssey recorder and link to pro res -  works well - it also can can record in avid DNxHD

Go to this forun:  http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/

Good for research -

hope this helps

dbiok:

AS7 is a pain.... But it is not the camera, it is simply the XAVC-S codec which is not supported by the nablet plugins. Going through the Sony Catalyst, converting the files, loosing a lot of time....

For those using XAVC-S, you don't have to transcode. XAVC-S can be rewrapped into a ,MOV file. It's considerably faster (hundreds of frames per second). I use Convert V4/Dali's Mustache (yes, that's the new name for it) all the time. I rewrap directly from the card to a hard drive, and link that. And since I'd be copying the media from the card to the hard drive in any case, there's no wasted space. Nor is there any loss of quality as it's the same data just in a different container (the problem with XAVC-S isn't the data format; MC can handle the format as is. It's the XAVC-S container that's the problem.)

And to get back on track for the thread, if you need a small lightwieght camera, consider the Sony PXW-X70. It's XAVC-I, so it directly links in MC, has a 1-inch sensor, and if you strip off the top handle (which contains the XLR connectors) it looks just like a consumer handycam and doesn't attract any attention (there's a built-in mic on the camera body for when you're not using the XLRs).

DStone:

And to get back on track for the thread, if you need a small lightwieght camera, consider the Sony PXW-X70. It's XAVC-I, so it directly links in MC, has a 1-inch sensor, and if you strip off the top handle (which contains the XLR connectors) it looks just like a consumer handycam and doesn't attract any attention (there's a built-in mic on the camera body for when you're not using the XLRs).

Actually XAVC-L not XAVC-I. Bit harder on your editing system than XAVC-I, but Avid can link to it. In 4K (a paid upgrade) I think most users except those with the latest editing systems will probably choose to transcode. 

Once again - I reiterate, camera choice comes down to many factors and the least of them should be your edit system. The PXW-X70 is an excellent camera for ENG and well lit live events, budget corporate,  etc but it's lens is not a constant F stop so it's limited to F4 at the tele end, which means despite the back illuminated 1" sensor it isn't much chop in low light.

If you're shooting drama or high end corporate it is totally not the right camera. IMO. 

Pick a camera that suits your budget and shooting style and take into account extras you may need to buy to make it compatible with your edit system.