A digital cinema camera consists of a body with an “imaging unit” that captures an image of a subject and converts it into an image signal and a “recording unit” that records images to memory, as well as interchangeable lenses and accessories that can be attached to the camera body in accordance with the method of image capture (shooting).
[Imaging unit]
The unit is equipped with a CMOS sensor that converts light entering through the lens into electrical signals and an image processor that processes the information from the sensor to create image files.
[Recording unit]
The recording unit records the image files processed at high speed by the image processor onto media. In addition to RAW data recording, which records sensor data in its unaltered format, the Codec Engine compresses images with high image quality and can record in a variety of file formats.
[Interchangeable lenses]
In professional settings, the lens used to shoot each scene can be changed as the filmmaker wishes. A manufacturer must offer an extensive lineup of lenses, including large-aperture lenses with pleasant background blur (bokeh) and wide-angle lenses capable of capturing a large area of the scene.
[Accessories]
The high-quality images demanded by professionals are shot not only with digital cinema cameras but also with a variety of accessories. A digital cinema camera must be designed so that its features can be expanded in accordance with shooting, such as a battery expansion unit for prolonged filming and a monitor to check images. Cameras increasingly have interchangeable mounts so that a variety of lenses can be used, including cinema lenses as well as lenses for still cameras.
Ease of editing in post-production is also important
Professional images are normally completed after post-production, which is the process of editing images after shooting. In post-production, if the video data during shooting was not recorded with a wide color gamut (the range of colors that can be expressed) and high dynamic range (the range of light and dark brightness levels that can be expressed), signal noise may appear when the image is edited, and the filmmaker may not be able to express their ideas as intended. This is why digital cinema cameras emphasize the ability to record color gradations of such subjects as the sky, dazzling light, and even crows in the low-light environments without losing any data.