[16:15 Fri,12.June 2026 by Thomas Richter] |
The American startup Cinelux Cinema Tools has just unveiled a very special camera: the Cinelux Sixteen is not only the first truly new analog Super 16 film camera in over two decades, but also an analog and digital hybrid camera. Analog and digital Super 16 recordingWhat makes the Cinelux Sixteen so special is its fundamental operating principle: In classic reflex film cameras, a rotating shutter directs light alternately to the film gate and the ground glass in the viewfinder—the latter only displays the image but does not record anything. Cinelux replaces this passive ground glass with a digital image sensor. This results in two full-fledged exposures simultaneously per shutter rotation. One hits the film negative in the Super 16 gate as usual, while the second lands on an integrated 3K Super 16 sensor (reportedly a modified Sony Four-Thirds sensor), which records in parallel to CFexpress Type B media in various codecs such as Cinelux Raw, Cinema DNG, and ProRes 444 HQ.
The result: parallel to the film negative, which still needs to be developed, a digital 3K video at up to 120 fps is immediately available, which can be used as a proxy for editing or for monitoring the analog film material being shot. The benefits of the hybrid conceptAnyone shooting professionally on film today struggles with a fundamental contradiction: the analog aesthetic is in higher demand than ever, but modern production processes rely on fast digital workflows. The digital material just shot is immediately available for further work, be it for monitoring, grading, daily editor cuts, or simply reviewing with the team. This is exactly where the concept comes in: "By adding a true digital cinema output alongside a film deliverable, shooting on film no longer hinders the momentum of production requirements." To this end, Cinelux is developing a live film emulation that processes the digital sensor feed so that its recordings come as close as possible to the final film scan—including typical highlight clipping, shadow behavior, and the specific dynamic range of the film stock being used. In conjunction with the electronic viewfinder or an external output, it is intended to serve as a genuine exposure tool, not just as an orientation aid. Technical specifications of the Cinelux Sixteen (prototype status)- Super 16 format, sensor: 13.35 × 7.42 mm - 3K resolution, up to 120 fps - Codecs: Cinelux Raw, Cinema DNG, ProRes 444 HQ - Storage: CFexpress Type B - Connectivity: SDI, USB, Wireless, Timecode Genlock Sync - Film magazines: 400 and 1,000 feet - Optional electronic viewfinder, built-in microphone, audio sync - Large jog wheel to simulate a hand crank – film can even be transported in reverse Price and availabilityCinelux is reportedly aiming for a price of under ,000 for the Sixteen&s base kit—cheaper than a used ARRI 416, which currently costs between ,000 and ,000. The camera is currently still a prototype and is scheduled for release at the end of 2027, though given the ongoing firmware development, this should be seen as a target rather than a fixed date. Whether a young startup can provide the mechanical reliability and service infrastructure required for professional film production remains to be seen. Bilder zur Newsmeldung:
 more infos at bei www.cineluxcinematools.comdeutsche Version dieser Seite: Cinelux Sixteen - Neue Super-16-Filmkamera schießt Film und digital gleichzeitig |
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