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Cameras and Image Capture 

Camera Requirements

Resolution Requirements:

  • Camera must have a true 4K UHD sensor (equal to or greater than 3840 photosites wide).

Capture Requirements:

  • Capture Format
    • RAW (Sony RAW, REDCODE, Arriraw etc.)
    • COMPRESSED (XAVC, ProRes, or other I-Frame capable formats)
    • Minimum of 16-bit Linear or 10-bit Log processing
    • Minimum data-rate of Bitrate of 240 Mbps at 23.98 fps
  • Capture Gamma
    • S-Log3, Log-C, V-Log, Log3G10, etc.
  • Capture Color Space
    • S-Gamut3.cine, RED Wide Gamut RGB, Alexa Wide Gamut, etc.
  • No looks or color corrections should be baked into the original camera files.
  • Files must maintain all metadata (i.e. Tape Name, Timecode, Frame Rate, ISO, WB, etc.).

Black Balancing:

  • If applicable, black balancing of camera sensors should be done daily, when the camera is at normal operating temperature. See specific black balancing instructions in the camera operating manual.

Aspect Ratio / Framing:

  • Aspect ratios greater than 2.00:1 must be evaluated and discussed with Netflix for approval.
  • Framing chart must be shot before principal photography begins, and processed through the dailies pipeline which will be shared with editorial, post-production, and VFX.

Anamorphic Lenses:

  • If anamorphic lenses are being considered, camera selection must take into account the extra resolution required for capture. Contact your Netflix project lead to discuss implications or concerns.

Secondary Cameras:

  • Any cameras other than the primary camera (crash, POV, drone, underwater, etc.) must be approved by Netflix.
  • Footage from non-approved cameras will count towards the total allotment of non-approved capture. The allotment is based on content used in the final edit (per episode if applicable) and not on the total captured content.
  • Test footage should be shot and provided to dailies and post-production to ensure compatibility with primary camera.

Spanned Clips:

  • Allowing a camera to record spanned clips (single takes spread out on multiple camera cards) is inadvisable. Please avoid this recording method if it is not absolutely necessary.

Film Cameras:

  • For productions seeking to shoot any photochemical film, please contact prodtech.support@netflix.com or a relevant Netflix project lead.

Approved Cameras

The cameras listed below meet the minimum resolution and recording requirements listed above. This list is not exhaustive; additional approved cameras may be available.

For productions looking to use “broadcast” cameras, please contact prodtech.support@netflix.com for specs and workflow guidance.

ARRI

001_ArriApproved_20180523_01.png

Note: Detailed production guides for ARRI cameras can be found here.

Canon

002_CanonApproved_20180830_05.png

Note: Detailed production guides for Canon cameras can be found here.

Panasonic

003_PanasonicApproved_20180523_03.png

Note: Detailed production guides for Panasonic cameras can be found here.

RED

004_REDApproved_20180523_02.png

Note: Detailed production guides for RED cameras can be found here.

Panavision

007_PanavisionApproved_20180606_01.png

Note: Detailed production guides for Panavision cameras can be found here.

Sony

005_sonyApproved_201820703_01.png

Note: Detailed production guides for Sony cameras can be found here. A Production Technology Advisory has been issued for the Sony Venice.

Blackmagic

006_BlackmagicApproved_20180523_01.png

Note: Detailed production guides for Blackmagic cameras can be found here.

Change Log:

2018-12-18

  • Recording Format: Renamed to Capture Requirements and reformatted for clarity.
  • Anamorphic Lenses: Added section covering use of anamorphic lenses.
  • Secondary Cameras: Added additional information relating to their use.
  • Spanned Clips: Section moved, no change in information.
  • Approved Cameras: Added new language around use of broadcast cameras.

2018-11-29

  • Film Cameras: Added new language around use of photochemical film.

2018-10-15

  • Camera Requirements: Added information regarding "Spanned Clips" and how this recording method should be avoided.

2018-08-30

  • Canon: Canon C700 FF has been added.

2018-08-17

  • Sony: Production Technology Advisory has been issued for the Sony Venice.
  • Panavision: Added link to detailed camera production guide for the DXL2.

2018-07-30

  • Canon: C500 - XF-AVC has been removed as a "Recording Format".

2018-07-03

  • Camera Requirements: Instances of "4K" updated to "4K UHD"
  • Sony: With the release of v2.0 firmware for Sony Venice the previously referenced PDF listing v1.0 limitations has been deprecated and removed from this article. 

2018-06-06

  • Panavision: Updated camera name from Panavision DXL to Panavision DXL2. Recording Format changed from REDCODE RAW (up to 6:1) to - REDCODE RAW (up to 8:1)
  • Sony: Updated camera name from FS7 to FS7 / FS7 II
  • Added links to detailed camera production guides under each table.

2018-05-24

  • RED: All approved RED cameras are now on the list.
  • Sony: PDF has been made available relating to firmware limitations (which are significant) on the Sony Venice.

2018-04-06

  • Panasonic AU-EVA1 added to list.

2018-04-02

  • Recording Format: Updated "Log color space (i.e. S-Log3..." to "COMPRESSED (Log Gamma - i.e. S-Log3..." for clarity.

2018-03-26

  • Black Balancing: Changed "Black balancing of camera sensors..." to "If applicable, black balancing of camera sensors..."
  • ARRI Alexa LF: Updated Recording Format from "ProRes 4444 XQ" to "ProRes 422 HQ (or higher)"
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