Full-Frame Cinema: the Next Frontier

Remember the Canon 5D Mark II? Feels like ages ago in the world of technology. When it was released, it boasted an at-the-time-unheard-of capability of recording full-frame Full HD video at 30 fps. Jump forward a decade and full-frame 4K video is now an expected function of DSLRs and mirrorless. Cinema cameras were fairly content with their Super 35 sensors—after all, most existing lenses were built around the format. The past couple of years have seen a substantial shift, however, as RED, ARRI, Canon, and Sony released new top-tier digital cinema cameras sporting full-frame sensors. Most recently, this high-end tech started to make its way downstream, while mirrorless manufacturers have begun to push their full-frame models upstream in the video world.

Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K

Is Full Frame the Future?

Yes, it looks like full frame will become more and more normal for video production. This isn't solely because bigger sensors are "better." There are many other advantages to going with larger, higher-resolution sensors for video. Among the easiest to understand is versatility. Users will have access to full-frame, Super 35, or smaller crops to achieve different looks, perspectives, or even frame rates. Full-frame makes a single camera much more capable and gives filmmakers more control over how they want their image to look.