FAQ: dII
Here are some of the most common questions we´ve been getting
Q. What is the viewfinder?
A. It is a color LCD of 640x480 pixels. We have a 1:1 pixel zoom in the viewfinder to be able to easier set the focus point.
Q. What about workflow with FCP/Avid etc?
A. We will not deliver any software, but over the next few months, you'll be seeing a lot of software developers supporting DNG. IBC was a big deal for DNG as a new standard.
Q. Is the RAM removable?
A. We record to a 80GB memory cartridge. Once the card is full, you can either swap it for another one, or off-load the card's data to a computer.
Q. Will there be a external card reader, or do I always need to use the USB in the camera to transfer the files?
A. A memory cartridge reader is being developed. It will be available at the same time as the camera and the memory cartridge. The memory cartridge reader will support USB 2.0.
Q. Is the camera up-gradable in the future?
A. We do plan to support Cinema DNG as one of the founders of that new standard. And one of the reasons the camera has an on-board USB is so the user can update the firmware to take advantage of ongoing updates and software developments.
Q. If I order today - when can I get my camera?
A. We will not announce any dates at this time, but orders taken after IBC will most likely be shipped during February of 2009. So it's time to sign-up.
Q. Can I play recorded files through a monitor?
A. Yes, through your computer. Playback through the camera will be limited to viewfinder, external monitor and O-Led.
Q. Is It possible to get several mounts? And at what price?
A. You choose one mount for one camera. We support Leica, IMS, C and PL. Prices will be confirmed later in 2008.
Q. Will the camera work with zoom lenses?
A. Yes.
Q. How much will one 80GB Ikonoskop Memory Cartridge be?
A. The price for the memory card has not been announced yet.
Q. What about Audio? Which format, separate channels?
A. Records 48kHz, stereo PCM.
Q, What is the estimated running time from the Sony battery?
A. Roughly 45 minutes. Maybe more. We are currently testing power management.
Q. Where is the much-promised footage? Any available video or still images?
A. We will post some footage on the website in a couple of weeks. Please subscribe to our RSS-feed for more information.
Q. How many minutes will it take to download footage from the card to the Computer?
A. The card reader will be released at the same time as the camera and will support USB 2.0 at roughly 40MB/second. So 25 fps footage will take roughly double the footage duration to transfer to the computer (15 minutes of 25 fps footage = approx. 30 minutes of transfer time to computer). That is why we recommend at least 3 memory cartridges to one camera.
Q. Is there any tool on the camera to control the exposure?
A. There will be an on-camera histogram. The viewfinder will also include tools to help you get the right exposure. And since the camera records RAW, you will have more than enough information in each file to do post processing such as colour correction.
Q. What is the deposit versus the total price?
A. The deposit is €695 for the pre-order. On our Pre-order page you will find all the necessary information on how-to proceed. The preliminary price for a A-cam dII with C-mount is €6.950 and are to be confirmed.
Q. What kind of output to an external monitor will you support?
A. We have a Lemo-monitor connector to our handheld monitor. Also, the HDMI can be used with most HD-monitors. Also AJA and Black Magic Design have small, portable converters for HDMI to SDI.