 |
CineD has been working on a new camera and lens database for years and they’re available now. The CineD Databases include a range of useful tools, including breakdowns of cameras, lenses, and an impressive Lens Coverage Tool that tells you if a lens can cover your camera’s sensor in a selected recording mode.
Let’s take each of the three new tools in turn, starting with the Camera Database. This tool shows CineD’s standardized test results for each tested camera in an easy-to-read format, including results for dynamic range, rolling shutter and recording times. There are also basic specs, including a breakdown of sensor size and available recording modes. Any cameras with the ‘Lab’ tag have been fully lab-tested using CineD’s standardized testing methods. Once you’ve selected a camera, you can select a second camera for easy side-by-side comparisons. The Camera Database also ranks cameras across key performance metrics, like dynamic range and rolling shutter.
 |
| The CineD Camera Database allows you to compare cameras side-by-side and view lab results for performance metrics like dynamic range and rolling shutter. The database also breaks down more basic specs, like a camera’s sensor size and price, while also showing video-centric specs like available recording modes. |
The Lens Database shows technical specifications, like close focus distance, length, weight, front diameter, filter thread, and available lens mounts, for a wide range of lenses. Lenses are separated into six categories: spherical primes, spherical zooms, anamorphic primes, anamorphic zooms, photo primes and photo zooms. You can filter lenses by manufacturer, focal length, aperture and filter thread.
 |
| CineD’s Lens Database includes valuable information for a wide range of lenses |
The Lens Coverage Tool is an impressive tool that allows you to see if a combination of camera, lens, and recording mode will present issues like vignetting. You can also see how a given lens behaves concerning crop modes and whether a speed booster or an expander will make sense for your needs. Regarding a focal expander or reducer, you can select to apply those while using the tool, too. The tool will also show how an accessory affects stops of light.
 |
| With the Lens Coverage Tool, you select a camera, recording mode and lens. The tool then shows you if the lens’ image circle covers your selected sensor size and recording mode. If the image circle is green, you are all set. If it’s orange, you may have issues with vignette. You can also augment the tool by using adding a focal expander/reducer, which may be required for optimal video quality. |
The Lens Coverage Tool is special due to CineD’s massive database of image circle data for a wide range of lenses from many manufacturers. Image circle information is not always easy to find, and manufacturers rarely include it in specifications sheets. It’s worth noting that the Lens Coverage Tool doesn’t tell you if a lens can physically be mounted on your camera, but it will tell you if the lens’ image circle is suitable for your selected camera and recording mode.
All of CineD’s new database tools are available for everyone, although you need a free CineD account to take full advantage of the databases. If you’d like to check them out, click here.
All images courtesy of CineD
Author:
This article comes from DP Review and can be read on the original site.
