Submitted by Sebastian on Tue, 12/17/2013 - 11:00
The second Axiom Alpha prototype unit, now containing a full grade image sensor, is complete and ready for further calibration testing. Please remember that this prototype- housed in a custom enclosure made from laser cut acrylic glass and a wooden base to provide the assembly with greater strength around the tripod mounting plate- is a proof of concept, designed to test the electronics and allow us to capture images in the same manner as with a real camera, under proper lighting conditions using a 'perfect' sensor. The current housing does not represent the physical assembly that the Axiom will incorporate when finished.
This second axiom alpha prototype (which we are referring to as the 'boxed' version) is mobile and can be used much more like an actual camera. When compared with our first prototype, it has the following features/changes:
- Two PMOD debug modules on the back
- Big cooling fan and fan control
- All voltages are now monitored
- Additional buffer capacitors were added
- A base plate for mounting on a tripod
The large cooling fan might suggest that this entire unit is one big heat turbine, but in actuality, the bigger the fan, the slower it can be allowed to turn when operating. This leads to lower audible noise levels, and while the Zedboard and our image sensor generate relatively small heat signatures, we want to measure the extent to which visual noise levels in the CMOSIS CMV12000 sensor are affected by the level of applied cooling. So far in our tests, we've determined that the image sensor may heat up to around 42°C without any cooling. When the fan is turned on, we can lower this reading to approximately 7°C above room temperature.
The following images have been captured with the new CMV12000 full grade sensor attached to our second Axiom alpha prototype. As you will immediately notice, there are no defective pixel areas in the image anymore. But keep in mind that we are still working on colour balancing and fixed pattern noise filtering amongst other things, so this is not the final image quality to expect:
16 Comments
Absolutely love it, this is
Absolutely love it, this is engineering made visible! So excited for the coming months. :-)
Incredible.
Incredible.
This is awesome. I'm very
This is awesome. I'm very exited for this project. Keep up the great work.
A big thumbs up to the Axiom
A big thumbs up to the Axiom team! And thanks for the regular supply of updates. You have me already looking forward to the next one. I've got the feeling that 2014 will be a great year for open source cinema.
OT - is there any news on the crowd funding agenda? Or do you postpone that till after completion of the alpha phase?
Images look very nice - even
Images look very nice - even at this early stage!
thank you very much and much
thank you very much and much love !
Amazing!!
Amazing!!
Fantastic! Looking really
Fantastic! Looking really nice.
Nice work!
Nice work!
This is really exciting. I
This is really exciting. I was impressed from the beginning but this is great news! Thank you for the consistent updates. I'm shivering with anticipation.
rooting for you guys!!!! so
rooting for you guys!!!! so great to see images.
keep on doing this guys!
keep on doing this guys!
so is this the cvm12000
so is this the cvm12000 sensor which can do 300fps 4k??
the result seems promising
AFAIK, this version can do
AFAIK, this version can do 150fps at 10bit and full resolution. It would be great if the new version (300fps) takes the price of the older one and the 150fps one gets cheaper. BTW does anyone know how much do these sesnsors cost? I could be interested in building an Axiom Alpha if it's not too expensive...
Yes we still use the "old"
Yes we still use the "old" version which does 150 FPS max. We are in touch with Cmosis about the new Version 2. The list price of the CMV12000 is around 1300€ (plus shipping, taxes, customs, etc.). If you want to build an Alpha prototype please get in touch with us, it will cost you around 2000-2500€ in total and you should not be afraid of some soldering, drilling, cutting and the Linux commandline :)
Ups! I'm not afraid of a bit
Ups! I'm not afraid of a bit of command line, or basic soldering but... I can't justify spending that much. Not even for the sensor alone. I hope when you start building the final Axioms you can get lower prices by ordering them on quantity. I thought I read somewhere they (CMV12000) sold for about $600 but sems like I'm dead wrong.
This really is a dream camera, both for its specs and openness, and I would love to have one in the future.
The Blackmagic Cinema Camera was nicknamed Baby Alexa (or Alexa Mini). This monster will be known as the Open RED (and by the specs it even surpasses the Epic in some areas like global shutter, only available on the Sony CineAlta F55, and obviously the BMPC 4K)
Keep the good work!
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