AltCineCam Eclipse Unveiled – Blackmagic Cinema Camera Modification

Camera News

by Heath McKnight2 days ago

AltCineCam has introduced the final version of their Blackmagic Cinema Camera Box Modification, the Eclipse. The company first showcased an early working prototype in June 2024, and after feedback from beta testers, they got to work on a final version, which they have unveiled. 

AltCineCam (Alternative Cinema Camera) is the brainchild of creative partners Cole and Simon. Their respective backgrounds in technology, custom electronics, 3D printing, and glass design led them to form the company to modify ‘off-the-shelf’ cameras into cinema powerhouses.

AltCine Eclipse – a modified Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera

The Eclipse is a modified Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera transformed into a box-style camera. It is about the size of a RED KOMODO, 120mm wide (4.7in), 105mm tall (4.1in), and 130mm (5.1in) long. The top of the Eclipse features six chrome custom buttons, including Record, plus function buttons, and the jog dial to customize the screen (false color, focus peaking, etc.).

They customized their own OLPF moire filter and worked with PixelCNC to create carbon fiber panels for the camera. However, there is no word on specific lens mounting options.

Full features include:

• Modified Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera.
• Super 16 Fairchild sensor (1080p).
• Custom AltCine low pass filter.
• Carbon fiber, cube-style body construction. Removable side panels and vents.
• 4.3-inch display, 1000 nits, at the top (controlled by function buttons and job dial).
• Six chrome buttons including record at the top of the camera. Additional Record button on the right side, tally light on the left.
• Pogo pins on top to power proprietary accessories.
• Built-in ARRI Rosette.
• Multiple industry-standard mounting points.
• SD card slot.
• Full-sized HDMI out.
• 2x SDI out.
• Full-sized XLR in.
• 3.5mm microphone jack.
• TRS microphone in.
• 3.5mm headphone jack.
• SMA with 90 degree angled adapter, an antennae for REC remote receiver, and SMA Trough.
• Additional I/O ports: 12V DC in, REF in, S.BUS, Analog servo Ch.1, LANC, and USB-C 5V out.

Another Blackmagic Cinema Camera mod

Another company modifying Blackmagic Cinema Cameras is Nexus, who just announced that their G1 has reached the final design. It is a box camera made of magnesium alloy and carbon fiber and uses the Blackmagic Design 6K Super 35 RAW imaging system.

The working prototype has many interesting features, including a 0.71x speed booster to transform it into a full-frame camera. Plus, built-in LWS spaced 15mm rig rod mount system that slides in and out of the body itself. You can learn more about the Nexus G1 here.

Blackmagic does have its own box-style cinema camera, the PYXIS 6K, announced earlier in 2024. It has many of the features found in the mods and can accept multiple accessories. It starts at $2,995 with Canon EF, PL, and L mount options.

Price and availability 

AltCine plans to unveil an ARRI mod and their CinePi camera, an affordable 16-bit RAW 4K camera. The AltCine Eclipse doesn’t yet have a price, but the company should have more details soon. You can view footage in the video above and learn more about the Eclipse on their website.

What do you think about this new modification? Let us know in the comments!