ep95 - Nexus G1 Explained, A Conversation with the Camera’s Creators : The Most Ambitious Cinema Camera Yet? CineD Focus Check
Focus CheckShow Notes
For this week's episode on the CineD Focus Check podcast, Nino speaks with special guests Timothy and Thomas Boland from Nexus Camera about how the Nexus G1 came to life — and what it’s trying to solve for solo operators and small crews. They share their background in industrial design and filmmaking, why rigging and workflow friction pushed them toward building their own camera, and how they approached key features such as a modular electronic ND system, expanded I/O and power distribution, integrated lens-control ideas, materials and cooling design, and a service plan for repairs and warranty. Nino also asks the questions many people have been wondering about: how Nexus works with Blackmagic Design as an authorized dealer, how the economics of sourcing hardware are handled, and what changed in the timeline as the project moved toward manufacturing. Toward the end, the team reveals a notable update on lens adaptability and discusses what’s next—including future accessories and software expansion. (00:00) - Intro (01:39) - The origin story of the Nexus G1 (06:32) - Meet the founders of Nexus, Thomas and Timothy (09:51) - The relationship between Blackmagic Design and Nexus (13:09) - Technical details of the Nexus G1 (19:28) - Camera body materials and thermal design (24:44) - Connectivity options of the Nexus G1 (31:17) - Lens mount system on the Nexus G1 (32:21) - Roadmap for the camera launch (33:58) - How does the warranty process work with the Nexus G1? (39:38) - The current sensor in the Nexus G1 and potential future upgrades (48:14) - What would they do differently if they could start from scratch? (51:46) - Rapid-fire questions for the creators (59:31) - Power efficiency of the Nexus G1 (01:03:03) - Unveiling the new update for the Nexus G1
We hope you enjoyed this episode!Do you have feedback, comments, or suggestions? Write us at [email protected]
More from Focus Check
The Blackmagic Design price raise hits 36 products at once: the ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP Plus alone jumps from about $13,000 to $20,000, with SMPTE 2110 converters, Cloud Store and HyperDeck recorders following – all blamed on memory costs. In the same breath, Blackmagic cuts DaVinci Resolve Studio 21 and its editing panels by 20% until November 20. And Getty Images, the biggest name in stock photography, is filing for bankruptcy protection. • Hollyland sponsors this episode. Check it out at 11:54. Check out the Pyro S wireless video transmitter: http://cined.co/lwhjQk
Can you imagine stepping inside your camera — which is actually a tent — and seeing the very same sheet of material that captured the light hanging on a gallery wall as a photograph? In this special episode of Focus Check, Sony Alpha Rumor's runner Andrea Pizzini explains how he makes single, unrepeatable color photographs up to 127x220cm in size. The story behind the camera is a deeply personal one, and Andrea talks candidly about the events that led him to leave the project behind—and eventually return to it. ► Follow Andrea's project: andreapizzini.com Topics and Chapters in this Episode: (00:00:00) Intro: Andrea Pizzini and the Cube camera project(00:00:29) Running Sony Alpha Rumors, the world's biggest rumour site(00:02:00) How it started: 43 Rumors and the mirrorless revolution(00:03:21) Who is Andrea? From the Dolomites to documentary filmmaking(00:05:43) A difficult childhood and the urge to get out(00:07:40) Discovering cameras at the age of 12(00:08:39) Twelve and a half years without sleep – and why the blogs saved him(00:11:59) Meeting Christian Martinelli(00:14:13) Building the Cube: a two-metre camera obscura(00:15:32) Losing Christian(00:16:52) Friends convince Andrea to rebuild the project(00:18:57) How it works: lens, panel, paper and developer(00:21:06) The giant Nikon process lens from eBay(00:24:06) A focus system built by a former SpaceX engineer(00:26:04) No pixels: how much resolution is in these images?(00:27:29) The last photo paper left – and turning a negative into a positive(00:29:58) Developing the image in 45 minutes(00:30:42) Looking at the prints in the studio(00:34:21) Artist or explorer?(00:36:03) Finding peace through photography(00:38:14) What if it becomes famous?(00:40:55) The future of Sony Alpha Rumors(00:41:50) Could it get smaller – or even shoot video?(00:45:32) Stay true to reality(00:47:07) A tribute to Christian: his developing machine(00:49:55) Does the project have a name?(00:50:20) Where to follow Andrea's project Let us know in the comments below what you think of this special episode, or email us at [email protected]. And don't forget to subscribe on your favourite platform!
Are modern sensors too clean? Johnnie argues that CCD cameras like the Digital Bolex had a character today's CMOS sensors lack, while Nino points to image science and noise reduction you can no longer switch off. Also this week: Nino's field test of the DJI SDR Transmission 2, Apple's redesigned Final Cut Camera 2.4 with manual aperture control for the iPhone 18 Pro, Huawei's clip-on Ruiying Z10 camera module for the Mate90 phones, another Sony FX5 delay, FUJIFILM's price increase in Japan, and Imaging World's move to Cologne. This episode is sponsored by Hollyland Pyro S (sponsor message at 23:55). Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:56) Widescreen or not? Your feedback on our aspect ratio(03:16) DJI SDR Transmission 2 field test(23:55) Sponsor: Hollyland Pyro S(24:47) Sony FX5 delayed again(26:33) Apple Final Cut Camera 2.4 and Final Cut Pro 12.4(32:29) Huawei Mate90 and the Ruiying Z10 clip-on camera(39:15) Vivo X500 Pro, LOFIC and "are modern sensors too clean?"(50:36) FUJIFILM raises camera prices in Japan(53:00) Imaging World moves to Cologne(57:37) RAW Supersampler for Nikon raw(01:01:26) Panasonic LUMIX S9 firmware 2.1(01:02:01) Lomography Joseph Petzval Métamorphose 35 f/1.8(01:04:16) Godox Litemons SR20R(01:05:41) SmallRig x CineD OrBrella campaign update(01:07:49) FUJIFILM Fujikina NYC 2026(01:10:08) SmallRig Autumn Sale(01:10:59) Day-for-night: Sunlight in Disguise All articles and links from this episode: https://www.cined.com/are-modern-sensors-too-clean-dji-sdr-transmission-2-field-tested-huaweis-clip-on-camera-focus-check-ep137/ Full disclosure: the DJI SDR Transmission 2 field test is a paid collaboration with DJI and not a review. The SmallRig Autumn Sale article is sponsored. The OrBrella is our own product, developed with SmallRig. Send your questions and suggestions to [email protected], and watch the video version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQTktdMLtqnic6-qI28B774IC9xLMbKOG
DJI shipped more than 10 million handheld cameras last year – more than every CIPA camera maker combined. Together with Insta360, the company now ships more than twice as many cameras as the entire mirrorless industry. And in our Lab, the Sony FX5 just matched the ARRI ALEXA Mini LF for dynamic range. In this week's episode, Nino and Johnnie are back from IBC to go through the FX5 Lab Test, the ARRI-branded HONOR Magic9 Pro Max, Nikon’s Z5IIC, Meta’s VR Glasses, a SIGMA fp open-gate hack, the Chronos Q12, the big RØDECaster Video update, the crowdfunding launch of our OrBrella light, and more.
OpenAI has reportedly bought Glass Imaging – the ex-Apple team behind the iPhone's Portrait Mode – for the camera in its first hardware device. Meanwhile, a former cinematographer turned carpenter has got his Digital Bolex rebuild working: original Kodak CCD, Raspberry Pi 5, V-mount battery, wooden box. Big tech vs. one-man camera build – plus the Sony FX5 delay in Japan, DJI SDR Transmission 2, the OrBrella crowdfunding start and lots of IBC gear. This Episode is Sponsored by Hollyland (00:15:06)► Check out the Pyro S: http://cined.co/nImvmn