In order to make sure filmmakers achieve their goals with the best visual experience possible, Netflix has a list of approved cameras that are required for at least 90% of the final runtime. Netflix collaborates with camera manufacturers and globally recognised experts to evaluate and approve cameras that meet image capture benchmarks for dynamic range, colour accuracy, noise and more.
While approved cameras must be used for the majority of the runtime, Netflix still allows for non-approved cameras to be used for certain situations e.g. super slow motion, camera stunts.
In order to meet image capture standards required by Netflix, the following capture requirements must be adhered to:
Resolution
Minimum of 3840 photosite capture width (Spherical)
Codec
Lightly Compressed or Uncompressed RAW
or
Intraframe Based Codec with 4:2:2 Chroma-subsampling or Greater
Bit Depth
10-Bit or Greater
Data Rate
Minimum 240Mbps at 24FPS
Colour Space
Scene-referred Colour Space (S.Gamut3, ALEXA Wide Gamut, REDWideGamut etc.)
Transfer Function
Scene-referred Transfer Function (Slog3, Log C, Log3G10, VLog etc.)
Timecode System is capable of jamming to an external source. Timecode should be written as metadata.
Not all cameras that meet these capture requirements are approved. These requirements are the minimum specifications necessary for a camera system to be considered for approval. Other attributes must be taken into account such as:
Dynamic range
Colour Reproduction
Noise performance
Sensor Readout Speed
Compression
Chroma Subsampling
While testing the specs of a camera is informative, they aren't everything. Netflix remains in constant communication with their filmmakers and the filmmaking community at large to understand what features are important to them. The Netflix approved camera list is not put together behind closed doors, but with years of experience and industry feedback.
Surprisingly lot of the feedback and decisions don't relate to image quality, but stability and reliability, thermal/temperature management, file corruption and more. Using cameras that are reliable and won't be losing data all the time.
Cameras that have been approved by Netflix as of November 2022 have been listed below.
ARRI Alexa LF
ARRI Alexa Mini LF
ARRI Alexa 65
ARRI Alexa 35
Canon C300 Mk II
Canon C500
Canon C700
Canon C700 FF
Canon EOS C70
Panasonic VariCam 35
Panasonic VariCam LT
Panasonic VariCam Pure
Panasonic AU-EVA1
Panasonic S1H
Panasonic BGH1
Panasonic AK-UC4000
RED DSMC2 / WEAPON MONSTRO 8K VV
RED WEAPON DRAGON 8K VV
RED DSMC2 / WEAPON HELIUM 8K S35
RED EPIC-W HELIUM 8K S35
RED WEAPON DRAGON 6K S35
RED EPIC DRAGON 6K S35
RED DSMC2 / EPIC-W GEMINI 5K S35
RED SCARLET-W DRAGON 5K S35
RED RAVEN 4.5K
RED RANGER MONSTRO 8K VV
RED RANGER HELIUM 8K S35
RED RANGER GEMINI 5K S35
RED DSMC2 DRAGON-X 6K S35
RED KOMODO 6K
RED V-RAPTOR 8K VV
Panavision DXL2
Sony Venice
Sony FX9
Sony F55
Sony F65
Sony FS7
Sony F5
Sony PXW-Z450
Sony PXW-Z750
Sony FX3
Sony HDC-F5500
Blackmagic Design URSA Mini 4.6K
Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Pro 4.6K
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