Cinemakamera

Cinemakamera is a term used in several languages to designate a camera designed for recording cinema-grade moving images. It covers both traditional film cameras that expose physical film stock and modern digital cinema cameras that capture images digitally. In English, the equivalent terms are cinema camera or motion picture camera. The term is used in professional contexts to distinguish high-end production equipment from consumer or prosumer cameras.

Historically, cinema cameras evolved from early hand-cranked and motorized devices developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The advent of 35mm film and later professional models—such as Arriflex, Mitchell, and Panavision systems—introduced interchangeable lenses, better motion handling, and standardized formats. The shift to digital in the 2000s brought digital cinema cameras that can record RAW or high-bitrate codecs, offer large sensor sizes, wide dynamic range, and modular designs suitable for studio and outdoor shoots. Today, the distinction between film-based and digital cinema cameras is defined more by workflow and look than by basic function.

Common types include traditional 35mm and large-format film cameras, as well as digital cinema cameras from brands such as ARRI, RED, Sony, and Canon. Digital models often feature modular accessories, multiple lens mounts (for example PL, EF, or E-mount), and support for RAW or high-quality compressed codecs. They are used across feature films, television, commercials, and documentaries, with the photographer or cinematographer selecting a camera based on desired aesthetics, latitude, workflow, and budget.