From Bridgerton to Resident Evil, Netflix offers a huge variety of movies and TV shows. But you may have also noticed that whatever the topic, Netflix series often have a distinctive, crisp, clean look. Why? One of the reasons is the impact of what Netflix calls its “approved camera list”.
This is a somewhat strange concept. After all, musicians don’t need to use Spotify-approved instruments to record albums for the streaming service. So why does Netflix feel the need to create its own camera list, and how does it decide which ones will be selected? More importantly, should video cameras that are not listed immediately be considered worthless and obsolete?
With a little help from Netflix, we answered these and other questions in this explanation. The camera list on the streaming service is changing all the time – this week, for example, Netflix added the Sony FX3. This is a significant new entry as the FX3 is Sony’s smallest and cheapest cinema camera (even if it still costs $ 3,899 / £ 4,200 / AU $ 6,149).
There is no doubt that Netflix’s “Approved Camera List” has some of the best video cameras you can buy, but is this all for filmmakers looking to buy a camcorder? Let’s shed light on the guidelines to find out.
What is Netflix’s approved cameras list?
As of 2018, Netflix has published a regularly updated list of approved cameras (opens in a new tab) that filmmakers must use to film “90% of Total Program Time” on Netflix productions. This may interest you : Netflix added 43 new movies and shows this week. As of this writing, this list includes 50 cameras from Arri, Canon, Panasonic, RED, Panavision, Sony and Blackmagic.
Does this mean that every movie or TV show you watch on Netflix was shot with one of these cameras? Not completely. The streaming giant has confirmed to us that the camera list is only for Netflix productions – in other words, only shows that you see as “Netflix Originals” such as Stranger Things, The Crown, and Money Heist.
The rest of Netflix’s library was shot using whatever cameras the directors liked (or maybe they could afford). That’s why we’ve seen a few movies like Tangerine and High Flying Bird come out on the platform even though they were shot entirely on iPhones.
There is no doubt that Netflix’s list of approved cameras is moving towards the high-end. But in recent years, we’ve added some interesting compact models to the guide, including the Canon EOS C70, the Panasonic Lumix S1H and, more recently, the compact Sony FX3.
Not all of them are full-frame cameras as well – the Panasonic DC-BGH1 ($ 1,998 / £ 1,899 / AU $ 2,999) wins a spot despite having a relatively small Four Thirds sensor. This once again proves that matrix size isn’t everything – even if you’re shooting high-end Netflix shows that are watched by millions.
Why does Netflix have an approved cameras list?
As interesting as the Netflix camera list is the broader question of why it has a list at all. See the article : City of Vicksburg votes to install high-tech surveillance system – The Vicksburg Post. After all, while networks and distributors often have technical guidelines for TV shows and movies, they rarely dictate the actual cameras that can be used to produce them.
Netflix answered that question (sort of) in the final movie (it opens in a new tab) which is like VH1’s “Behind the Music” episode for camera nerds. In the film, Kris Prygrocki (Camera Systems Specialist at Netflix) says: “One of our top priorities as a studio is helping our filmmakers do their best work. We want our filmmakers not only to feel active, but also to be encouraged to use the latest and greatest capture technologies to tell their stories. ”
Considering most filmmakers probably don’t need Netflix to tell them about the latest camera technology, that’s really only half the story. The other half is consistency and strict quality control, which is understandable to Netflix’s own content – even if on the outside it feels like weird Apple-style controls.
After consulting with filmmakers, Netflix admitted that a high-end cinema camera isn’t always the best tool for the job. As Kris Prygrocki explains: “Because we maintain such high standards, it is difficult for specialized systems such as a drone, fixed platform, rotating zoom camera, sports camera and even high-speed cameras to meet our requirements.” These minimum specs include a 4K UHD sensor, 10-bit color depth, and raw mode recording, which are often beyond the budget of video cameras.
“Despite some shortcomings, these specialized cameras offer many features that our approved cameras do not have,” he adds. “We understand how important it is to be able to use them in certain situations, when they are absolutely necessary to achieve a creative intention. That is why we provide an allocation of unapproved cameras in all of our original productions if required. ”
This allotment is only about 10% of the show’s final runtime, or a little more for non-fiction content. Interestingly, Netflix also provides a list of frequently used, unapproved cameras, including the iPhone 12 Pro, GoPro Hero 9 Black, and most of DJI’s proprietary drone cameras.
While these much cheaper cameras will likely never be on the final approved list, they’ve likely been behind the scenes that you watched on Netflix.
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How does Netflix decide which cameras make the cut?
Netflix has built a video camera equivalent to the DxOMark smartphone testing labs to find out which models deserve approval. According to the streaming giant, it’s about more than just resolution. To see also : As Stranger Things Begins Season 5, Netflix Cancels Another Show After One Season. “The most common misconception is that the only requirement we have for cameras on our approved list is 4K capture,” explains Kris Prygrocki.
“While taking higher resolution photos is certainly important to image quality, we know there is more to it,” he adds in the video. “Other criteria that are equally important to image quality are dynamic range, color reproduction, noise performance, sensor reading speed, compression, Chroma sub-sampling, bit depth and so on.”
To capture cameras on them, Netflix uses standard tests such as OECF (Optoelectronic Conversion Function) charts, but emphasizes that it doesn’t rely on a single type of test. In fact, the image quality tests themselves. “We don’t combine these specifications in a vacuum behind closed doors,” says Kris Prygrocki. “All of these requirements are based on years of industry feedback experience. Surprisingly, a lot of the feedback we receive doesn’t really relate to image quality, ”she adds.
“That’s why we also consider issues such as system stability and reliability when evaluating our cameras. Does the system have adequate temperature management? Will it overheat or will there be a professional movie set? data all the time? “he says.
This explains why some small, high-performance cameras like the Canon EOS R5 – which has overheating limitations – aren’t on the list, despite being able to shoot impressive 8K videos.
Should you only buy a Netflix-approved video camera?
If you’re a professional filmmaker commissioned to produce a Netflix Originals production, then yes. But for the vast majority of people? The answer is no. Netflix’s camera list is a fun but incomplete snapshot of the kind of professional video tools out there, with lots of great options that won’t cut you due to technical issues.
For example, we think the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro is one of the best video cameras you can buy but is not on Netflix’s list due to the lack of a dedicated timecode input. Likewise, there are plenty of great hybrid cameras like the Fujifilm X-T4 and Sony A7 IV that shoot great videos but just lack the technical chops to be a Type A camera on a Netflix set.
However, something worth looking out for – probably more than the camera list itself – is Netflix’s Best Practice Guidelines (opens in a new tab). They include good tips for maximizing image quality (such as using the GoPro ProTune Flat profile on action cameras), which is always a good habit.
And who knows, when your movie is ready and you follow all the guidelines, maybe one day you will sell it to Netflix – and then use the profits to buy one of the more expensive cameras from its superb “approved” list.
Mark is the Camera Editor at TechRadar. Having worked in technical journalism for an absurd 17 years, Mark is now trying to break the world record for the number of photo bags collected by one person. Previously, he was a camera editor for Trusted Reviews, an acting editor for Stuff.tv, and a feature editor and review editor for Stuff magazine. As a freelancer, he contributed to such titles as The Sunday Times, FourFourTwo and Arena. And in his previous life, he also won the title of The Daily Telegraph’s Young Sports Writer of the Year. But that was before he discovered the strange joy of getting up at four in the morning for a photo shoot on London’s Square Mile.
Mark is the Camera Editor at TechRadar. Having worked in technical journalism for an absurd 17 years, Mark is now trying to break the world record for the number of photo bags collected by one person. Previously, he was a camera editor for Trusted Reviews, an acting editor for Stuff.tv, and a feature editor and review editor for Stuff magazine. As a freelancer, he contributed to such titles as The Sunday Times, FourFourTwo and Arena. And in his previous life, he also won the title of The Daily Telegraph’s Young Sports Writer of the Year. But that was before he discovered the strange joy of getting up at four in the morning for a photo shoot on London’s Square Mile.
