Alice? Alice? Who the f?

…is Alice? The Alice camera. Anyone else looking at [link=https://alice.camera/]this[/link]? It’s an MfT mount with the same (or similar) sensor as the one used in the GH5s and the consumer Blackmagic. Obviously quite video-centric, it’s a ‘blind’ body with a dedicated chip for AI processing (similar to that commonly used in smartphones), that’s actually controlled via your smartphone - either remotely or attached to the back by an extensible clamp. I think it shows a lot of promise and although it won’t be available until late October (when I’ll hopefully get mine), the developers are quite transparent and communicative and will honestly answer questions. Any thoughts? Any other early adopters on here?

…is Alice?

The Alice camera. Anyone else looking at this ?

It’s an MfT mount with the same (or similar) sensor as the one used in the GH5s and the consumer Blackmagic. Obviously quite video-centric, it’s a ‘blind’ body with a dedicated chip for AI processing (similar to that commonly used in smartphones), that’s actually controlled via your smartphone - either remotely or attached to the back by an extensible clamp.

I think it shows a lot of promise and although it won’t be available until late October (when I’ll hopefully get mine), the developers are quite transparent and communicative and will honestly answer questions.

Any thoughts? Any other early adopters on here?

I’ve been watching it but I think I’d want a better phone to camera connection before I slot a very expensive one to the back of it.

I’ve been watching it but I think I’d want a better phone to camera connection before I slot a very expensive one to the back of it.

They reckon it's secure and show a video of shaking it, but yeah I take your point. I may be more often using it remotely, but I would need to test before entrusting my very expensive phone to the rear out and about.

They reckon it's secure and show a video of shaking it, but yeah I take your point. I may be more often using it remotely, but I would need to test before entrusting my very expensive phone to the rear out and about.

Interesting development, but not for me... I dont do video and I like to review and post process photos at leisure before posting to EPZ or any other forum, so the connectivity and immediacy features have no particular value for me. Just in passing, a friend has transformed an antique plate camera with a big leather bellows into a system that works the same way as Alice. A small hybrid camera behind a dummy lens communicating with a tablet integrated into the plate carrier. He uses it for school photos etc where the antique camera, plus himself dressed as a late 19th C photographer, provides a bit of interest for the kids.

Interesting development, but not for me... I dont do video and I like to review and post process photos at leisure before posting to EPZ or any other forum, so the connectivity and immediacy features have no particular value for me.

Just in passing, a friend has transformed an antique plate camera with a big leather bellows into a system that works the same way as Alice. A small hybrid camera behind a dummy lens communicating with a tablet integrated into the plate carrier. He uses it for school photos etc where the antique camera, plus himself dressed as a late 19th C photographer, provides a bit of interest for the kids.

I'm actually not that interested in the immediacy/connectivity aspect. Your friend's camera does sound interesting as a novelty [I don't mean that in a negative way - it sounds like a very useful/engaging thing in the context] and there is obviously a similarity in the physical paradigm. But it isn't even really that which interests me in the Alice. Viewing a large, bright touchscreen, while it does have its attractions, is not especially enticing for me personally. My main current camera is a G9. Apart from low/high angle shots, I almost never use the rear screen - it's almost always reversed against the back of the camera. I prefer the experience of a closed finder which I feel gives me the best technique for framing shots. So far this sounds like just about the worst camera for the type of user I am. The thing that actually does intrigue me is the promise of computational power and AI algorithms behind the camera - both in the dedicated chip and the programmable smartphone App which controls the camera. The promise of that is processing that as in smartphones, employs computational techniques that will enhance the capabilities of the camera - that is in terms of noise control, dynamic range, multi-shot enhancement and so on. The key difference of course between it and a mobile phone is a much, much larger sensor and the ability to use a huge range of superior glass. So essentially a product that combines some of the strengths of a sophisticated smartphone with those of a dedicated large[ish] sensor camera. For me personally the 'convenience' aspect of it looks to come with lots of inconvenience - that is lack of an enclosed finder and the faff of balancing a phone on the end of the device.

I'm actually not that interested in the immediacy/connectivity aspect.

Your friend's camera does sound interesting as a novelty [I don't mean that in a negative way - it sounds like a very useful/engaging thing in the context] and there is obviously a similarity in the physical paradigm. But it isn't even really that which interests me in the Alice. Viewing a large, bright touchscreen, while it does have its attractions, is not especially enticing for me personally. My main current camera is a G9. Apart from low/high angle shots, I almost never use the rear screen - it's almost always reversed against the back of the camera. I prefer the experience of a closed finder which I feel gives me the best technique for framing shots.

So far this sounds like just about the worst camera for the type of user I am. The thing that actually does intrigue me is the promise of computational power and AI algorithms behind the camera - both in the dedicated chip and the programmable smartphone App which controls the camera.

The promise of that is processing that as in smartphones, employs computational techniques that will enhance the capabilities of the camera - that is in terms of noise control, dynamic range, multi-shot enhancement and so on. The key difference of course between it and a mobile phone is a much, much larger sensor and the ability to use a huge range of superior glass.

So essentially a product that combines some of the strengths of a sophisticated smartphone with those of a dedicated large[ish] sensor camera.

For me personally the 'convenience' aspect of it looks to come with lots of inconvenience - that is lack of an enclosed finder and the faff of balancing a phone on the end of the device.