The Sony FX6 and Panasonic BGH-1 have won the Red Dot Design Award. In fact, these are the only cinema cameras that took the prize. Among them, there’s a significant appearance of Nikon’s cameras, with its D9 and Z7/Z6 Mark II. However, there’s no mention of Canon. Read the jury statements below.
Red Dot Design Awards
The Red Dot Design Award is a German international design prize that focuses on categories for product design, brands and communication design, and design concepts. Since 1955, designers and producers can apply for the prizes, with the winners being presented in an annual ceremony. The Red Dot Design Award had more than 15,500 submissions from 70 countries in 2014, and in 2016 alone, 1,559 Red Dots were awarded, 102 of them in the “Best of the Best” category. The products, brands, communication projects, and concepts entered in the Red Dot Award are evaluated by a jury. It is comprised of independent designers, design professors, and specialized journalists who have committed to a “Code of Honour”: They can neither be employed by an industrial manufacturing company nor participate in the adjudication of designs in which they were involved.
FX6 and BGH-1: The only ‘cinematic’ winners
The Sony FX6 and the Panasonic BGH-1 are the only ‘cinematic’ winners in the category. That means, no other cinema camera has taken the prize. Let’s read what the Red Dot’s jury thought about those cinema cameras:
Sony FX6
Red Dot’s description: The FX6 is a compact cinema camera with a highly sensitive full-format image sensor. Thanks to its small depth of focus, it achieves special bokeh effects. The compact, rounded form of the casing helps to minimize strain on the hand and body. Buttons on the top handle ensure that the camera can be operated even when it is being held by this very handle. The positioning of the most frequently used buttons makes the camera as easy as possible to operate with minimal finger movements.
Statement by the Jury: This versatile, compact cinema camera is characterized by a thoroughly coherent layout that is designed to be extremely user-friendly.
This versatile, compact cinema camera is characterized by a thoroughly coherent layout that is designed to be extremely user-friendly.
Red Dot’s jury
Panasonic BGH-1
Red Dot’s description: The DC-BGH1 is a multipurpose camera that covers various types of image production. This reflects the diversification of shooting methods recorded and shared today. The camera is designed such that its many threaded holes allow the simple and flexible installation of peripheral devices. Thanks to its well-balanced, symmetrical design and low weight, it is suitable for use with gimbals and drones.
Statement by the Jury: The versatility of this camera is impressive, and it can be flexibly adapted to various recording scenarios through the use of peripheral devices.
The versatility of this camera is impressive, and it can be flexibly adapted to various recording scenarios through the use of peripheral devices.
Red Dot’s jury
Nikon stars – but no Canon
Another camera manufacturer that has received the Red Dot Design Award is Nikon, with its flagship (D6) and high-end filmmaking mirrorless (Z6/Z7 Mark II) with the MB-N11 Power Battery Pack.
Statement by the Jury about the Nikon D6: The Nikon D6 sits impressively well in the hand and also performs convincingly as an ergonomic, robust, highly functional camera that is perfectly tailored to the needs of professional photographers.
The Nikon D6 sits impressively well in the hand and also performs convincingly as an ergonomic, robust, highly functional camera that is perfectly tailored to the needs of professional photographers.
Red Dot’s jury
Statement by the Jury about the Nikon Z 7II / Z 6II: The Nikon Z 7II / Z 6II / MB-N11 cameras score points for their careful model refinement, which preserves the elegant look while optimizing functional and technical details.
The Nikon Z 7II / Z 6II / MB-N11 cameras score points for their careful model refinement, which preserves the elegant look while optimizing functional and technical details.
Red Dot’s jury
Where’s Canon?
Obviously, Canon has won several design prizes, but none of them is related to cameras, which is quite an interesting question. Moreover, Blackmagic Design took the Design Award regarding its post-production products and consoles, among them is the Blackmagic Fairlight Desktop Console, and the Blackmagic ATEM Mini. For more winners, head over to the Red Dot website here.
Product List
Here’re the major products mentioned in the article, and the links to purchase them from authorized dealers.
- Sony FX6 Full-Frame Cinema Camera
- Panasonic LUMIX BGH1 Cinema 4K Box Camera
