AXIOM · Project

Open-Source Modular Cinema Camera Platform at a Fraction of Professional Prices

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Imagine if professional cinema cameras worked like LEGO — you pick the sensor, the processing board, the lens mount, and snap them together to build exactly the camera you need. That's what AXIOM built: a modular, open-hardware cinema camera that shoots in 4K with high frame rates, but costs a fraction of what big-brand cinema cameras charge. Everything from the circuit board designs to the software is open and customizable, so anyone can modify, extend, or build on top of it. It's like Android did to smartphones, but for professional video cameras.

By the numbers

Resolution capability of the camera platform

Consortium partners across Europe

Countries involved (AT, DE, PL)

Demo deliverables with manufactured hardware

Total project deliverables produced

60%

Industry partner ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Professional cinema cameras cost tens of thousands of euros, lock users into proprietary ecosystems, and cannot be customized for specialized applications like scientific imaging or non-standard broadcast setups. Independent filmmakers, research labs, and smaller production companies are priced out of professional-grade imaging or forced to accept fixed-feature cameras that don't match their specific needs.

The solution

What was built

A fully modular, open-hardware cinema camera platform (AXIOM Gamma) with manufactured and tested PCBs for image processing, power management, and I/O interfaces, plus 3D-designed enclosures and lens mounts. Complete design files — schematics, board layouts, Gerber files, BOMs, and CAD files — were produced as open-source deliverables across 25 total outputs.

Audience

Who needs this

Independent film production companies looking for affordable professional camerasScientific imaging labs needing customizable camera platformsMedical device companies requiring specialized imaging hardwareBroadcast equipment integrators seeking vendor-independent solutionsDrone and robotics companies needing lightweight modular cameras

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Film & Video Production

SME

Target: Independent film production companies and documentary studios

If you are an independent production house struggling with the cost of professional cinema cameras — this project developed a fully modular 4K camera platform with open hardware designs and manufactured prototypes. The modular architecture lets you swap sensors, processing boards, and lens mounts to match each shoot's requirements without buying entirely new camera bodies. With 12 demo deliverables including tested PCBs and manufactured enclosures, this is a real product you can build on.

Scientific & Medical Imaging

any

Target: Research labs and medical device companies needing custom imaging solutions

If you are a research lab or medical imaging company that needs specialized cameras with unusual sensor configurations or frame rates — this project created an open, extendable camera platform with customizable FPGA-based image processing. The complete hardware designs (schematics, board layouts, BOMs) for the image processing system, power supply, and I/O interface are available as open source. You can adapt these designs for microscopy, spectral imaging, or any application requiring non-standard camera configurations.

Broadcast & Live Events

mid-size

Target: Broadcast equipment integrators and live event technology providers

If you are a broadcast integrator looking for affordable, customizable camera solutions for multi-camera setups — this project built a professional camera platform using only open standards, with a modular I/O interface system and power management. The 5-partner consortium across 3 countries manufactured and tested all core components including PCBs and enclosures. The open design means you can integrate these cameras into existing broadcast workflows without vendor lock-in.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would a camera based on this platform cost compared to traditional cinema cameras?

The project explicitly positions AXIOM as a professional cinema camera 'for a fraction of the price' of systems between industrial and high-end digital cinema cameras. Exact pricing is not provided in the project data, but the open hardware model eliminates licensing fees on the design itself, and the modular approach means you only buy the components you need.

Can this be manufactured at industrial scale?

The project produced manufactured PCBs that were assembled, tested, and verified for all core subsystems — image processing, power supply, and I/O interface. Complete manufacturing files (Gerber, drill plans, BOMs) are available as deliverables. This means any PCB manufacturer can produce these boards, and the 3D CAD files for enclosures enable volume production.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

AXIOM is built entirely on Free Software, Open Hardware, and open standards. All research data and results were released under a free licence. This means you can use, modify, and commercialize derivatives without paying royalties, though specific open hardware licence terms should be verified on the project website.

Is this compatible with existing cinema lenses and equipment?

The project developed a dedicated lens mount system (CELM) with complete 3D CAD files and production documentation. The modular I/O interface system (IOIS) was designed for integration with existing workflows. The project uses only open standards, which supports interoperability with standard cinema equipment.

What is the current status of this technology?

The project ran from March 2015 to June 2016 and is now closed. The consortium produced 25 deliverables including 12 demo deliverables with manufactured and tested hardware. The project website at eu.axiom-camera.com may have information about continued development by the community.

Can I customize this for specialized applications like drones or underwater filming?

The platform was specifically designed to be extendable and modular — hardware, software, and FPGA are all customizable. A sample template module with complete PCB designs and documentation was delivered to help developers create new modules. This makes it suitable as a base platform for specialized imaging applications.

Consortium

Who built it

The AXIOM consortium is compact and industry-heavy: 5 partners from 3 countries (Austria, Germany, Poland) with a 60% industry ratio and 2 SMEs involved. This is a strong signal for business relevance — the majority of partners are companies, not universities. The consortium includes only 1 university (the coordinator, University of Applied Arts Vienna, which bridges design and technology) and no pure research organizations. With 3 industry partners actually building and testing hardware, this project was clearly focused on producing a real product rather than publishing academic papers.

UNIVERSITAT FUR ANGEWANDTE KUNST WIENCoordinator · AT
ANTMICRO SP ZOOparticipant · PL

How to reach the team

Coordinator is at Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien (University of Applied Arts Vienna), Austria. SciTransfer can facilitate a direct introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITAT FUR ANGEWANDTE KUNST WIEN profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how this open camera platform could fit your imaging needs? SciTransfer can connect you with the development team and help evaluate technical fit for your specific application.

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