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Inspiring
September 12, 2013
Question

BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera

  • September 12, 2013
  • 4 replies
  • 22482 views

I got a call from a shooter yesterday saying he plans to get

one of these cameras (because he can use the lenses from his 16mm).

He was asking for my opinion, and I couldn't offer one.

Does anyone have any direct experience with this camera?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/964117-REG/blackmagic_design_blackmagic_pocket_cinema_camera.html

http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicpocketcinemacamera

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    4 replies

    Steven L. Gotz
    Inspiring
    September 24, 2013

    These videos were shot with the Blackmagic.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/FriendlysRestaurant?feature=watch

    Captured to a SSD card, connected to a laptop for monitoring the scopes, RAW files to Resolve to ProRes for the edit, brought back the EDL for the color work.

    Resolve's 3D tracker to help make the eyes pop without using a key.

    (Post Magazine article from June issue.

    artofzootography.com
    Inspiring
    September 24, 2013

    Thanks!

    I have forwarded your links to the shooter.

    Steven L. Gotz
    Inspiring
    September 24, 2013
    Legend
    September 12, 2013

    There are some flaws with the camera that may not make it suitable for all situations.

    1. No time remaining indicator.  That's right, there's absolutely no way to know how much record time is left on the card.  And the time display only shows you the record time for the current clip, not all clips, so you can't even do the math and figure out how much record time is left.  It's pure guesswork, and entirely possible to run out of record time without any warning.

    2. No audio meters.  Yep, again a wholly unforgivable oversight on the part of BM.  There is absolutely no way to know what level you're recording at.  You can plug in a set of headphones and listen to make sure it isn't overmodulating, but that's hardly a precise method for professional use.

    3. Small batteries.  The Pocket Cinema Camera uses a standard Nikon battery, but not a very large one, and you only get 20 to 30 minutes of time out of any given battery.  That means you may need a couple dozen to carry around if you're in the field without power.

    4. Black Hole Sun.  There is a sensor flaw in the camera which creates a sort of 'black hole' in any area of severely overexposed highlights.  This may not be a big deal if you always have control over lighting, but can be an issue when you don't and have to overexpose a part of the frame in order to properly expose the subject.

    5. Bad audio.  You will definitely want to use double-system audio with this camera.  The built-in mics are pretty anemic, but even when a good mic is plugged in, the sound is still sub-par and not very usable.  Plan on picking up a Zoom or Tascam for use with this camera.

    Those are the factual 'flaws' with the camera.  But in my research, there is a subjective 'flaw' as well.  While the image is quite filmlike, it is very much a 16mm film look (perhaps befitting the Super 16 sized sensor), not a Hollywood film look.  Ignoring dynamic range, I feel the GH2 actually produces a more detailed, higher quality image.  The BMPCC produces a soft, almost de-focused looking image by comparison.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocp_ewJyOVU

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLjy5jTvjn4

    Inspiring
    September 12, 2013

    Thanks, Jim.

    I have passed all of this along to the shooter.

    I also left the impression that I came up with all of this info on my own.

    able123
    Inspiring
    September 12, 2013

    Joe, the guys here .. I forget the guys name I spoke to...but he has posted here...

    http://www.adkproaudio.com/

    did some pretty extensive research into the BM thing, and editing the stuff.... and liked it a lot...not the pocket thing, but the first one.

    Maybe your friend could give them a call...

    for me on pc it was suggested I do some kinda avid codec instead of pro res..for best results...

    I had to shoot stills too, or I probably woulda got the BM instead of the nikon

    Inspiring
    September 12, 2013

    Thanks for nothin', you hedgehog!

    note:

    Are they involved in the 'worm periscope' research for the military?

    able123
    Inspiring
    September 23, 2013

    =========

    So far, I have many many hours of shooting time dedicated to stills, and about two hours of video. If that ratio ever shifts toward video that is more than just the video equivalent of a snapshot, I will remember this conversation.

    ======

    Not only THAT.. BUT .... it helps regarding your potential to help OTHERS even though you are not personally using the " features" available on your own camera. For example, you may hear of someone shooting with a red camera who is not happy with the time limit on the hard drive they are using for redraw ( fill in the mode of your choice here ).. and YOU would know that using the HD SDI out from the camera would allow them to record stuff from the chip. You would also know, with further study , that using one HD SDI out would give them 422 and using 2 HD SDI outputs would give them 444...

    Basically the hdmi output from your camera and the outputs from OTHER cameras become somewhat related if considered with the 'process' in mind ( not just the particulars ).

    The heights that you reach with knowing more and your ability to help others is not always based on what you can personally do with your own equipment at the moment... it is one reason why this revolution of digital stuff is so exciting ....things are changing very fast....don't you think ??

    Next year your panasonic GH5 version will probably have a full chip and a crop setting for your old lenses, and HD SDI BNC outputs...and a tiny little SD card ( about 3000 Terabytes )...and a recorder will only cost about $ 5.00

    how cool !


    ===========

    While that isn't even close to being on my RADAR, I have to wonder if there are people with a GH3 that are shooting professonal videos.

    ==========

    Furthermore... let us finally once and for all " define " the word " professional "...

    For all of those here who are confused about this I'd like to say something straight out and to the point.....

    'professional' means you are getting paid. Period. Amateur means you are NOT getting paid. Professional athletes used to be banned from competing in the olympics. That meant those who got paid. Prostitutes are professionals... they get paid. You can be a hobbyist and get paid for something you did.. and you are now a professional.  You can be a professional and get FIRED and NOT PAID and now you are a hasbeen.  The word professional has NOTHING TO DO WITH EQUIPMENT !!!!!

    GET IT ?

    hehe...I could use a bolex wind up 16mm camera to shoot some clip used in " GONE WITH THE WIND ".. and that doesn't make that bolex a professional camera.  It only make ME a professional.  Or YOU.  Lets get real here....

    For those of you all messed up about making a living in film and shooting etc.... being in a union doesnt make ME a professional....anymore than YOU are an amateur because you are NOT good enough to be in the union....( oh oh, now it's getting hazy )...  unions have nothing to do with professional except that they provide the workers with health care, retirement benefits and a long term committment to staying in the craft and arts to make a stupid living.

    so if you can please stop using the word " professional " , STEVEN, in such an arbitrary way, I would appreciate it.