There’s not a lot to criticize concerning the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Pro 6K—in addition to its cumbersome identify. An array of considerate options and a deal with video first make it the right stepping stone between conventional mirrorless shooters and high-end film cameras, if you will get previous its hefty weight and middling battery life.
An Affordable Pro Package
The BMPCC 6K Pro makes use of a Super 35-mm sensor which has been one of the crucial standard sensor codecs for filmmakers for many years. While it is technically smaller than full-frame sensors, it is similar to the APS-C sensors you may discover in lots of images cameras (although it’s kind of wider). The digicam additionally makes use of an EF lens mount, which suggests it has entry to a reasonably wide selection of standard lenses.
Most notably–so notable they put it within the identify–this digicam can shoot as much as 6K footage, which is difficult to search out at this worth level. Why would possibly you need 6K footage, you ask? Well, in case your enhancing rig can deal with it, you get much more flexibility to crop, zoom, and motion-track footage in postproduction, with out sacrificing image high quality. For low-to-no price range productions, a standard technique to get this flexibility is to shoot in 4K and distribute in 1080p, however 6K permits you to preserve that energy whereas nonetheless outputting the best decision most individuals can watch proper now.
The digicam additionally helps taking pictures in each Blackmagic RAW and Apple’s ProRes RAW codecs (the latter is barely supported as much as 4K, although). Both codecs are nice for capturing as a lot element as attainable whereas taking pictures and adjusting your coloration grade later. Blackmagic additionally makes DaVinci Resolve, which began as top-tier coloration grading software program and has since advanced into a whole video enhancing package deal that may typically give Adobe a run for its cash. So naturally, the digicam comes with a free copy of the $300 Studio model of the app.
DaVinci Resolve’s free model is already extremely highly effective, and most cinema cameras that push into the 6K vary are fairly a bit pricier than the BMPCC 6K Pro. If you are trying to get your foot within the door on pro-level filmmaking, it is onerous to discover a cheaper entry level.
Chonky Bod
Photograph: Blackmagic Design
The 6K Pro felt unbelievable after I first pulled it out of the field. It’s clean however grippy, and the crisp LCD display screen dominates the digicam. Unlike most competing cameras, bodily buttons are pretty sparse right here, and those which might be on the physique have all earned their place. A number of bodily buttons and a dial on the best facet allow you to regulate settings like ISO and white steadiness with out digging by the interface.
On the rear of the digicam, buttons to regulate the aperture and focus mechanically (in case your lens helps these options) are handily proper subsequent to your proper thumb. Finally, there are three programmable buttons alongside the highest, which by default are mapped to the False Color function, a default LUT, and body guides. However, you’ll be able to change these to no matter perform you discover most helpful whereas taking pictures.
