I compare the BMPCC to Red Epic & 5D3

I finally finished my review of the BMPCC!



Since I can't embed the video here, I will include a link to my site. I hope it helps those thinking of buying this camera:
http://www.learningdslrvideo.com/black-magic-pocket-review/

I forgot to mention that I really appreciate all the help you guys gave me here on this forum to complete the review. I give a shout out to @CaptainHook in the video.

Hello Dave,

Take a look at this.
Antler FCP X Blackmagic Film plugin open beta
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10664&p=66628#p66628

I am using this plug-in and it works great.

Hi Dave, You mention Auto Iris only seems to work in Video mode. It does work in Film mode but it works differently. I was actually thinking the same thing as you until I properly tested it.

Set Zebras to 100%
Point to something that actually generates Zebras.
Press Iris and it will stop down until the Zebras are gone.

In video mode Iris averages.
In film mode it protects the highlights. Sort of a built in ETTR so it seems.

Of course, depending on subject, you may be willing to let certain things clip such as specular highlights so you can open back up a big and allow zebras in the areas you're OK with clipping.

Perhaps there's more to auto iris in film mode than I've mentioned here but that's what I've discovered so far and I'm just beginning to play.

Pretty much my own understanding of autoiris in film mode is that it is trying to pump as much exposure onto the sensor as it can w/o clipping the image. Exposure is information so it's trying to get you the most information for post.
It is the same as exposing 500T as 320 or even 250 back in the days of film. It should also produce lower noise as you are getting darks a bit above the noise floor, and when you crush back down, you'll crush most of the sensor noise. Though truthfully in film mode, I just meter.

Great review!!
Thanks!

Is there any way to apply a finished "5D" lut or someting that makes descent skintones and make black black and not gray with out lots of nodes and tweaking?

@Craig you are probably right. I might be getting this wrong but since BM recommended setting 18% grey to 50 IRE on your waveform for film mode, isn't that going to give you a different exposure?

Great review, Dave. Thank you for making it.

I was just wondering, you said at first that you saw no difference between keying footage shot with the pocket camera vs. the 5D3, but then a note appears saying you tried again and it was better. Can you please share in what way it was better and to what degree?

I'm trying to determine whether there is a boon to keying (sharpness, accuracy, etc.) that offsets the inability to do slow motion (higher frames per second) with this camera. Thank you!

@Insomniac in my last test it was better because I was able to refine the edge of my subject better without the image getting all nasty. Again I am not great with green screen like some EFX guys are, they are the ones to ask. Andrew Kramer would be someone I would ask if he has one of these yet.

Hi Dave. Very good review. Thanks for sharing.

Iris in film mode definitely works, but I don't use it, especially as I'm using manual lenses pretty much exclusively. I haven't really looked at video mode much either.
Have you tried FilmConvert?
I admit my standards and needs are way below yours, but I can achieve decent images after five minutes with FilmConvert. I admit, I could do more and I agree with you that a more advanced knowledge and experience in post production is a really useful skill in getting the best out of the pocket camera.

Hey Dave, nice review.

I just got my Pocket Camera replaced with a brand new one by BMD because of a sensor issue. It's been "re-calibrated" so I don't know if the firmware has been updated since I initially got the camera about a month ago, but I just discovered something that I didn't know was there. And that is the fact that you can set the display to use the more saturated "video gamma" while the file is recorded using the "film gamma"... This is not quite the same as but close to your suggestion of adding LUT support. And it helps a lot when using the camera. LOG footage isn't really fun to look at while you're shooting.

Yeah, reading manuals is not en vouge anymore.

Yeah, reading manuals is not en vouge anymore.

you can say that again Frank!
It takes an HD Video that can hold your hand and walk you through life.

Great review, Dave!! Thanks for letting me a part of your journey. Can't wait to see what you do with the BMPC 4K. Hopefully, mine will show up before January! I think you're going to become addicted to color grading