Life expectancy of a Black Magic Cinema?

If I buy a Blackmagic Cinema camera, how long should I expect it to last (continue functioning)?

For example, I bought my Canon GL2 back in 2001. Today, people laugh at how old the image looks. But I’ve used it a ton over the years, and operating the camera still works just as well as 12 years ago (and I have no history of needing it repaired).

So, if I buy a Blackmagic Cinema, about how long should I expect it to last before breaking?

So, nobody has any idea of the life expectancy of this camera?

I can't imagine how they'd do any enduring or aging tests. Consider how few moving parts there are. I can imagine that there may be a need for routine maintenance such as cleaning contacts.

That's like asking how long my 2013 Subaru Impreza will last. It might last me 40 years depending on my driving style, storing conditions and maintenance. But it might die in a year if I never change the oil, brakes, or clean it of road salt.

Take care of your camera, store it in dry conditions, be careful with the power socket, make sure it has the right voltage, be gentle when inserting an SSD, take the fan out, clean it of dust once in awhile and it might just last longer than that GL2.

we have two BMCC since february and they are shooting almost every day. Some weeks ago a client who rented one of the cameras made it fall from app. 70cm hight - the mattebox was smashed, the lens had been broken but no (!) issues with the camera itself. We checked everything twice in order to be sure - even backfocus is still completely ok. Thats quite good I guess, you should not try this stunt with another camera...
But in fact there are two weak points: the touchscreen display and the connectors for the SSD inside. But if you handle it with care (only gently insert / remove the SSD) and protect the display you should have no problems at all. The mount section is build like a tank, the housing is a metal frame and keeps everything inside secure.
Humidity, cold and hot weather seem to not have any influence on the camera. But of course you should cover it from the rain... If you treat this camera well I dont expect any trouble within the next years.

I bet it will last longer than the technology. Eventually 4k will be mainstream.

i guess the internal batery will die.. like every battery
you could think about external batery.. but what the external does is charging the internal.. so whenever the internal battery die, your camera will be dead
so YES!! life expectancy is a problem with BMCC

i guess the internal batery will die.. like every battery
you could think about external batery.. but what the external does is charging the internal.. so whenever the internal battery die, your camera will be dead
so YES!! life expectancy is a problem with BMCC

I'm not sure your assessment is correct. It could easily also be done in a way to charge the internal battery and in parallel deliver power to the innards, in which case it wouldn't matter if the internal battery is completely dead... I guess we'll see about 1 year from now, when the first internal batteries begin to fail...

i guess the internal batery will die.. like every battery
you could think about external batery.. but what the external does is charging the internal.. so whenever the internal battery die, your camera will be dead
so YES!! life expectancy is a problem with BMCC

Black Magic offers service to replace the batter for like $70 bucks or something. So what your saying is false.

i guess the internal batery will die.. like every battery
you could think about external batery.. but what the external does is charging the internal.. so whenever the internal battery die, your camera will be dead
so YES!! life expectancy is a problem with BMCC

I'm not sure your assessment is correct. It could easily also be done in a way to charge the internal battery and in parallel deliver power to the innards, in which case it wouldn't matter if the internal battery is completely dead... I guess we'll see about 1 year from now, when the first internal batteries begin to fail...

1. the battery is replaceable...just has to be BM that does it.

2. I think "1 year" until we start seeing battery failures is pretty pessimistic. My Canon batteries, that get used daily, Last 3-4 years until their degradation becomes a problem. It's the same battery technology in the BMCC/BMPCC so I would expect the same life span.

i guess the internal batery will die.. like every battery
you could think about external batery.. but what the external does is charging the internal.. so whenever the internal battery die, your camera will be dead
so YES!! life expectancy is a problem with BMCC

So the Bmcc does NOT have the option of changing an internal battery? And neither does their pocket camera?

This is definitely note worthy. Indeed.

Thank you.

1. the battery is replaceable...just has to be BM that does it.

So I can't change the battery myself? I'd have to send the whole camera to Black Magic, and pay them to change the battery for me?

Please elaborate on this. I'm very curious.
Thanks.

The batteries in the cinema and 4k cameras are not user serviceable. Same as with, say, the new macbook pros, so you have to send it either back to the manufacturer, or take it to an authorized service center to get it worked on. It's no different, really, than when the mirror shutter on a vDSLR eventually goes dead and needs to be replaced, or when one of my lenses starts missing it's marks and needs to be serviced. Some things you can't do yourself.
I am not sure on pricing or anything like that; but you can call up black magic to ask-- it's normally pretty fast on the phone.

The pocket camera has a removable battery- so you can "service" that yourself by buying a new one when it eventually looses some of it's chargeability.

So I can't change the battery myself? I'd have to send the whole camera to Black Magic, and pay them to change the battery for me? Please elaborate on this. I'm very curious. Thanks.

It's noted on page 39 in the BMD camera user manual, which you can download from the BMD support website:

"Battery Replacement:
Cinema Camera and Production Camera 4K's built in battery is not user-servicable. Should the battery require replacement, you will need to send it to your nearest Blackmagic Design service center for replacement. If the camera is outside of its warranty period, the battery replacement will incur a small service fee for the cost of the battery, labor and return of the camera to you. Please contact Blackmagic Design Support to find out details of where to send your camera, how to package it safely and how much the replacement will cost in your country."

-

In the FAQ topic of this forum I believe one of BMD's technicians said that even with a defective internal battery the camera will work on external power.

i guess the internal batery will die.. like every battery
you could think about external batery.. but what the external does is charging the internal.. so whenever the internal battery die, your camera will be dead
so YES!! life expectancy is a problem with BMCC

Black Magic offers service to replace the batter for like $70 bucks or something. So what your saying is false.

will blackmagic keep doing this service in 10 years??? 20 years?? maybe 5?? are they forced by law? NO!!
So life expectancy is whatever blackmagic wants... it is called planned obsolescence

it is called planned obsolescence

Correct, and a sick and preverted consumer market we're all suckers for too! Funny how Russian made things can last for decades! I'm no Commie but the capitalistic west is serious taking the pi$$.

This discussion is becoming existential.
Do we all have to die?
I guess so.
The camera is well built and aiming for a professional market.
If you like the result and what it can do, just take the risk of being disappointed as in any choice in life.

Peter

If after 5 or 10 years you're still heart set on using a BMD; then there will probably be a solution out there for you for service. But truthfully, the lifetime of the camera is mostly market dictated--e.g. what are clients looking for in a system, and their needs, which 5 yrs from now may be much different.

If after 5 or 10 years you're still heart set on using a BMD; then there will probably be a solution out there for you for service. But truthfully, the lifetime of the camera is mostly market dictated--e.g. what are clients looking for in a system, and their needs, which 5 yrs from now may be much different.

That's one of the tradeoffs we face here. Black Magic could have designed a camera that was very modular and upgradeable, but not for the price point we're looking at.

User replaceable parts are more expensive to design and manufacture than what we ended up with.

Correct, and a sick and preverted consumer market we're all suckers for too! Funny how Russian made things can last for decades! I'm no Commie but the capitalistic west is serious taking the pi$$.

Well...

Just for the record, I drive a 1941 Chevy and you hardly can accuse GM, of being a commie company

No really Martínez, do you really want to show up on a set with a 10-20 year old camera - making yourself the laughing stock of your clients while not meeting the minimal broadcast standards anymore? Well good luck with that.

If you are concerned about (planned or not) obsolescence - rent or lease instead of buying and call it a day.

So, nobody has any idea of the life expectancy of this camera?

The answer is: how long is Half-life of plastic?

Or:

Correct, and a sick and preverted consumer market we're all suckers for too! Funny how Russian made things can last for decades! I'm no Commie but the capitalistic west is serious taking the pi$$.

Well...

Just for the record, I drive a 1941 Chevy and you hardly can accuse GM, of being a commie company

No really Martínez, do you really want to show up on a set with a 10-20 year old camera - making yourself the laughing stock of your clients while not meeting the minimal broadcast standards anymore? Well good luck with that.

If you are concerned about (planned or not) obsolescence - rent or lease instead of buying and call it a day.

I´ve been a few times on a set with my 40 years old!!!! Eclair ACL and did not hear anyone laughing
and yes... my eclair has had many different batteries.. and still goes on set from time to time.
In fact i own a Pathe Baby from 1923.. that´s 90 years!!! and guess what.. it works..
None of these cameras were made in the soviet union
Do you work for blackmagic?

How often have you shown up using nitrate film in an eclair? the film camera comparison isn't really fair because they are constantly upgraded as new stocks and lenses come out-- it's not as though you can throw a new sensor in most d-cinema cameras on the dime of a production.

How often have you shown up using nitrate film in an eclair? the film camera comparison isn't really fair because they are constantly upgraded as new stocks and lenses come out-- it's not as though you can throw a new sensor in most d-cinema cameras on the dime of a production.

The problem is not the stock.. or sensor.. it is the internal battery (this could be made in a film camera, but it was not) This is called a programmed obsolescence
I have many camera! film, video, stills...i have a video sony hvc-3000p from the early 80´s... and we used it once in a short film for a flashback effect.. and it worked!!
Will your BMCC work in 10 years? answer is easy.. NO!! because BM has programmed it to die...
All these people who bravely defend BM from any "attack" ...when they do not meet their own calendar of delivery.. when they sell cameras with issues.. when they promise raw, and it does not come...mmmm.. either you do work for BM.. or you are like those husbands in love with the ugly woman, and your love is so strong you do not see she is doing it with the milkman.

I don't get it Martínez.

If BM is so evil, and the camera doesn't work for you, why did you buy it in the first place?

I still don't see your argument. The BMD will still work with 3rd party batteries even if the internal battery no longer can hold a charge-- much the same as a current macbook would work when plugged in to an external source. And, bm offers service on the internal battery for when it goes bad. even on older cameras, you can have trouble getting them working after many years-- they all will need some kind of service. head replacement on video cameras, tube replacement/alignment if it's tube based, basic CLA on a film camera after a few years of disuse (or even a few years of use). There is no such thing as a maintenance free camera or a camera which won't one day be outdated and disused as technology moves onward.

How often have you shown up using nitrate film in an eclair? the film camera comparison isn't really fair because they are constantly upgraded as new stocks and lenses come out-- it's not as though you can throw a new sensor in most d-cinema cameras on the dime of a production.

The problem is not the stock.. or sensor.. it is the internal battery (this could be made in a film camera, but it was not) This is called a programmed obsolescence
I have many camera! film, video, stills...i have a video sony hvc-3000p from the early 80´s... and we used it once in a short film for a flashback effect.. and it worked!!
Will your BMCC work in 10 years? answer is easy.. NO!! because BM has programmed it to die...

It's not my expectation that any electronic goods today will last 10 years after purchase. That includes hard drives etc. 5 years tops.

Jules

I don't get it Martínez.

If BM is so evil, and the camera doesn't work for you, why did you buy it in the first place?

I bought it in first place because i was promised more than it gives.. blackmagic manager in spain even said it would do 60 fps.. poor boy.. he is not there anymore.. like christine who was going to solve our problems here.… where is she?? Is anyone out there??? where is the 4k camera?? where is the raw in your pocket?? where is htat firmware update that was going to solve all the bugs?? LIES!!! BIG AND STINKY LIES!!!
anyway.. i sometimes buy things, and when they don´t do what they are expected to do, i complain... i have not been taught to shut up when i´m being f$5ked... sorry for this bug..

I don't get it Martínez.

If BM is so evil, and the camera doesn't work for you, why did you buy it in the first place?

I bought it in first place because i was promised more than it gives.. blackmagic manager in spain even said it would do 60 fps.. poor boy.. he is not there anymore.. like christine who was going to solve our problems here.… where is she?? Is anyone out there??? where is the 4k camera?? where is the raw in your pocket?? where is htat firmware update that was going to solve all the bugs?? LIES!!! BIG AND STINKY LIES!!!
anyway.. i sometimes buy things, and when they don´t do what they are expected to do, i complain... i have not been taught to shut up when i´m being f$5ked... sorry for this bug..

Pretty much anything from BMD cameras and upwards, Arri, REDs etc. are all such great fantastic tools, you are only limited by your skill and imagination. Use what's available now with the features on them now. These tools are all incredible. Don't let your negativity stop you from producing beautiful images. Go forth with positive energy and it will show in your work!

Jules

I have many worries over life expectancy due to my experience with other Blackmagic electronics in the past. I have found, in post production, the computer internal Intensity Pro and the external Intensity Thunderbolt fail, either completely (to be replaced - internal Intensity Pro) or temporarily (overheated circuits - Intensity Thunderbolt) which requires days of "reset" rest.

Thus, it is in the overheating of circuits I place my fear. Perhaps one day in the desert or at the beach either my Pocket or my 2.5K Cinema camera will just overheat to failure. This is why it is crucial to have a D.I.T. department which does verification on location apart from handing the backups and data chain.

I've owned several Blackmagic cards and never had a single overheating issue. No problems whatsoever with any of them, even after several years of use. So, based on my personal experience, they have been some of the most reliable professional products that I've owned. With that in mind, I am pretty confident that my BMCC will be just as trouble free.