SURVEY - FOR A NEW S35 4K pocket docu camera
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 4:18 pmHello,
I've been dreaming about a new camera from Blackmagic for quite some time. Here's what I think is missing in the current line-up, and what I would really like for a documentary camera.
4K S35 sensor - 4K because smaller files yet quite sufficient for finishing in 2K, S35 because not too shallow a depth of field but big photosites for light sensitivity. In the past 35mm was for fiction and 16 or S16 was for documentaries. Today fiction is increasingly using Full Frame, but it is needlessly cumbersome. Alos, S35 lenses are also smaller and lighter than full frame lenses
internal NDs - for run and gun shooting
stabilisation
auto-focus - just tap on the screen to focus where you want
viewfinder - can be optional like on the Pocket 6K Pro
32 bit float audio recording - at least two inputs
small form factor
I know there's been these types of posts before. I haven't quite seen suggestions of this type though. I think there is and will always be a demand for small run & gun cameras and BM does not have something for that market. To those who might think S35/APS-C is dead, look at Sony, they released a S35 version of the FX-3 and it's been quite succesful. I've been using it and love its small form factor and it's auto-focus, but as a BM user I really miss the image quality and latitude of braw.
If you think this would be a worthwhile offer from BM please say so below.
Cheers,
Damien
I've been dreaming about a new camera from Blackmagic for quite some time. Here's what I think is missing in the current line-up, and what I would really like for a documentary camera.
4K S35 sensor - 4K because smaller files yet quite sufficient for finishing in 2K, S35 because not too shallow a depth of field but big photosites for light sensitivity. In the past 35mm was for fiction and 16 or S16 was for documentaries. Today fiction is increasingly using Full Frame, but it is needlessly cumbersome. Alos, S35 lenses are also smaller and lighter than full frame lenses
internal NDs - for run and gun shooting
stabilisation
auto-focus - just tap on the screen to focus where you want
viewfinder - can be optional like on the Pocket 6K Pro
32 bit float audio recording - at least two inputs
small form factor
I know there's been these types of posts before. I haven't quite seen suggestions of this type though. I think there is and will always be a demand for small run & gun cameras and BM does not have something for that market. To those who might think S35/APS-C is dead, look at Sony, they released a S35 version of the FX-3 and it's been quite succesful. I've been using it and love its small form factor and it's auto-focus, but as a BM user I really miss the image quality and latitude of braw.
If you think this would be a worthwhile offer from BM please say so below.
Cheers,
Damien