Blackmagic Forum

I’m thinking of how Blackmagic could make another Micro Four Thirds camera after the hugely popular Pocket 4K and I was wondering if they would make an 8K MFT sensor based on their RGBW sensor technology they used in the Ursa 12K etc. Would you be interested in this?

Using the original 12K sensor with 2.2 micron pitch, you would get an 8K+ sensor cut. Using the new 12K sensor with 2.9 micron pitch, you would have a 6K sensor cut. If BMD decided it made sense to go with their own sensor in another mFT camera, I suspect it would be the 6144 cutout from the new sensor. Would it have 15 stops dynamic range? Maybe that would spur sales.

To answer the last question first: Would I want one? Maybe. I do like smaller lenses and camera bodies, and the longer depth of field is an aesthetic that keeps me in the MFT and Super16 ecosystem. A new sensor probably wouldn't be enough for me to upgrade on its own though because most of my biggest "problems" with the BMPCC4K have nothing to do with its sensor. Even all this time later, it still kinda hits a sweet spot that not a ton of other cameras do.

Is it likely that BMD would ever make another MFT body with their RGBW sensor tech? I really, really doubt it. Spinning up a new production line to make custom MFT sensors would be expensive, and the whole thesis of BMDs MFT offerings is that they're extremely affordable tools. I honestly think that BMD will ride out their current BMPCC offerings until the sensors and other internal components in them are too expensive or difficult to source. Once that happens all bets are off, but there's no shortage of conventional BFA MFT sensors out there that would probably be a better fit than a custom BMD design.

Good point, Alex. There certainly would never be a $995 pocket camera with an 8K or 6K RGBW sensor and 15 stops dynamic range.

My guess is that BMD will retain a line of Super35 sensor cameras as their entry level models, because not only are they good for entry level filmmakers, there is also quite a bit of demand for Super35.

You can see it in the fact that after releasing the Alexa 65 and then the Alexa Mini LF, Arri followed them up with the Alexa Super35, which according to Arri is its current best camera.

Super35 is still a perfectly good format; I'm not planning to ditch my Komodo because it's a super35 camera, it's because BMD went full 135 for the 12K update, hosing up my plan to use the Komodo as a B-cam for it, because matching cameras is easier for A/B cam than having two different sensor sizes.

Also because the Pyxis has a more user friendly design than the Komodo, as one would expect after five years of progress.