Blackmagic Forum

If only the BM4k could capture stills. Im on a strict budget and when I preorder the 4k, I will not be able to purchase a DSLR.

So my question is, with the 2.5k or 4k resolution, how do the Video Stills come out? Are they comparable to Canon 5D Markiii?

I plan on using the camera mainly for video, but I work for a few new magazines startups and I need to be able to take professional photos as well.

I expect the frames to be quite good, have you played with the 2.5k raw files that initially came out from JB?
4k res is approximately 8mp, but there are certainly some limitations vs a DSLR...

limited shutter speed - freezing action
cant use flash
less iso range

would be my concerns for stills. You would want to have raw files to play with from the BMCC vs prores, for things like whitebalancing for skintones etc.

Thanks for the reply.
I haven't got a chance to use the 2.k. I'm hoping with a good lighting setup that I can use the stills , at least temporarily until I can afford a DSLR (Mark III or probably IV by the that time)

The RAW stills are good but the resolution is probably too low for magazine use.

2.5k is 2432 x 1366 (3.3 megapixel)
4k is 3840 x 2160 (8.3 megapixel)
5DMKII is 5616 x 3744 (21.1 megapixel)
5DMKIII is 5760 x 3840 (22.1 megapixel)

Might be worth picking up a 550D as a still backup. They are pretty cheap on the secondhand market and produce pretty good stills. Would work with all the lenses you use on the BMPC4K and the sensor is a similar size so the FOV would be similar. Would also give you more options on shutter speed, flash, focus, etc.

550D is 5184 x 3456 (17.9 megapixel)

Moved to Cinematography...

ebonxtv wrote:If only the BM4k could capture stills. Im on a strict budget and when I preorder the 4k, I will not be able to purchase a DSLR.

So my question is, with the 2.5k or 4k resolution, how do the Video Stills come out? Are they comparable to Canon 5D Markiii?

I plan on using the camera mainly for video, but I work for a few new magazines startups and I need to be able to take professional photos as well.

Just out of curiosity....why do you need 4K? What and where are you outputting your material to that uses 4K?

If you're only using stills for web and letter size printing than 4K stills is enough resolution. If you need to output stills for larger printing, you are better off with the 5DIII.