BMPCC 4K black screen after boot up. (SOLVED)

The place for questions about shooting with Blackmagic Cameras.
  • Author
  • Message
Offline

marenavision

  • Posts: 3
  • Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2024 11:21 am
  • Real Name: Alyona Plastova

BMPCC 4K black screen after boot up. (SOLVED)

PostFri Nov 01, 2024 11:41 am

Hello, guys!

I've been having an issue with my Pocket Cinema 4K for a while now. Sometimes after I turn it on, I can hear the fan and the screen turns on but it's completely black and doesn't react to any buttons or touch. Also the light near the power button just turns off instead of turning green (it's red when powered off).

I've read some other topics here for similar problems and I have tried EVERYTHING. It worked for a couple of times but now the camera is completely unresponsive although the PC and BM software recognizes it and even allows to update.

THINGS I'VE ALREADY TRIED:
- removing the battery
- removing the battery and connecting and external battery
- removing the battery and powering through the outlet
- all of the above without removing the battery
- powering up while holding the focus button
- powering up and updating while holding the focus button
- powering up while holding and pushing every button imaginable
- trying out an older update software instead of the latest one
- disconnecting the lens
- changing an external battery
- updating multiple times and going back to factory settings.

I also want to note that the software doesn't always recognize that the camera has been updated and I've been installing the same update 50 times already without any success. Yesterday I had to leave the gig I was hired for IN SHAME because it just wouldn't turn on, it drives me insane and spoils my rep.

I would really appreciate any help! I can provide videos if needed. Thank you!

!!! EDIT: I took the camera to the support center and turned out it was a hardware issue. 430 dollars and a day later they fixed it and the camera turns on just fine. I'm sorry, English is not my native language and I don't know the right term for the part but they said that the "controller" (or control unit?) went down so they had to change it.
I suggest everyone with the same issue consult the SC. My guys told me that the camera is able to turn back on after blackscreening sometimes but someday it will fail inevitably (just like mine did). The SC might be able to fix it by warranty (I had to pay because my country doesn't have an official BM centre)
Last edited by marenavision on Mon Nov 11, 2024 6:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Offline
User avatar

Uli Plank

  • Posts: 25477
  • Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 2:48 am
  • Location: Germany and Indonesia

Re: BMPCC 4K black screen after boot up.

PostSat Nov 02, 2024 2:37 am

I'd suggest to contact support directly.
My disaster protection: export a .drp file to a physically separated storage regularly.
Please visit digitalproduction.com/author/uliplank/

Studio 19.1.3
2017 iMac, MacOS 13.7.4, eGPU
MacBook M1 Pro and M4 Pro mini, MacOS 14.7.5
SE, USM G3
Offline
User avatar

rick.lang

  • Posts: 18644
  • Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 5:41 pm
  • Location: Victoria BC Canada

Re: BMPCC 4K black screen after boot up.

PostMon Nov 04, 2024 2:05 am

marenavision wrote:Hello, guys!

I've been having an issue with my Pocket Cinema 4K for a while now… Yesterday I had to leave the gig I was hired for IN SHAME because it just wouldn't turn on…


We understand how upsetting this experience has been for you and your client. I don’t know how long the camera has been performing erratically. As suggested, we all need to contact BMD shortly after these issues arise, looking for a BMD repair or hearing if BMD Support advises us the camera needs to be replaced.
Rick Lang
Offline
User avatar

Joe Shapiro

  • Posts: 4269
  • Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2013 7:23 am
  • Location: Los Angeles CA USA

Re: BMPCC 4K black screen after boot up.

PostMon Nov 04, 2024 7:10 pm

Probably unrelated but many people still see a black screen when switching from play to record on the 4K. This is with the latest (beta) firmware.

Switching back and forth generally resolves it but there seems to be an intermittent bug in said firmware.
Director, Editor, Problem Solver. Been cutting indie features for 24 years. FCP editor from version 2 to 7.
Resolve 20.0.3B
MacBook Pro 16 M1 Max 64GB RAM, macOS 14.7.2
MacBook Air 13 M1 8GB RAM, macOS 14.6.1
BMPCC4K 8.6 beta
BMCC6K 8.7 beta
Offline
User avatar

rick.lang

  • Posts: 18644
  • Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 5:41 pm
  • Location: Victoria BC Canada

Re: BMPCC 4K black screen after boot up.

PostMon Nov 04, 2024 8:54 pm

Marenavision did try an earlier version of the camera firmware, but we don’t know the specifics.
Rick Lang
Offline

marenavision

  • Posts: 3
  • Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2024 11:21 am
  • Real Name: Alyona Plastova

Re: BMPCC 4K black screen after boot up.

PostMon Nov 11, 2024 6:48 pm

Thank you for replying, friends!
I took the camera to the support center and turned out it was a hardware issue. 430 dollars and a day later they fixed it and the camera turns on just fine. I'm sorry, English is not my native language and I don't know the right term for the part but they said that the "controller" (or control unit?) went down so they had to change it.
Even the SSD stopped turning off randomly during the recording.

I suggest everyone with the same issue consult the SC. My guys told me that the camera is able to turn back on after blackscreening sometimes but someday it will fail inevitably (just like mine did). The SC might be able to fix it by warranty (I had to pay because my country doesn't have an official BM centre).

Cheers!

Return to Cinematography

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 37 guests