BM Pocket Cinema Camera 4K Now U.S.$995

Blackmagic’s press release:

https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/media/ ... 0241218-02

New price at B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... ra_4k.html

IMG_0052.jpeg (390.33 KiB) Viewed 6265 times

One typo AFAIK:
“Professional mini XLR inputs with 48 volt phantom power.”

BMPCC4K should read:

Professional mini XLR input with 48 volt phantom power

It's a little long in the tooth but, IMO, still a terrific camera. Well worth looking at in 2024.

The camera has now been in production for six years, having been released in September 2018 at a price of US$1295. No lens, but with DaVinci Resolve Studio included. In the U.S., the new price is $100 less than the price of a 256GB iPhone 16 Pro, with which I suspect it is now competing.

it's still a viable camera. If I had the ability to shoot 4k Raw video with 13 stops of dynamic range when I was starting out all those years ago... for $1k?? That's crazy.

My first foray into higher-quality video capture was Magic Lantern Raw on my Canon 5Dmkiii. I was shooting 1080p in CDNG and was blown away by the difference from shooting in a compressed format. Sure it doubled as a stills camera, but man, did it inspire me to shoot some stuff!

I think the Pocket line still does that for a lot of people wanting to play and explore. If they only knew they can create fun projects without autofocus and $50 LUTs, haha

The MFT version seems to be the last RAW camera that could also be used with classic C-mount lenses like the original pocket (HD, of course).

It's hard to see the BMPCC 4K as a compromise, even today. It exceeds the capabilities of most shooters, the production values they're capable of delivering, and produces far more resolution than dramatic material requires. What it lacks is what all BMD cameras lack -- continuous AF, etc. None of which is essential for making movies, if that's the object.

We're at a moment where the advances in the technology are pretty much meaningless, because that technology is in the hands of shooters without the money, production values or experience to exploit it. Any more than an iphone will turn a consumer with too much disposable income into a cinematographer, because Apple commissioned shooters who would never otherwise touch one, to shoot something with it.

Remember the ads with a red carpet and Canon hybrid DSLRs?

Put some Sirui anamorphics on it and some care with lighting, audio and a fantastic story with good actors and you are there for a fine production. Amazing little camera to get you to post.

I have the BMPCC4K, it's an iPhone 14 Pro Max with the latest version of the BM Camera app installed. The iPhone makes good videos ok (I use ProRes LT for space reasons) but I noticed that in certain circumstances the videos have artifacts that do not exist with the BMPCC4K. In short, I would never change my Pocket Cinema Camera for an iPhone. The BMPCC4K is a great camera and with the Mitakon Speedmaster Cinema T1.0 lens kit you forget about the problems in Low Light. I am very satisfied with this camera and I can't wait to change my Mac to go from Final Cut to Davinci Resolve to work in Braw.

Budget filmmakers should note that with a S35 speedbooster, the Blackmagic Pocket 4K nearly matches 1:1 a RED One MX in overall image quality and actually comes out a noticeable touch sharper! While I'm looking more towards the URSA Cine line at the moment, it still is great to see such an amazing value being offered rather than have the camera outright discontinued before reaching the $999 price point. This also shows Blackmagic Design's thought process in offering a full range of solutions for artists to work with across all budget levels which is especially useful in these tougher than usual economic times.

I can't help but think of how RED could have had a nice lineup of offerings like this when they had the RED One MX, DSMC MX, and DSMC Dragon lines all available at one point but instead of lowering prices on the older models and making a "Starter RED" entry point, they decided to cut off any such possibility by discontinuing the older cameras despite their tech being well ahead of the competition for a long time after. Oh well, what could have been!

I'm using two BMPCC, a Sony A7iiir, and an iPhone 15pro. For content and course creation and for online sessions. I really like how I can build different recording/streaming settings and workflows with ease. As a solo shooter / creator, I can remote control my gear via apps and the Blackmagic Video Assist. It's effortless and robust.

I have a pocket 4K that has been used for years and still works great... even has some advantages over my URSA 12K in that it can change between EF and PL mount lenses easier (with adapters to MFT) it has working gyro stabilization and RGB histogram which I am still waiting for the 12K to get (nudge BMD) and it can handle lower light and even work with pinhole nicely.

I do wonder though if this price reduction is not just for the holiday but an indicator that a new pocket model may be coming. I would hope for a 6K super16 size RGBWWW sensor... would then be a good match with the 12K.

I have a pocket 4K that has been used for years and still works great... even has some advantages over my URSA 12K in that it can change between EF and PL mount lenses easier (with adapters to MFT) it has working gyro stabilization and RGB histogram which I am still waiting for the 12K to get (nudge BMD) and it can handle lower light and even work with pinhole nicely.

Wait, you are shooting digital pinhole video? I'd love to see examples of that. I recently started taking pinhole photos using a film camera and love it...everything is in focus and nothing is sharp; I've seen digital pinhole photos but never digital pinhole video.

… I do wonder though if this price reduction is not just for the holiday but an indicator that a new pocket model may be coming. I would hope for a 6K super16 size RGBWWW sensor ...

I don’t think this is a temporary reduction as a special promotion. A 6K Super16 RGBW sensor would be intriguing. However you might not be able to match the Dual ISO 3200 range. And you might lose ProRes. Still a fascinating and unexpected option.

Horizontal sensor with 2.9 micron pitch would be 17.82mm x 10.02mm at 6144 x 3456 photosites so still a ‘mirrorless’ MFT camera 16:9 aspect ratio with a 4K Super16 option. Or would BMD put a L-mount on it?

As someone who has a Pocket 4K, I think it’s interesting that people are talking about how much useful remaining life there is in a camera that’s been in production for all of 6 years. My desert island camera is a Leica M3 that was made in 1956. It’s easily the best-handling camera that I’ve owned, a pleasure to use. Runner-up is an Arca-Swiss 8x10* that was made in 1995 and that’s still in production today. I can make an 8x10 print the same size as the “sensor” with a couple of sheets of glass and a 7W light bulb. Seeing an 8x10 “contact print” is a revelation. From that perspective, the recent theft by cinema camera makers of the term “large format” is pretty amusing

That said, the discussion reflects the reality. The position of the market, which is to say camera buyers, on the useful life of current cameras makes debating which of two cameras is “better” a pretty short term game. It’s also clear, from publicly available data, who’s winning the game, and it isn’t the makers of conventional cameras. They’ve already been relegated to niche market share. I suspect that the main question now is what happens with “artificial intelligence”.

* Phillipe Vogt was making cameras before he was making tripod heads, and he and his son still make cameras in Besançon, France. Vogt likes to keep a low profile. His U.S. distributor launched the first ever Arca-Swiss website only last summer

I'm wondering now if I should get one of these or another Micro Studio Camera 4K G2.....

I hope whatever replaces it also has an MFT mount. Coupled with an RGBWWW sensor like that in the 12K, it just might compel me to upgrade from my OG Micro.

I have 2x OG Pocket Cams I still use from time to time ( Love them, they have an atheistic we all love IMO)

I have the 4K BMPCC which I have not used enough. The fact its been upgraded and still works a wonder, I love they designed these things so well. So 995 with BM Studio keys.. keeping MFT alive.

I'm just a worker bee making projects as hobbies, but in 2024 this Cam with Panaleica 10-25 F1.7 42.5 1.2 25-50 I can't imagine what the cost of that setup would have been when I was a kid in 2000. Bag of primes and Film. Probably more than a house at the time.

Now the best cell phone do a very good job,

Now with AI upscaling, not sure in 90% of circumstances this would be good enough for a great shot
Secret weapon is an EM1X with Ninja (RAW) better than a stedicam with the 5axis. We live in the future. Don't let it pass you by. 2nd BMPCC 4k? hmm

Brad, here is a sample of pinhole on pocket 4K in 1080p.

Brad, here is a sample of pinhole on pocket 4K in 1080p.

Cool, thanks!

Budget filmmakers should note that with a S35 speedbooster, the Blackmagic Pocket 4K nearly matches 1:1 a RED One MX in overall image quality and actually comes out a noticeable touch sharper! While I'm looking more towards the URSA Cine line at the moment, it still is great to see such an amazing value being offered rather than have the camera outright discontinued before reaching the $999 price point. This also shows Blackmagic Design's thought process in offering a full range of solutions for artists to work with across all budget levels which is especially useful in these tougher than usual economic times.

I can't help but think of how RED could have had a nice lineup of offerings like this when they had the RED One MX, DSMC MX, and DSMC Dragon lines all available at one point but instead of lowering prices on the older models and making a "Starter RED" entry point, they decided to cut off any such possibility by discontinuing the older cameras despite their tech being well ahead of the competition for a long time after. Oh well, what could have been!

It may be nostalgia or getting old thing but please someone stop me here from buying Sony F35 or Dragon 6K for $2000

Especially F35 coupled with Odyssey 7Q monitor recorder package.

Haha, it’s crazy cause you can even get a used Red Ranger Monstro VV for like $7000.

I’m still currently in that in-between-time of needing a camera and using one. Hope BMD announces something q1 2025 just to keep us on our toes

Haha, it’s crazy cause you can even get a used Red Ranger Monstro VV for like $7000.

I’m still currently in that in-between-time of needing a camera and using one. Hope BMD announces something q1 2025 just to keep us on our toes

Like a single 8k sensor camera with 16 stop of dynamic range ? They just release it … only in dual sensor body, but tech is done, why not in a single sensor on classic cam body?


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… a single 8k sensor camera with 16 stop of dynamic range ? They just release it … only in dual sensor body, but tech is done, why not in a single sensor on classic cam body?

A Super35 RGBW 8K sensor with 2.9 micron photosite pitch or larger pitch if it’s full-frame.

… a single 8k sensor camera with 16 stop of dynamic range ? They just release it … only in dual sensor body, but tech is done, why not in a single sensor on classic cam body?

A Super35 RGBW 8K sensor with 2.9 micron photosite pitch or larger pitch if it’s full-frame.

To me it’s ok, I point to WRGB sensor in a pocket (Blackmagic Design) format


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