Tyson Preyer wrote:Figuring our how to make the BMPCC work in situations other than a locked down “narrative” mode is a real education. I’d go as far as to say that cutting your teeth on a BMPCC (or BMCC) is probably the best modern day equivalent to the old standard 16mm film camera you’d learn on in film school. Nothing is done for you, and everything requires thought. From multiple crop ratios and flange depths, to learning about a library of potential lenses (new and old), to solving your own unique stabilization issues, managing large amounts of raw data (or the space hungry “thick negative” that ProRes offers), along with power management— and with it better time management. And the learning it took to color or “develop” the footage you shot to get the look you want made you go beyond the traditional skills required of a camera operator. Oh, and manual focusing, that is a skill worth developing.
I appreciate Blackmagic’s original cameras for what they (often paninfully) required me to learn. I don’t flinch now when a video camera doesn’t have “amazing AF,” or a sensor size I’m not used to, or “short” battery life. Haha. And even with the more expensive 4K cameras I own, I still feel like the best images come from my BMPCC in 12-bit raw. I believe 2K (or 1080p) will be a relevant resolution for a long time, so I have no plans to sell my BMPCC’s. I’m excited for the new 4K Pocket, absolutely, but the original is still an incredible tool Inwant in my bag.
this is why I fell in love with the BMPCC and BMD in general. While everyone else served nice silver plates with tons of sugar glaze on the otherwise bland dish, BMD was able to serve a nice home cooked meal on a simple plate; something you have to taste to find out why.
People kept on looking for this, for that, and all other glittery stuff, but BMD stepped right and just said, no you don't need those marketing ********, these are the only stuff you'll ever need; AND THEY ARE SPOT ON; surely there are some quirks here and there but they listen! (another trait i love about BMD by the way, they grow with their users, and they listen to them).
That BMPCC with its "just" 1080p resolution became the perfect teaching device for me. Learned from it, now that I can take in bigger jobs, sometimes use Arri cameras, that little camera can still step up and work with the big boys. it is that good of camera, sadly not everyone saw it as how most of us see it, but i'm glad I did. I am very thankful for Blackmagic Design.
I'm excited for Monday. (Now you don't hear that often do you? HAHA)