I make NO claims to being a DP - just a hobbyist.
I've had my pocket camera for a couple weeks, but haven't had much of a chance to shoot until last week. With a fall bike vacation, I'd expected to shoot aspen trees changing colors - a beautiful site and a serious test for subtle color changes, detail, contrast, and compression.
Fortunately I had no official assignment and no deadline, so the 'rookie' mistakes I haven't made in years didn't cost me anything but pride:
-I didn't pay much attention to 'approved' SDXC cards- since almost everything I've stuck in my BMCC has worked perfectly. However, my PNY 'Pro Elite X' only writes 35mbs. So, 1 shot in 3 has dropped frames. Fair warning.
-Before throwing my bmpcc into my backpack, I had only filmed night exterior. It didn't occur to me that I'd need an ND for daylight! 200iso and 90-degree shutter doesn't really test the 'real' dynamic range of the sensor, but it helped me from over-exposing, at least for ProRes. Since the 90-degree shutter is electronic and not a real shutter, it looks even more strange, at least to me.
-The display is VERY hard to see in daylight - consequently it's only really good for framing. Not unique to this camera- just something to keep in mind. I didn't realize I was filming the entire first day of my 'mini-doc' in TIME LAPSE mode! So, nothing from that day.
-The camera burns through batteries FAST, about 20-25 min when OIS is on, a few more when it's not, so you need a LOT of batteries. And… be sure to put the DEAD ones on the charger, and the charged ones in your backpack. Not the other way around. So, no footage from THAT day.
-Even with 'Mega OIS,' the camera is SO light, it's almost useless hand-held - even on the wide end of the 14-45. The OIS and jello-cam also make it difficult to stabilize in Resolve, too. I'm not sure I'll keep the OIS on much. I'll probably also add the 8mm to my kit. So, no useable footage shot POV from my bicycle.
Fortunately, on the LAST day of vacation, something very strange (for October 3rd) happened - even for the Rockies - and it made for interesting pictures.
Threw this together very quickly, so not really interested in creative or editorial comments. Posting it more just to give another look at what this little camera can (and can't?) do. I've also included a few of the bike shots just to illustrate the beauty of the season (and the problem with hand-holding a small and light camera with no rig of any kind.)
Quick grade in Resolve. The lens does not appear to vignette at all- that's added in resolve on just one shot. Also, without ND, it's pretty easy to over-expose in these conditions. The chroma seems to block up in places- even in ProRes- which I attribute to over exposure. And, of course, just like any sensor, once it's clipped, it's gone. (Vimeo and H264 no doubt finished destroying the subtle color and fine detail in the leaves.)
Thanks for watching- the 'black and white and yellow' is NOT an effect - that's nature!
https://vimeo.com/secrethq/review/76366866/7a0fe6dfd4OR
vimeo.com/76366866
One other note for BMPCC users - the display screen can be permanently scratched more easily than the one on the BMCC- so if you're literally going to shove it in your pocket (or backpack) be sure to put it in a little cloth bag or something - or stick on a screen protector.