Andrew Reid

  Skill or no skill it doesn't make sense to use something that doesn't perform. Indeed, the more skilful and ambitious you are the more you don't want your effort sullied by a sub-par image.   To ignore the the fact your tool gives you a certain feel, isn't right - so pick your paintbrush wisely, no matter how subtle the effect. It's a not all about the spec sheet true, it's a mixture of both - i.e. what JG describes with his trusty 600D and working the image, and the cinema prowess a better camera can offer, and the choice of lens mount is important too.     It's essential to choose the right camera ergonomically as well... depending on the kind of shoot.

Still going to be released. But it's a kind of done when it's done type thing. I'm not going to put something half-baked out.

  You don't have to look very far. vimeo.com/channels/eoshd/videos

Don't know about you but I'd be pretty pissed off if my masterpiece looked like crap.

This article mainly deals with the X100S from a photographic perspective. Video is coming in the full review next week. The old X100 was fatally flawed in my view. Manual focus with a massive lag between moving the focus ring and the clunky focus stepping itself. Very sluggish AF and a long minimum focus distance. We're not talking macro here but just basic portrait stuff. Entering macro mode for portraits or even not particular close close-ups was a hassle. All this and more is fixed on the X100S, which is a major upgrade that totally belies the similar external appearance. [url=http://www.eoshd.com/content/11271/fuji-x100-first-look-hipster-camera-got-real]Read the full article here[/url]

  Very well said. Thanks

Calin, see if firmware version 1.4.2 makes a difference and report back. Cheers

http://vimeo.com/75728395 "The Pocket" is a polarising camera. It's as tempting to rave about the camera as it is to criticise it for obvious shortcomings. However - bottom line is that this is an extraordinary tool. It is 90% of what I loved about the Blackmagic Cinema Camera without the bulk and strange form factor. In my mind it replaces the Panasonic GH2 as the cult favourite of prosumer video because it has an absolutely beautiful film like output and a very accessible price. Read the full article here

As Cantsin's footage shows it really is a brilliant image for $999.   Part 1 of the review will be here Monday.

Equally, people shot with Super 8 cameras in a similar way. Pistol grip and nothing else.   It's a style. If one does not like it, get a tripod or a shoulder rig with EVF.   The beauty of the Pocket is that it's small whilst the BMCC is rather chunky and heavy. You can't run & gun with the BMCC as easily as you can with the Pocket. That's why they wanted to get those 13 stops into a smaller camera, to give us the other style of filmmaking and another application for the technology.   If only the Japanese were as imaginative about applying their technology to the creative world.

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema camera is a wake-up call to the bigger manufacturers and their afterthought video modes. [url=http://www.eoshd.com/content/11256/open-letter-japanese-manufacturers-regarding-enthusiast-video-market-improve-lose]Read the full article here[/url]

Mark, yet again you're dominating a topic with your ill conceived views. Try giving it a rest mate. Feel free to move on and talk about something more interesting.

The GH3's battery is not 9x the weight and size of the EN-EL20.

  Like I said, it's highly unlikely that A) the cell is actually 1800mAh or B - the cell is of equal quality to the factory Nikon battery.   These batteries have been opened up and the markings on the cell is often lower than the marking on the case, which points to the cheap high capacity stuff being a bit of a marketing scam.

Size doesn't have to hurt battery duration.   The Nikon V1 has a huge D800 battery in it yet is as small as the Pocket camera.   Blackmagic need to use a less power hungry LCD panel and a better quality battery. The processor and sensor are likely pretty hungry, but at the moment that's a necessary trade off for the low price and high image quality.   I think at least choosing a battery from the DSLR world that would have allowed the attachment of a battery grip would have helped us all out a great deal. GH3 battery and grip would have been perfect for this camera. I have no idea why they went for the Nikon J1's crappy battery.

  That's not the Pocket camera philosophy at all actually. Why do you think it is small? So you can go adding bricks to it? I don't think so. Maybe you'd be better of with the BMCC.

  Because I ordered ahead of you.   I suggest you read this also -    http://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13147   In particular from the user MMedia -   Im not a blogger or reviewer etc, just an unknown and i received my camera start of September from CVP From the documents in the box it looks like i was #6 (006) I ordered within the first few minutes the online link went live at the higher price of £839? This was reduced to £798 the next day, which is what i paid.  I ordered another on 29/4 still in the que for that one.   I waited a full month whilst normal people in the queue had theirs delivered.   I have paid, and I have waited. I suggest you do the same.   CVP don't need to bump any "VIPs" up the order list as they have a demo camera to send to reviewers.   Also I don't want to see this otherwise friendly and productive thread go off topic Alan. You need to go on topic, or go off the boards. I know you are frustrated about the delays, I am as well, but that's no reason to attack.   I might even do you a favour by reviewing the camera, so you can make a more informed decision on whether to go ahead and keep your order open or not. So far so good but it has some very irritating bugs.

Nice group Lee.   BTW I'd be wary of the 1800mAh batteries.   People have opened the higher than normal rated batteries up for other systems like OM-D E-M5 only to find bog standard cells inside rated for lower capacities.   Seems like some producers in China can put whatever figure they like on the casing to gain higher sales, and even if it is 1800, it's unlikely the quality of the cell will give you much more power than the standard Nikon 1020mAh genuine battery.

  On the Sony EX3 that battery is held in the battery compartment. How would you rig it to the Pocket camera?   If the EX3 d-tap power socket matches the spec of the BMPCC 12v socket physically I don't see any reason why the battery wouldn't work.   But we really need something more bespoke for the camera.

Caption: I was expecting raw meat but I got crappy a ProRes sausage instead!

My caption: "Who bumped that bastard up the queue at CVP!? Woof!!"   (This by the way is a joke... For the humourless ones)

My point about batteries is that they might be able to run it off a 3.6v cell. But yeah, it's speculation until they give us an answer.   Nikon V1 has a larger 1800mAh 7.2v cell, same as D800, which is practically the same size as the BMPCC's grip.   They'd have to move the USB socket and SD card slot out of the way though.   So maybe not a simple change to address the battery life after all.   I really like the camera so far. OIS works superbly on the 14-140mm Mark II even at 140mm. Nice shallow DOF at longer focal lengths, reasonably wide at 14mm. Dream Pocket lens?

Caption competition...  

Camera supplied by CVP who came through and fulfilled my pre-order from NAB in early April. Personal note: I was saddened to learn of the death of CEO Phil Baxter earlier this month and in Phil's memory a fund has been set up which will donate a pot of cash to the Make A Wish Foundation UK charity. This charity helps fund memorable experiences for young people fighting life threatening illnesses. Donate here even just a small amount helps those kids. The Blackmagic Pocket Camera is finally at EOSHD HQ, and comes from one of the first new batches to ship since the white orb sensor calibration issue was resolved. Have they fixed it? Let's not get too caught up in things like that for the moment. For me this camera is all about the lenses. I've been a Micro Four Thirds shooter since day one with the G1 back in 2008. This was the first camera to tempt me away from Canon and over the last 5 years I've been building a rather ridiculously obsessive collection of Micro Four Thirds glass for my GH1, GH2 and lately the GH3, as well as c-mount glass. The best c-mount glass is mainly vintage Super 16mm from the 60's and 70's. Classics like the Kern Switar 26mm F1.1 for instance, which an ex-BBC cinematographer once described to me as being "made by spacemen" such was the performance before the technological era of computer assisted optics design.   [url=http://www.eoshd.com/content/11233/blackmagic-pocket-cinema-camera-first-impressions]Read the full article here[/url]

[media]http://vimeo.com/75260457[/media] Here's a new technique executed to perfection... Amazingly what you see isn't CGI added to the scene in post but a live set of visuals. The technique uses robotics, motion control and projection, all filmed in-camera. [url=http://www.eoshd.com/content/11220/robot-dolly-projection-mapping-magic]Read the full article here[/url]