Oliver Daniel

I think people should be aware of this brand more. The Mini version loos absolutely awesome and the image from the previous cameras is beautiful. Seems much more attractive than any Blackmagic camera, regardless of the higher cost. Different mount options, slo mo 100fps, nice design. Can these cameras shoot in ProRes or do you need some software/a recorder to transcode the raw after?

Nice review thanks. I've been very curious about this camera having used their previous cameras on professional shoots. You are right in what you say - this camera is not for everyone and only really for a studio/location based set with a crew and rig. And the data rates, oh my! I like the image but definitely won't be purchasing one, and I like what Blackmagic are doing but the cameras do feel like prototypes. Many people are getting excited about the price but forgetting that data, accessories, and your precious time will eat you up. And poo you back out. Its a bright future for them, but they MUST get these drawbacks right, even if the price increases. In this market, I see the GH4 and the KineMini 4k much more attractive options. Keep going BMD, hope you surprise us again!

What a beast. I hope Panasonic are working on something between the GH4 and Varicam though! Likely?

Hi Michael, you do make a fair point. My topic post is actually hypocritical, as it may start a debate, and thrive, (or not) like you say. The point of the post is not everyone understands it like you do, it's either one or the other. ;)

In my experience of browsing these forums and others for information.... everyday I come across a battle between fellow posters that Content Is King vs Oh My God This Camera Will Make Me Spielberg, and other similar variations. Its bugs me, as I'm trying to find information about a specific subject and not walk into a debate... just because someone has dribbled over a new technology and someone else says 'focus on your content.' So i thought I'd start a new thread, and knock this on the head. My opinion is.... that there is really no fundamental argument, that everything goes together and that each specific person should be able to focus on their own creative needs rather than being slated by people they don't really know. It is true, ideas are the most important aspect of filmmaking. Without them, you have nothing to paint. You could be an expert (Mr. Arri) on an Arri Alexa yet have no ideas to film of your own. The guy with his smartphone (Mr. Smart) could have an amazing idea and something really interesting to show, yet the smartphone quality has poor dynamic range and is really noisy in the blacks, hampering the final quality. Then we have Mr. Talent, who decides to shoot a video on a kids toy camera and pulls off an amazing video, as he understand the camera limitations and designs an idea to get the best out of his gear (as he is super skilled and talented and awesome). We then have Mr. Wannabe who has took out a loan for a Red Epic, thinking he will become the next Roger Deakins. But Mr. Wannabe has unoriginal ideas, amateur skill and needs a lot of practice. He should of got a Nikon D5300 and bought lenses too. Then we have Mr. Master.... who has just won an Oscar for cinematography, shooting on the Alexa and credited on a production crew of 1000 expert professionals My point is... you could go on forever.....there are so many different types of people with strengths and weaknesses.....so why is this debate so large on the internet? My conclusion..... your content is all based on you and your decisions. Your idea, your learning and practice, the gear you select, the subject you put in front of the camera, the crew you have selected, the location you have chosen to shoot in...and everything else. Everything is the content. As some of us maybe imaginatively gifted, or we maybe scientifically gifted, or technically gifted... maybe all of those, but many of us are much stronger in some areas than others. And that will dictate the work you do and choices you make....your content as such. As an active creative person who makes videos for a living, I would say my strengths are in the ideas and imagination, but I'm also technically comfortable too. Not very scientific at all. I believe in ideas, but I get excited by new technology as there are more tools, better tools to bring these ideas to life. Some people spend everyday making amazing content. Others are happy to pixel peep their 4k footage of a tree. Whatever eh? Its your own needs, and not anyone else's. Lets give it a rest I say.

Refreshing to have a non-gear/tech topic! In no particular order: Edward Scissorhands Goodfellas Requiem For A Dream Trainspotting American Beauty Robocop (1987) Ghostbusters Oldboy (Korean version) Rain Man The Matrix

At the moment, I see 4k very much as a tool for post work or future proofing stock footage. Instead of more resolution, it should be more dynamic range....but the TV manufacturers can only really sell new sets on improved resolution (and gimmicks such as 3D or internet connectivity). I think dynamic range will be adopted at some point as a major selling point for cameras, which they will call..ahem, Movie HDR. "My camera shoots movies in HDR!" Say what? As for the topic, the Nikon D4s, yawn. Who cares? Better stuff out there. Consumers don't care either way, the makority are happy with SD and pixel-pooping buffering, jolting movies.

A large majority of consumers are happy to play and watch poor quality streamed films/movies/TV, and still be thoroughly entertained, regardless.

Just been doing more research and finding yet more conflicting information regarding the 10 bit 4:2:2 with a recorder, such as the new Ninja Blade from Atomos. I'm aware of this downsampling thing and its a bit up in the air, but I'm more interested in getting this in ProRes on a recorder. 1. Some sources I've read say that the image can only be played back in 10 bit 4:2:2? 2. Some sources say you can record in 10 bit 4:4:2 to an external recorder but this isn't true 10 bit 4:2:2? 3. Many sources say exactly what this site says, that the TRUE 10 bit 4:2:2 can indeed be recorded straight to the external! I would say 3 is correct from what I've read on different sites, but just want to have this ABSOLUTELY confirmed (so I know where to put my pennies.)

The GH2 does 4:2:2 in 10 bit 1080p to the Ninja? Or do you mean the GH4?

Yep, the low light does suck on this camera. Great image though, if only it had the DR and low light of the Pocket. I think the GH4 is much more suited to me as an all round 4k camera (stills, low light, slo mo, form factor, lenses etc), although its positive to have the Blackmagic option too for the odd thing here and there. I really do think Blackmagic will have another surprise this year with another camera. Either an external device to open up more possibilities with the original BMCC or a completely new camera that would be more a hybrid of the BMCC and Pocket, with higher frame rates. Maybe.

What a tiresome thread and a complete waste of time from all involved, full of trolling and no constructive criticism. I think The BMPC seems like a great tool, although the apparent poor performance in low light is a little teeny bit off-putting. Doesn't matter, I have plenty of lights just in case, if I ever use this camera for anything. Has anybody come across any other shoots with the BMPC?

Thanks. In that case, I will give you half of my work if you want. As I'm going to die. ;)

I make about 2 music videos a week for a wide spectrum of artists, very different in scope, size and creativity, so I completely understand where you are coming from there. I believe an imaginative 7 year old can make a more compelling film with a cheap tablet camera then an expert RED Epic user could with their £50,000 package, if they had no interesting ideas of their own. It seems a lot of people on the forum have a very keen interest in pixel-peeping, debating about specs etc - some people enjoy doing that. It is a technical filmmaking forum after all. The users on here range from amateurs to seasoned professionals, I'd like to think there is something for everybody. I consider myself more interested in ideas and creativity then the actual technical aspects (bits, sensors, pixels etc), but it does REALLY help to know this stuff to utilise that creativity to its fullest. Some topics in this forum do go off tangents and get very very in-depth about technical information, these aren't to my taste at a certain level but it is to others. My opinion is that the general user should be excited about new cameras such as the BMPC and the GH4. Because they are at a consumer price point, it means we have access to better imaging tools to make our creative ideas better and more effective. If you have amazing content, great ideas and a capable skillset, it would be far more appropiate to think your new short film will look better on the Pocket Camera than it will on the 550d. With the RED Epic/BM video, the great thing with that is the BMPC holds up in ProRes mode, and the general user of this forum will get excited about that due to the BMPCs accessibility. I haven't got a clue how Andrew Reid of EOSHD makes his money to afford all his gear, maybe from his books? Does it matter? He could have a contract with a large business making corporate videos for all I know. None of my business really. I'm just grateful I can come to this site knowing I'm guaranteed the latest update on cameras I can realistically afford. On Fuzzynormals point, my own view is content isn't king.... ideas are king. But you need the skills and knowledge to make it the best you can ;) Just let whoever pixel-peep, drool over specs and get randy over global shutters. The res of us can read all their knowledge, take it on board and go out to create.

I think the RED Epic looks much better here. (and so it should for the price) The Blackmagic looks too sharp in comparison, and I also saw a purple spot in the highlights? That said, the Blackmagic holds up very well. Unnoticeable difference to the untrained eye.

I forgot to add, thought the trailer was lovely work. Just proves that a skilled person can make their footage shine, whatever the camera.

I have a bunch of FD lenses i use on GH3, such as 28mm f2.8, 50mm f1.4, 55mm f2.8 Macro, 135mm f2.5.... My general feedback is that they are amazing for the price. In skilled hands, the results can be very sharp and organic, none of that electronic nonsense degrading the image. Focus rings are solid and smooth. You will need to use them on a tripod or shoulder rig, or your images will shake like a bitch. Issues I've had, below 50mm, the bokeh on those lenses are a bit crap. Better with an FD Speedbooster. Some purple flare annoyance sometimes. Get the 50mm F1.4. Its really awesome and you could get on for dirt cheap.

I'm not overly impressed with James MIllers Blackmagic video. Thats not to say its a very capable camera, but minus the global shutter, I much prefer the more filmic image of the BMCC and BMPCC.

I agree, DSLR video is far from dead. I think the D5300 looks like a very capable camera for the price and its market, so the negative review is a bit strange. I don't own anything Nikon, and I hope they continue to improve their cameras. Sometimes some of us forget that typical term 'you get what you pay for.' Now, before anybody starts saying how cheap Blackmagic cameras are, they have nothing but the great image. And the C300 is expensive? For its target market, not really. Maybe we should stop complaining that cheap cameras aren't innovative enough, and instead, spend our time making money with our current cameras so we can save up and buy an innovative product that suits us. ;)

The D16 is awesome. It's like that little toy you want to get out and show off, only this toy is full of fantastic features and a gorgeous image. If I had the money spare, I would get a D16 just for the love of the image and use it for projects that need that little bit of extra love. As for the BM4k, it's a great price but the whole basic features/ergonomics still gets to me. I hope this will bring forth the THE Blackmagic camera, as these previous incarnations do feel like 'tests.'

Great questions Hannah and awesome responses so far. I'm in the exact same boat with the GH4. Don't really want the brick as it looks like a pain, but I definitely zest that 10 bit 4k. It definitely looks possible to output the 4k from the HDMI port, but that's only if Panasonic would allow it, as they have to sell the brick too. Which in business sense, looks like Panasonic will force you to buy the brick to get that 10 bit 4k. It's a serious amount of data! I find the 10bit 1080p to a recorder more interesting. Not too fussed it's not internal, even though it's more convenient. If the HDMI port down scales the 4k image to 1080p through the HDMI, would that effectively give you the downscaled 10bit 1080p anyway? (If that is your intention in post?) Regarding the rig for the brick, I find it hard to believe that after all this effort Panasonic have gone to with the GH4, to make the inclusion of the brick a pain in the ass. I would of thought they would be closely working with third parties to make a rig specifically for the camera. The brick does have those mysterious screws. I also have a feeling in my gut that the GH4 has been potentially designed to work with another Panasonic camera. It would be ace if they built a video camera body that included this entire package in one unit. There will be a lot more to find out when the first cinematic footage is released of all the modes, and at NAB. :)

As a GH3 owner, the rumoured specs of this camera seem pretty exciting. I just hope its all true. As for 'content is king', if we change the 'content' to 'ideas' then that would be right. You really do need a great idea, and use the gear to bring it to life. Ideas are more important than the gear itself... its just helps that understanding and using the best gear you can will enhance that idea massively. Not really rocket science. In that respect, I believe the GH4 will help me enhance my filmmaking skills. It won't give me better ideas, but it would make my ideas look better. 4k to 1080p, 10 bit, better DR and the option of HFR. (This is massive as I make loads of videos for rock bands.) Back onto topic, will the GH4 change the industry? I don't think it will. There's a surprise around every corner.

Set to be the most disappointing camera release ever! (likely) ;)

This lens is awesome, but not perfect for video.    You can still get a shallow DOF by zooming in on your subject at closer positions, but you are right about the clinical look. Its too sharp, makes moire pop out and has a video feel to what it captures. Its better for stills or run and gun.    I use loads of FDs and SLR Magic because I like my images to look organic.   Still, the Panasonic is awesome and can be graded to look more organic, certainly. 

  Well the rumour is that the GH4 (supposedly called the AG-GH4)... is an inch thicker than the GH3, hopefully for the inclusion of an ND filter system and some extra juice.    I like the ergonomics of DSLR for video, but its not perfect. The C100/C300 is a lovely camera to hold, so if they get somewhere in between (yet a bit more on the smaller side) the form factor of a DSLR and the C100/C300, then that would be awesome.    Like I've said before, Panasonic have a wide open field to innovate here with this next release and make a serious statement on the design of a hybrid camera. I just want them to release it now so everyone can stop crying and get on with making stuff.