Oliver Daniel

These forums are like a warzone sometimes. Poor D.L Watson for sharing his work on the GH3, I don't see anyone else coughing up and showing their jpeg-like masterpiece eh?    I think D.L should go out and make a Zack Snyder inspired masterpiece with an iPhone 5s, like of some ninjas chopping up mangos or something and grade it in Resolve while hanging upside down. Or you could get a raw camera, sit on a bench and get a really shallow focus shot of a leaf.    Oh, and the 7D footage sucks a bit. Doesn't matter though. It's a Grandpa now in camera years. 

These are very attractive cameras, they have a lot going for them.   On video terms however, AVCHD is a bit of an annoying codec. Deal breaker. Next move.... Mr. Camera Company...

  Spill the beans then.... a bit of spillage won't hurt will it? 

Funny that people are complaining that their cameras have a bolted on video feature which they don't have to use.   The world has gone mad for the 9,043,345,546,987,321,3456th time! 

    So its definately been more than 2- 3 weeks..... spill!!!

  Note my sarcasm.... ;)

  I think you summed your post up with the word amateur Because the 5D is a perfect camera for amateur filmmakers who want to play with professional equipment and don't need to worry if it all goes tits up. But please don't sex up the camera Fanboys are so tiresome.       Well yes that sums it up. The BMCC isn't made for 'amateurs'. Neither is the 5D3 for that matter, especially if you consider it a raw shooting camera.   Don't waste time arguing on this. Just shoot with the camera you have and be happy with it.  No camera is any good without content to actually shoot. Make content. Be happier. Then be really happy when you can shoot with an Epic, because you made content before that rocked!    It's so much more impressive when someone says 'Wow! You shot THAT on an iPhone! Killer!!' compared to 'So that's what the Epic can do. Beautiful footage.'   The iPhone user was very happy when shooting his content. The Epic user is a seasoned professional. Both are the same person. Both, very very happy. 

Buy a GoPro instead. That does 4k at 15FPS. Available right now. Someone said it looks better than the RED Epic with Dragon sensor  ;)

CVP says 30/11/2013

EOSHD is right. What a time wasting argument.    Some of us come on forums like this to learn, and discussions like this just makes that process damn confusing.   Wrong information should be deleted.

Nothing beats getting the features straight out the box. Thats why I have a GH3 - not much messing around with a lack of features or hacks.    Blackmagic cameras are unfinished. Raw on 5D requires hacking, which I cant trust for a pro project. I just want my cameras working flawlessly without hacks, with decent features, straight out the box.   Panasonic and Olympus (I expect) are definitely ones to watch for video innovation. As for Canon, they are trickling out features because they want to make loads of money. Filmmakers are a tiny part of their target market in DSLRs.   I've personally put Canon on the backburner. I would love Panasonic to release a high end GH camera with 10bit ProRes and 120FPS. Anything on top would be a bonus! 

  I think you missed my point.    Very well done to Andrew for his blog. Its a decent source of information.    I'm sure the majority of us get on with it, enjoy the new advancements in technology and how that will help utilise our creativity. But there is a minority who don't really grasp that just because they can't shoot in say, raw, because their camera is 'shitty' h264, that they can't make a film.    My point is, don't hold back - because if you do, you may do forever and never be happy with what you have.   Just be happy - shoot your films - and keep doing so, whatever you have. Just do it. Now. 

With all this talk, I shot a series of very-very mini shorts on my iPhone and loved it. They were graded using apps, but remained unedited. I tried out some quirky ideas for the shots to get something interesting going.   I showed a few family and friends who loved them. The fact it was shot on the iPhone actually enhanced their experience...'you did that on an iPhone? Thats so cool!'    The general public don't care what you shot it on really, they are just looking for entertainment and something captivating. You let things like camera specs get in the way, then your filmmaking career should I say, I'm afraid you might as well forget it. 

I'm currently editing a music video with the BMPCC. I had some major concerns about the camera when using it on the shoot, but the image quality really is pretty fantastic. I shot another music video then with the BMCC, again, fantastic image. Very similar. Went back to my GH3 after the shoot, and although the image off the BMPCC is much more lovely, It didnt stop me liking my GH3 any less. Its just great to have the options for the right shoot.

@ScreensPro does have a very valid point.    I stand by something I always say. The really creative guy with his iPhone 5 will make a better film than the guy who is a whizz on the RED Epic but has very little in creative ideas.    @EOSHD has a very valid point.    If you have access to a camera with better specs, its worth your time making your masterpiece with that. Image quality is a massive asset.    @BurnetRhoades -  I'm not too sure.   In the right hands, the GH3 is a very capable camera that can deliver fantastic images close to cameras priced 6 x its value. To just sideline the camera for its supposed inferiority is perplexing seen as its predecessor shot the cinematically released Upstream Colour with great results. Just shows its the hands and the brains rather than the sensor and specs.    I understand this is mostly a technical forum, but its a shame that we see a huge lack in discussing the craft of filmmaking rather than how many mbps camera 1 shoots compared to camera 2 on forums.     The camera is one piece of a jigsaw. The craft and creativity is everything else.  ;)

I wish we could have a modular camera system, where we could essentially tailor the camera features for ourself by purchasing options (frame rates, codecs, etc) to attach or upload to a starter-body.   This will never happen of course.

I've used the Wooden cage, and it's crap. Only my opinion like. You might like it.

This is clever marketing by Blackmagic. My belief is that they have put this image on their website just to show you that the Pocket camera is in fact, a capable, professional cinema camera. If this wasn't a Pocket camera, wouldn't they call it the Blackmagic Lite? The Blackmagic Mini? The Blackmagic Pocket name makes you believe you can in fact carry this camera around in your pocket and capture professional cinematic images. This is true. It is your choice entirely if you want to rig this camera up for the long haul, and it is possible of course. But with all this battery life talk, doesn't this suggest., well, this thing is Pocket after all? Get out there, grab a few shots on the London Eye to match my BMCC footage? Lets read the title again... Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. A cinema camera that can fit in your pocket. It's true isn't it? If not, what the hell is it? What were the marketing department thinking? It's no way a Pocket camera! My lenses are huge and my battery pack is bigger than my head. My point is.... The camera is a Pocket camera, marketed as a potential professional camera. Some of those buying the camera will get excited by the Blackmagic pictures, because they think they are buying into a piece of proper movie gear and they will now make super super movies. Potentially they could be. Blackmagic says they will be. Because they said so. ;)

It's called the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. It is marketed as a Pocket camera with cinematic capabilities. It's like saying the iPad was designed to sit on your desk at home. Imagine having to be forced to use an external battery just to make it what it is - portable. I'm going to the river to play with stones and sticks. It's much fun.

I think its ridiculous to even consider having to put a battery in my pocket that is wired to the camera, just because the actual camera battery is absolute bollocks.    I remember using a camera about 8 years ago where I had a battery belt on to power the camera. It was a nightmare.   Its 2013 now. We now have a (soon to be) raw shooting camera that fits in your pocket. The amazing thing is, aside the awesome technology, the simple stuff such as battery power is light years behind. This needs to be better. It needs to be 2013 better. 

I went in the deep end and shot an entire paid music video with this camera. Then for the first time yesterday, I shot an entire paid music video on the original BMCC. Incredibly different experience using each. I'm a handheld, jump into the action kinda guy. I found operating the BMCC was like holding a ton of bricks (with the VLock on my shoulder). I quickly adapted my method, although I thought back to the BMPCC and its small form factor. It's capabilities and size are a massive attraction, despite my early reservations. Blackmagic are onto something with this. I think this model is the one to watch from their 3 piece camera line. I think Andrew pointed out once he'd love to see a camera that is designed between the ergonomics of the BMCC and the BMPCC, with a better screen. Totally agree.

I heard Panasonic are teaming up Blackmagic to create a MFT 4k raw monster. It will be the first camera that growls when you press record. 

  Thanks for the response on this guys. I enjoyed jghardings posts particulary as we both seem to share common ground where our type of work and tools are of a similar ethic.    There is an undeniable obsession with specs, and that one person could never shoot on anything but raw and the other would like to shoot raw but must shoot h264 - and is happy with the situation.    I'm a firm believer in this analogy: the really creative guy who is full of ideas will shoot a BETTER film on his iPhone than the guy who is a whizz on the Red Epic but lacks any sort of creative ideas.   Sure, if you shoot raw, it could give you power to make it look a hell of a lot better, but it won't make it anymore interesting. This comes with skill and an understanding of your practice and the execution of the whole idea. A 7 year old will likely make a more interesting film of trees, plants and bushes in their back garden than a ex-TV camera man with a BMCC.    Tomorrow, I have the option to shoot in raw. Without a doubt, I'm shooting ProRes. I understand that shooting in raw will give me more room in post and a better image, but at the expense of disappointing other clients by not delivering their projects on time with a lacklustre effort, due to time constraints. This is an expense that will never happen.    Raw is a fantastic tool that you can use when time and budget permits. Just because its available doesn't make constant h264 shooting any less fun, any less creative or fulfilling. If anything, it makes things possible for everybody in allsorts of different ways and tastes. Raw gives you power, h264 gives you convenience. There is no argument as everyone is different and make their own choices.....   Which brings me back to the subject of this post...the BMPCC. It would be suicide for me to use this camera on a bulk of my professional shoots, due to its drawbacks. I don't have the time and resources to overcome these on a constant basis.   As an addition to my camera kit to use for a short film - it would be a great option. Short films are personal and something I cherish most. The image from the BMPCC is enough for me to take my time and workaround the camera to get the best possible results.   That cheesy line from Spider-Man - "With great power comes great responsibility." No matter how cheesy that line is, it applies to everything.   Don't get carried away with power. Be responsible. Just do your best. 

  Well shockingly, I have done several shoots with the GH3 where one battery has lasted the entire shoot for 8 hours. Granted I turn he camera off between takes when I can. I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true!  ;) Its actually 'ridiculous' that it is capable of doing this. The battery life is a beast on the GH3!!   I fully understand the level of codec on the GH3. Although it isn't as good as the Blackmagic in terms of quality, its still very robust. Upto 72Mbps (I shoot 50Mbps) and actually grades well. Also it records 60fps. It suits my line of work due to memory capacity, features and speed. I shoot and edit on average around 8 music videos per month (all footage is stored for a year) at a professional level, so as quality is of the essence, so is speed and affordable storage.   For projects that need it, I would always choose the most suitable camera possible for the given budget. This one happened to be a chance to use the 10 bit codec of the Pocket camera. It was a lovely little camera, yet I have every right to voice my opinion about anything I found lacking in the camera.... as this was for my own practical experience compared to what I've been used to before. A lot of the drawbacks are definitely worth anybody to take notice of.   For very personal projects which I could finesse over my own amount of time, I would definitely use the Pocket, most likely with its bigger brother, in raw. These projects mean the most and can take advantage of this powerful technology. I would never use a GH3 or similar with a more suitable camera available, yet if the Gh3 was the best I could get hands on, I would never hesitate. 

Thanks for your write-up maxotics, I agree with what you say there. My experience of the Pocket Camera comes from the view of a person (in this case, myself) who is used to working with cameras such as the GH3, FS700, 5D3 (not raw)... All camera with H264 codecs and all the usual features. It's an eye opener for anybody going for a transition to Blackmagic or is intending adding the camera to their arsenal. It's a completely different kettle of fish. As its aimed at the DSLR user, its by no means a 'replacement' for your current camera. Sounds obvious I know. I think the Pocket is a great camera. You just have to be prepared for it. For professional use, it has great potential - just as long as you know how to workaround its quirks. It reminds me of when DSLRs started a revolution. You had this stills camera that captured nice video but had many drawbacks from using it professionally. Didn't last long, we put up with it, figured it out and were thankful and inspired by the technology. The Pocket is the same. Spoil it rotten , solve its flaws and cuddle it before bed time. I've always been curious about these Blackmagic cameras. It's a good start for them.