Lee Mullen

Trying to stay calm in the face of bullshit like this is very difficult.

I'd rather they create a camera and deliver it on time!

I emailed B&H today asking about the status of the Pocket camera and where I was in the pre-order line. Here's the exact email:
 
 
Here is their response (my emphasis):
 
 
Disappointing, to say the least. I agree that if they are late again, they will be nothing short of a laughingstock in my mind. It's completely unacceptable. I think we were all very surprised to hear them announce a July shipping date in the first place, but we figured, well, they must be very serious this time, surely they wouldn't allow themselves to even come close to repeating the debacle of the BMCC?
 
Short of a very thorough and apologetic explanation, failing to ship in July will just make it look like they have a corporate policy of deception and enjoy lying through their teeth to their customers, especially since that they were (at least publicly) so sure it would be shipping in July less than a month ago. 
 
Meanwhile, I am hearing that samples that have been sent out to John Brawley and the New Zealand guy above do not even have RAW functionality yet, and that this may be coming in a "future firmware upgrade." If they end up shipping the camera without RAW recording ability, I will be even more shocked and angry than if it ships late. I put $1000 down for this camera for its RAW ability, as nice as the ProRes footage may be, and failing to ship with such a significant advertised feature will be nothing short of false advertising.

2nd year running! Completely unacceptable.
 
Blackmagic are risking serious reputation damage with this.

You're right about judging the BM team too early. I must admit I'm a bit irritated that their website says that the Pocket will record raw where they say in interviews that this has not been tested yet and that it may come in a future firmware update, etc.
Now, this is fresh news from Digital Bolex : http://www.digitalbolex.com/getting_ready/
Basically, they're about to ship their first batch.
I don't want to start at BMPocket vs Digital Bolex D16 thread, as I think they are different tools anyway. But it's good to see the D16 being almost ready for assembling where some people have been talking of "vapourware".

I find it unethical and a lack of respect to tell people "we'll deliver for sure at that date" and then leave customers in the void. I don't understand potential customers saying "yeah, but for what they offer, I'm OK to wait 6+ months". Is the concept of telling the truth that outdated?

Maybe so, but doesn't really come anywhere close to being comparable to a RAW video camera.

It is mid-July and the new Blackmagic cameras - Pocket Cinema Camera and Production 4K Camera are due to ship imminently, which I am very much looking forward to. In anticipation I have been building up a collection of Super 16mm c-mount glass for my Pocket Cinema Camera.

However in my inbox today was a frustrated sounding email from London's CVP titled 'When will I get my Blackmagic Cinema Camera? As last July, Blackmagic are unable to tell them when they will receive camera shipments and in what quantities.

[url=http://www.eoshd.com/content/10792/biggest-european-dealer-cvp-in-the-dark-over-new-blackmagic-cameras]Read the full article here[/url]

If ever somebody had good intentions, it's Blackmagic. 
 
B&H has an arrival date in bold red:  "Expected availability July 25, 2013"...  <_<
Though I'm sure that number could be anything from 1 to whatever...  Blackmagic is doing an event that day as well however, where they'll have all the cameras, actual "footage"  (4k footage anyone?), various cinematographers, etc.  on display... 
 
Sounds like CVP are nipping negativity in the bud now and who can blame them.

My first attempt. (be kind please)
 
https://vimeo.com/70460237

...and Philip Bloom. Totally overrated.

Who cares what Vincent Laforet thinks? What matters is what you think. May I ask, why do so many websites put Vincent Laforet on a pedestal? Why? Just curious, I'm not meaning for that to sound negative.