Lensrentals have revealed rental sales data for 2021, as summarised by Yossy Mendelovich of the excellent YMCinema here.
You can see extensive charts from Lensrentals here for 2020 and 2021 which reveal what gear has been successful, and what’s missing from the top 20.
However there’s more to this data than meets the eye!
Read moreCamera rental trends – Smaller cameras, larger sensors, dominant start for Canon RF
For a long time the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Cameras have been a barebones experience to shoot with. Great codec and image quality but a lack of important other features (and not great build quality). Well Blackmagic has stepped up and beaten the mirrorless cameras to build-in ND filters. Yes in 2021 it’s finally happened! Well done camera industry. They have added a hinge to the screen as well. For an extra $500 you can get an EVF which slots on top. The battery also gets an upgrade from a smaller Canon LP-E6 to Sony NP-F570.
However one thing I find puzzling about the Pocket 6K Pro is the lens mount.
IndieGoGo Campaign for the AFX module
CDA-TEK / AFX official topic on the EOSHD Forum (ask us questions, and give feedback!)
The CDA-TEK AFX module is capable of autofocus in pitch black dark conditions and in low light so extreme, even Dual Pixel AF doesn’t work. In this Q&A with the creator, we bring you a deeper look at the technology and how the AFX module is designed to be used by filmmakers.
The AFX IndieGoGo page is now live. For the pricing and shipping details please check it out here
You may remember last year, my friend CDA-TEK had developed a wireless focus control module and LIDAR autofocus unit for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Cameras. This product has now been fully realised and is available to purchase on IndieGoGo.
A major addition is that it now works with any camera, and any lens, thanks to Tilta Nucleus motor drive capability.
I have information that Blackmagic is working on a full frame camera. There is an announcement tomorrow, July 16th of new camera developments. Take this rumour with a pinch of salt but two and two together and stranger things have happened.
Read moreRumour: Blackmagic Pocket 6K Pro with full frame sensor may be announced
The Pocket Bluetooth Controller started off as a simple remote control start-stop trigger but is now so much more. Orders start today on the crowdfunding campaign here. I had a hands-on with it in Manchester today.
Read moreHands-on with the £47 Blackmagic Pocket Bluetooth Controller
Soon CDA-TEK will be taking pre-orders for their Pocket Cinema Camera 4K bluetooth pocket controller. It acts as a wireless interface “hub” as well, not just a way to quickly access camera settings without diving into any menus. The hub allows wireless follow focus control of most lenses on the camera, when paired with a Tilta Nucleus, for example.
Read morePBC Pocket Controller for Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
I bought the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K recently and decided to take it on a shoot at Monza, to film last weekend’s Formula One race and famous old banking (where sequences for 1966’s John Frankenheimer film Grand Prix were shot). I also had a few stills cameras with me including the Canon EOS RP, and considerably more capable Fuji X-T30 and Samsung’s famous last camera, the NX1, the only good one they ever made. These are super-fast small bodies for travelling light and the NX1 in particular with it’s stunning 4K quality turned out to be perfect for sports photography with the 15fps continuous shooting rate.