bmcc – EOSHD.com – Filmmaking Gear and Camera Reviews

Rodney Charters ASC on shooting Blackmagic and my thoughts on the new URSA Mini 4.6K

January 13, 2016 by Andrew Reid (EOSHD)

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/112820539[/vimeo]

[pullquote]Comment on the forum[/pullquote]

Here’s Rodney Charters (DoP, 24) musing on his use of the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera as a POV B-camera to the Alexa.

(The Pocket has also recently been used separately on Warner Bros motion picture American Sniper).

Meanwhile the new Blackmagic URSA Mini 4.6K has begun to find its way into the hands of DPs with beta firmware. Daniel Peters is the latest to shoot a mini-project with it which you can see below along with my opinion of where Blackmagic is going with the new camera.

5 underrated cinematic images from “forgotten” cameras

January 5, 2016 by Andrew Reid (EOSHD)

Some of my favourite images are from cinema cameras and DSLRs from which attention has long since drifted elsewhere!

Rest assured some of the older cameras on this list are better than any of the latest and greatest (if not in terms of usability then in terms of having an analogue film-like feel that screams “cinema” and not “digital”).

Here are my top 5.

BMCC variant Speed Booster works on GH3 and GH4 to give 1.28x crop, near full frame

April 30, 2014 by Andrew Reid (EOSHD)

I had hesitated to try this for so long, but finally today a brave EOSHD reader sent me a tweet saying he had fitted his BMCC Speed Booster (with protruding rear-glass) on his GH4. It just goes straight on. First a BIG disclaimer. Speed Booster adapters have adjustable glass which can sit closer or further away from the sensor to fine tune infinity focus. On some adapters this will mean potentially it may clash against the inner housing of the mount and be damaged on a Micro Four Thirds stills camera. Therefore I do not take responsibility for any loss or damage if you try this.

Blackmagic respond to EOSHD about supporting existing cameras – audio levels and histograms on the way!

April 11, 2014 by Andrew Reid (EOSHD)

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/90049558[/vimeo]

Above: Prospect, a short film shot on the 2.5k Blackmagic Cinema Camera

The Blackmagic Cinema Camera was the first foray for the company into the camera market and was announced 2 years ago this month. I know many users were expecting more from firmware updates in the meantime to add basic features and also features promised by Blackmagic themselves. Many were expecting these to be announced this week at NAB. Instead Blackmagic revealed new cameras, one in particular the URSA being packed with new features.

So I asked Blackmagic some tough questions and here are the answers…

Renowned British filmmaker Shane Meadows shoots Jake Bugg music video on Blackmagic Pocket Cinema camera and BMCC

December 19, 2013 by Andrew Reid (EOSHD)

Above, left: Shane Meadows shoots with the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera

Shane Meadows (Dead Man’s Shoes, This Is England) is in my view the best filmmaker since Danny Boyle to come out of the North of England. While shooting his latest film, a Stone Roses documentary “Made of Stone” Meadows met Jake Bugg at a London gig where he was playing as a support act.

Grant Petty reveals origins of Blackmagic cameras (concept was offered to major manufacturers)

December 5, 2013 by Andrew Reid (EOSHD)

Blackmagic CEO Grant Petty has revealed he approached camera manufacturers in 2011 with the idea of producing a DSLR-style model with high dynamic range and increased video quality but was turned down.

“They don’t care about the product. Their only goal is to extract as much from the business as they can. It’s incredibly short-termist, and greedy”.

F0.74 – new Metabones Speed Boosters break boundaries

November 24, 2014December 2, 2013 by Andrew Reid (EOSHD)

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/80752459[/vimeo]

Today Metabones release two new Speed Boosters for Blackmagic shooters.

I’ve been using some demo samples for this special review and I’m absolutely stunned.

Metabones and Caldwell Optics have given us a Zeiss / Kubrick / NASA special! These adapters are completely new and purpose designed to fit only the Blackmagic cameras. Offering super bright apertures as fast as F0.74 and finally some great wide angle possibilities, I put both new adapters through their paces…

Blackmagic fix black holes and white orbs with new firmware and sensor calibration

September 15, 2013 by Andrew Reid (EOSHD)

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/74286078[/vimeo]

After a very limited initial release, the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera is slated for an end of September ship date in greater quantity. The good news is that the extra time has given Blackmagic some leeway to tweak the camera.