For $1295 the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is completely nuts

Revealed at NAB 2018, the new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is here. It’s much better than anyone expected. It appears to use a similar Micro Four Thirds sensor to the Panasonic GH5S and record 4K RAW internally to CFast 2.0 or UHS-II SD card. On top of that it sports an absolutely huge 5″ 1080p touchscreen, ProRes recording, Dual Native ISO, 13 stop HDR, 120fps slow-mo, USB C, Mini XLR and even 3D LUT support in-camera.

Read moreFor $1295 the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is completely nuts

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

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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.

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

Metabones Speed Booster for Canon EF to Micro Four Thirds Mount – Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Edition

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Along with Philip Bloom and James Miller I have been testing a beta of the first Micro Four Thirds mount Smart EF adapter with Speed Booster from Metabones. Now the final version is available and it will start shipping end of June for $659 at the Metabones site. This version to be released imminently is designed ONLY to fit the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera.

This has the lovely 0.58x glass which turns the 3x crop Blackmagic sensor into a much nicer 1.74x crop, approaching the Super 35mm standard size for cinema.

James has shot some rather lovely footage with it. Do check that out at Philip’s evil rival site to mine 🙂

Read moreMetabones Speed Booster for Canon EF to Micro Four Thirds Mount – Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Edition

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

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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…

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

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

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.

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

2013 – 10 things which have impressed me – and some that haven’t!

Psst… I’m having an end of year clear out

Where would we be without the end of the year and the impending doom that is Christmas? Enjoying summer? Revelling in the most fruitful year for filmmakers and camera geeks on record? I’d much rather 2013 just carried on!

Alas the year is starting to wind down now for the Holidays and this seems like a good moment to look back at the most amazing (and not so amazing) events of 2013…

Read more2013 – 10 things which have impressed me – and some that haven’t!

F0.74 – new Metabones Speed Boosters break boundaries

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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…

Read moreF0.74 – new Metabones Speed Boosters break boundaries

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Review – Part 1 – Worth the hype?

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“The Pocket” is a polarising camera. It’s as tempting to rave about the camera as it is to criticise it for obvious shortcomings.

However – bottom line is that this is an extraordinary tool. It is 90% of what I loved about the Blackmagic Cinema Camera without the bulk and strange form factor. In my mind it replaces the Panasonic GH2 as the cult favourite of prosumer video because it has an absolutely beautiful film like output and a very accessible price.

Read moreBlackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Review – Part 1 – Worth the hype?