It is time for a quick (just under 20 minutes, sorry) unboxing video of the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. I’ve had the BMPCC 4K for about two weeks now (about a week at the time of filming the video below), I was lucky enough to receive one from the initial batches that were shipped out in the UK; this is my own camera paid for by me, so not a review unit. I have not shot as much footage as I wanted to (due to being really busy with other projects), but I included samples of some footage I shot in the unboxing video below, which also features a menu walkthrough after the unboxing.
Since I filmed this video a week ago, I have shot more BMPCC 4K footage and will upload it as soon as I edit it in the next few days.
Many of you working with the Blackmagic URSA Mini, URSA, or URSA Mini Pro you are probably already familiar with the incredibly simple, useful, and intuitive menu structure and GUI that the latest Blackmagic OS brings to the table, but those like me, who haven’t been exposed to this kind of awesome menu that often, can hopefully get an idea of what to expect once they receive their Pocket Cinema Camera 4K.
I know many of you are waiting for your BMPCC 4K cameras to arrive, and I understand a lot of you have plenty of questions with regards to battery life, CFast cards, SD cards, external SSDs, lenses, adapters, codecs – and all sorts of other things relating to this camera, but please do understand this video is not meant to be a review of the camera, or a comprehensive overview if all its features and quirks, but rather an overview of the menu and an unboxing.
I am working on plenty more videos focusing on testing media, lenses, batteries, cages and will post them as soon as they are completed in the coming weeks.
BMPCC 4K: Unboxing, 4K Raw/ProRes Footage, Menu Walkthrough:
I shot the footage in this video mainly with the Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 Art EF via a Metabones Speed booster ULTRA 0.71x, and for some shots I also used the Canon EF 35mm f2.0 IS prime because of it’s excellent image stabilization.
Blackmagic Pocket 4K Features
- (4096 x 2160) Four Thirds sensor
- Recording resolutions
- 4K/60p – Raw Lossless, Raw 3:1 or 4:1
- 4K/60p – ProRes HQ, 422, LT, Proxy
- 1080p/120fps (windowed)
- Micro Four Thirds mount (active – can use Metabones Speed boosters)
- 13 Stops DR (claimed)
- Dual Native ISO – 400/3200
- Max ISO – 25,600 for enhanced low light performance.
- Lightweight Carbon fibre polycarbonate composite body
- Push Autofocus
- Multi function grip like on a DSLR for quick access to:
- recording start/stop, still capture,
- ISO, shutter, aperture, WB, power and more.
- 3 assignable Function Buttons on top
- 1 x SDXC UHS-II and 1 x CFast 2.0 card slot
- USB-C port – can be used to record to external SSD
- Full size HDMI output for monitoring
- Mini XLR input with 48 volts of phantom power
- 2 x built-in stereo microphones
- 3.5mm audio jack
- 3.5mm headphone jack output
- locking DC 12 volt power connection
- Built in 5” LCD touchscreen
- 3D LUTs can be applied for both monitoring and recording.
- Powered by 1 x Canon LP-E6 battery
- Blackmagic OS as used in URSA Mini and URSA Broadcast cameras.
- 4th generation Blackmagic Color Science.
- Supports remote camera control via Bluetooth.
- Includes full license for DaVinci Resolve Studio 15
- Pre-order: $1,295 at B&H/Adorama
I shot the video in the studio of my local UK dealer Visual Impact (huge thanks to them for letting me do so), which is also where I ordered my Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K from.
I hope that most of you found this video helpful in some way. Post your questions in the comment section below, and also share your thoughts about the BMPCC 4K – have you pre-ordered? Are you thinking of doing so? Have you already received the camera? If so, what do you think of it.
Me personally – I will reserve my opinion for my hands-on and then later my full review, but from the images so far – this thing is in a league of its own. It has huge potential, and as long as you can live with its quirks, it can be a very powerful image acquisition tool.
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate partner and participant in B&H and Adorama Affiliate programmes, we earn a small comission from each purchase made through the affiliate links listed above at no additional cost to you.
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