I filmed all these videos with the Pocket Cinema Camera. I love it! https://www.jdanielramos.com/#!/pages/video

The Blackmagic Pocket Gen 1 is an absolute secret and I own 2 of them. How did you solve the battery problem? I always film only with a tripod and connected power supply.

Ben

hi there – working on my own indy – due to low/non existant budget i had to do the homework – bolex was a dream… I just wish I bought it for my own when had chance:( – nevertheless – my use and reasons:

– bmpcc 4k – night shots (that can’t be shot during the day and graded to night), slowmo (for the reasons I can’t comprehend)

– bmpcc (original) – for all the rest – why?

I was so impressed by the images it produced I smomehow now own 3 of them:) And I don’t mean the beautifly milky, film like pictures (will get back to this with sensor) but the ability to grade. Forget the prores (kills the camera, kills the PC, looks and grades rubbish) – CinemaDNG on the other hand is withsanding heavy grading wonderfly (12bit). Don’t get me wrong – comparing to, for instance, Arri Classic (1080p) that I can’t forget playing with – it’s not really close… but same leauge… especially after pro grading (no dslr that comes remotely close I came across – no matter the price)

The sensor – it’s old fairchild where blackmagic and their CEO (admire the guy and his approach) wanted the sensor to get EVERYTHING it’s pointed at. There were probably 2 ways – get the bigger size, or enlarge the light sensitive spots on it – and make sure it catches all those photons the way we see them (no sharpening and witchery). Call me crazy but years go I did the math for the sensor – ca. 14,5 DYNAMIC RANGE!! understood why the pictures look so good

There is no alternative on the market – unless you have $$$, or balls to rent:)

It’s a great camera in 2020. You don’t need 4k (cinema theaters get max. 2k, most 1080p) – if someone asks for it – upscale it – no one will notice after tiny tweaks (it records everything – there is plenty of detail to play with – it’s not dslr/phone etc. with its sharpening like crazy mode always on).

I would made a bet 10 years ago that we will now have HDR (10bit) as standard in cinema and homes- now I’m not sure we will get there in 10 years time – netflix/prime/hbo/yt stream at very low data rates…. and the results are unfortunately there on the screen – all the cinema knowledge down the drain…. it’s difficult time for purists

The drawbacks:
– power consumption ( no wonder with those data rates)
– working SD cards – I managed to get 3 (different types) for my cams (no wonder with those data rates)
– cinema grade matte box with 4.56 filters look rediculusly big with it (although on plus side no one thinks of me as an amateur any more)
– the proper screen for proper shots essential (small HDMI socket that needs special, special care)
– 1 of my 3 talks to AF and stabilization of panasonic lens – doesn’t matter for cinematographers
– the microphone is barely enough for sync in post
– heavy IR polution, UV leaks when not filtered properly

As I remember the alternatives for the buck that will utlize the magical sensor are BMD 2.5k, micro cinema, 4,6k. I think.

its nearly 4am…my insomnia is back – sorry for its being soo long… glad found someone on my side of darkness
regards
Rich

I would really love to shoot a short film on the bmpcc since I own one. But mine gets hot and wouldn’t like to have overheating issues. Any input on this subject anyone?

amazing Post ! and could not Agree more !

This is a short film i’ve directed /shot / edited / colored recently . It was entirely filmed on the BMPCC for these same reasons . The 16 mm look

link : https://vimeo.com/329013277

Hello ! do you have any thoughts on the Black Magic micro cinema camera? Thats the one I use now 🙂 I think it is still available.

This was my first BMD camera I owned after using a HV20 HDV-Camera and a 550D before. Even though I own the Pocket 4K (a great and very versatile Camera, that can deliver beautiful images) I still use the original Pocket from time to time.

I´m using a Viltrox Focal Reducer and EF-Lenses most of the time, it creates really nice colors and very organic motion, even though it is “only” 1080p (that you can transform in resolve via superscale and achieve some nice results). Unfortunately it doesn´t have the 3:1 Raw that the Micro Cinema Camera has and it is missing that 60p capability. But I will keep on using this camera, no doubt about that. After grading the CDNG´s I usually add some Grain in Resove and that´s it. If you need this 16mm- or vintage-film-Look, you´ll probably be much happier than if you´re using newer kinds of cameras.

This is a pretty funny coincidence. In the last few months, I started to think about a gear change/upgrade and my choice will probably be BMPCCK 6K plus a couple of Leica R lenses but I’m also thinking about investing on lenses only and renting the camera when I need it (you know, “Marry with lenses, engage with cameras”…).
But as every filmmaker knows, sometimes it happens to get a gig with short notice so you don’t have the time to rent the gear.
Sometimes it also happens to work on a low budget project or even on a personal project with no budget and for that reason, I’m seriously considering to buy a used original Pocket Cinema Camera: it’s cheap, it’s still a great camera, you can record internally on ProRes or Raw and it has a great color science… perfect (for my needs, of course).

I know what you feel. I’ve owned original BMCC and Micro Camera. Micro was one of my favourite cameras ever. The picture was nice and organic. You could use it super16 and/or add speedbooster for almost super35 look. The noise was there but it was organic and kinda nice. It was small and it had 1080 60p. I wish BM could just release the micro cinema camera with stabilization and build in flip out touch screen and Sony L batteries. I sold it some time ago, but this is the one I miss 🙂

I’ve own and owned a few cameras and video shooting dslr bodies and some mirrorless too and if I can say something about specs is that they often make you want stuff you will not like. This was a case with my sony a7s it was nice on paper but in real life, it was not good photo nor video camera – not good enough. Similar thing with the xt3 – It ticks a lot of boxes and it is really close but every time I take my 5dmkIV instead xt3 I’m more happy with the results (for both photo and video). I think I will sell xt3. I also tried/owned/tested a few of cinema cameras. (BMCC, BMMCC, Pocket 4k, Poket 6k, Ursa Mini 4.6k, C200 and more.) I own c200 and pocket 6k now for the reason different than pure specs. I don’t want to make this comment all about the other cameras. What I want to say is: Specs are not as important as you may think. What’s matters is the image and how it feels in the end.

And both the original pocket and micro camera haves something special. That secret sauce.
Sometimes, simply: more is less. 🙂