Blackmagic has released its next camera in the pocket cinema camera line. The Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro. As the name suggests it has up to 6k resolution like its predecessor the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K. The camera shares many of the same great features that keep customers returning to Blackmagic, but has a few distinct upgrades.
Firstly the LCD touchscreen which has been a staple of the Pocket Cinema Cameras is now able to be tilted. The capability to move the screen in this manner makes more cinematography angles while simultaneously viewing the shot, possible. They made another upgrade to the screen as well. A common complaint with Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and 6K owners was that the screen was too dim and make its contents difficult to see, especially in bright conditions. At 400 nits of brightness, it is hard to argue with that assessment. They addressed this issue by increasing the screen brightness to 1500 nits, ensuring to curb future brightness complaints.
A huge issue with the older 4K and 6K models was the battery life. It seems that this issue continued in this camera. There was an attempt to improve the issue, by switching from Canon LP-E6 batteries to the superior NP-F570 batteries. However, despite the switch, the camera still will only last roughly an hour without charge. They did make efforts to further alleviate this issue while they continue to figure out their battery problem. They created a battery grip, that could store two extra batteries in it and provide three hours of charge. The downside to this is that it adds more weight and size to an already sizable camera.
Another upgrade this camera offers is built-in ND filters. It offers two stops, four stops, and six stops of filtering. This is a large update, as the Pocket Cinema Camera line is already known for its low light performance, as well as its ISO range. The addition of ND filters only expands the cameras already impressive capabilities in most light settings.
Another significant upgrade from the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and 6K is the addition of a second mini XLR port, both of which can be supplied with 48 volts of phantom power. This allows Blackmagic users to record from two audio sources simultaneously. This was not something that couldn’t be done before, however on the earlier models, it would be required to use the single XLR port, and if you wanted a second microphone, it would be limited to the 3.5mm jack, so say goodbye to condenser microphones.
All of these high-end features are packed into one small package: 6K footage, dual mini XLR ports, 1500 nit 5″ tilt-able monitor, built-in ND filters, and all of the features already implemented by Blackmagic. The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6k Pro is a definite step up from their last models, and at a very affordable price for what the camera offers, Blackmagic has once again delivered an amazing camera at an amazing price.
Written by Joseph Nelson
Edited by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
WIRED: Review: Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro
FSTOPPERS: Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro: A Review You Need to See!
ENGADGET: Blackmagic’s BMPCC 6K Pro is a more practical cinema camera
Images Courtesy of Blackmagic – Creative Commons License
