I caught up with Blackmagic Design at IBC 2023 to look at their new 6K Full Frame Pocket Cinema Camera. The camera has all-new internal hardware with the original Pocket Cinema body design. It is Blackmagic Design’s first full-frame sensor and it is also their first camera to use an L-Mount.
I asked Blackmagic whether or not they had plans about making a box-style camera that a lot of people have been requesting and while they wouldn’t give me a direct answer they didn’t rule it out.
The new full-frame 6K sensor has a stated 13 stops of dynamic range, and dual native ISO up to 25,600. Instead of SD Card for recording it uses CFexpress cards. This new model features a 24 x 36mm 6K sensor, allowing for large-format cinema camera image quality in a portable, lightweight body. The L-Mount for lenses works with a wide range of new and vintage lenses for a wider range of creative choices.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K Key features
- 36 x 24mm full frame 6K 6048 x 4032 sensor.
- Open gate 3:2, full height 6:5 anamorphic and Super 35 for creating cinematic content.
- L-Mount compatible with a wide range of still photography and cinema lenses.
- Records full resolution up to 36 fps or 120 fps windowed.
- Extremely fast CFexpress card recording.
- Adjustable, HDR 1500 nit LCD screen.
- Optional Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Pro EVF.
- Larger NP-F570 battery, optional Blackmagic Pocket Camera Battery Pro Grip
Full Frame Sensor
The Cinema Camera 6K features a full-frame sensor with a native resolution of 6048 x 4032. That’s almost three times larger than a Super 35 sensor. YOu can use anamorphic lenses uncropped as well. You can shoot up to 36 fps at full sensor resolution or 120 fps windowed.
Using the full area of the sensor gives you a unique open gate 3:2 image which also lets you reframe in post. The large sensor also lets customers work in true 6:5 anamorphic without cropping, making widescreen cinematic images more detailed and in higher resolution than previously possible. You can shoot using the classic Super 35-sized window on the sensor to create an instant ‘close up’ shot that fits seamlessly with open gate footage.
Resolutions
Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K can shoot in all standard resolutions and frame rates from HD up to DCI 4K and 6K. Customers can even shoot stills at 24.6 megapixels. Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K will shoot up to 36 fps at 6048 x 4032 3:2 open gate or 60 fps at 6048 x 2520 2.4:1 and 60 fps at 4096 x 2160 4K DCI. For higher frame rates, customers can window the sensor and shoot up to 100 fps at 2112 x 1184 Super 16. You can work in true anamorphic 6:5 at much higher resolutions than other cameras using anamorphic lenses in 4.8K 24 fps at 4838 x 4032 and shoot 120 fps in 1080HD.
- 6048 x 4032 (Open Gate 3:2) up to 36 fps
- 4838 x 4032 (Anamorphic 6:5) up to 36 fps
- 6048 x 3200 (6K DCI 17:9) up to 48 fps
- 6048 x 2520 (6K 2.4:1) up to 60 fps
- 4096 x 3072 (Super 35 4:3) up to 50 fps
- 4096 x 2160 (4K DCI 17:9) up to 60 fps
- 2112 x 1184 (Super 16 16:9) up to 100 fps
- 1920 x 1080 (1080 HD 16:9) up to 120 fps
Maximum sensor frame rate dependent on resolution and codec selected. Project frame rates of 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94 and 60 fps supported.
Off-speed frame rates up to 60 fps in 6K 2.4:1 and 4K DCI 17:9, 100 fps in Super 16 16:9 and 120 fps in 1080HD.
Recording Formats
Blackmagic RAW 3:1, 5:1, 8:1, 12:1, Q0, Q1, Q3 and Q5 at 6048 x 4032, 4838 x 4032, 6048 x 3200, 6048 x 2520, 4096 x 3072, 4096 x 2160, 2112 x 1184 and 1920 x 1080 with film, extended video, video dynamic range or custom 3D LUT embedded in metadata.
Supports recording optional portrait mode metadata for all resolutions in Blackmagic RAW and H.264 Proxies.
LCD and Display Features
The Camera features a large, HDR 1500 nits bright 5-inch HDR touchscreen. On-screen overlays show status and record parameters, histogram, focus peaking indicators, levels, frame guides, and more. You can quickly apply 3D LUTs for monitoring shots with the desired color and look. The LCD monitor can even be tilted up to 180 degrees flat and down to 47 degrees, so it’s easy to monitor their shot from virtually any position. This is a big upgrade as the original was not easy to use outside.
CFexpress Type B and USB-C expansion port
The Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K now uses CFexpress card for recording and a USB-C expansion port for recording direct to external flash media disks or an SSD. CFexpress media are more durable and faster, so they are perfect for recording full-resolution, 12-bit Blackmagic RAW files. This is also a great upgrade.
If you like the Pocket Camera design, the new version looks like a substantial upgrade; plus, if you are upgrading, all your accessories will work as the body is the same. Win, win. It’s good to see a full-frame sensor from Blackmagic Design, as that was missing from their camera lineup. I know many wanted a box camera; unfortunately for them, it didn’t happen. All in all, I think it will be a popular camera to upgrade to and bring in new customers to the Pocket Camera. At $2,595, it’s priced comparatively.
For me? I’m not interested in a mirrorless camera body that is a cinema camera. Frankly, I don’t like shooting video with mirrorless cameras in general. I know many do. It also doesn’t work well on a gimbal with that wide body. I think BMD should get going on a new design and innovate like they have in the past instead of constantly updating the former model. Again the full frame is a BIG deal, and I’m sure the “next” camera will have it.
Price & Availability
Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K is available now for $2,595 USD.
