A Pocket-Sized Cinema Camera!! 

The idea of having a cinema camera in your jacket's pocket is so attractive.

My channel is pretty much dedicated to the Pocket OG and Micro. I've been able to get the most authentic fly on the wall home video style footage that I can't get with any other camera I've used. This is simply because of yes, the size but also the organic soft image it produces combined with C-Mount lenses that I've modified from the 70s and mounted using a $6 adapter. You can get S16 glass made by respected modern brands like Cooke, Angenieux and other relatively cheap dark horse lenses that completely covers this sensor and really brings you into the Cinéma Vérité world with their swirly bokeh and flat colour rendition. I leave a $20 Cosmicar lens on it most of the time that's about the size of your thumb and is tack sharp. It's so much fun to pass the Pocket around to family members during a get together and see what moments they capture...and want to capture because of the cameras simplicity to operate and non-intimidating size. I'm over the sharpness/ resolution war and I much prefer uniqueness and character in an image. The Pocket and Micro are the best base digital cameras to build off of and continue that lost 'dad footage' collecting dust in peoples attics. For me, it bridges the gap between old film aesthetics with a modern editing pipeline perfectly. It's also a great conversation starter piece of gear :) I should add that getting a RAWLITE OLPF gets rid of moire, IR pollution and a significant amount of chroma noise as a result. You can then run your edit through Topaz to upscale it to 4k which sharpens the footage. It looks better than sharpening already digitally sharpened footage (like the Pocket 4k).

I wish they would make a 2.0 version, that supports up tp 4k/60fps. This would get me into video creating/ editing in no time!

10 years after its release, the bmpcc og is still my camera of choice for professional work. I'm even shooting a short film with it. I simply love the organic look, not oversharped image and it have so much personality. I love the colors as well. I still think this bmpcc og have a fantastic image quality and a incredible color, specially for the skintones...!

I have two of these cameras and I love them to bits. I never consider them as a b-camera to another camera, I consider their image a niche in and of itself. If you need a wide lens alternative for this camera I highly recommend the c-mount Kowa 6mm 1.8, they are superb and make for a tiny package. In fact I have two of these lenses, as the thought was to make a 3D rig, which is relatively easy as the cameras can stand side-by-side, with no need for mirrors. As for memory cards I recommend the Kingston Canvas Select Plus, cheap, and work like a charm.

i still use mine regularly. it's my go-to camera to just throw in my bag when just heading out and about. i pre-ordered it back in 2012, and its sensor is just amazing, super buttery smooth. i put on my lumix 12-35 with a NPF battery pack (which lasts for days on this camera)

There it is! One of the best cameras 💪 still have two of those and will use them as C-Cam for Body-Rigs, Topdown, PoV next to Alexa or similar A-Cams.

Thanks for this. I haven't used mine for years. About to head off in a week on a week long b-roll shoot with a BMPCC 4K and an S5. I'm now going to bring the Original Pocket, as well. I'm looking forward to using it again. And will use Topaz Video AI to uprez any great shots to 4K.

I remember when these went on sale and were like 420 bucks. I wanted to get one but couldn't justify it not having autofocus. When this came out the canon AF was hitting the market so I never ended up getting it, even though I liked the image more than canon back then.

I do hope BM will bring a 2k or 4k pocket with a similar size and build to the market again. But for once with great battery life! I wouldn‘t mind the original with a thicker grip to acompany a bigger battery. I also wouldn‘t be mad of a 1-2 cm in height for more mounting holes and a full size hdmi and better audio. Maybe a tilt screen, since they have gotten smaller over the years as well. So in the end it would still be pocketable, but useable!

Legendary camera. But micro cinema camera is better in my opinion.The same functionality but better form factor. By the way, thanks for a great video!

I recently picked one up again (3rd time I've owned one) as there is something magical about the footage this little camera captures. The Fairchild sensor definitely has a lot of organic charm which I've only really seen in one other sensor, the RED Dragon. One thing to note for anyone looking to pick up this original pocket camera, is that most of the SD cards in Blackmagic Designs list have been discontinued, but there is an option currently being made by Kingston which works flawlessly. It's the Kingston Canvas Select Plus V30, the 256gb card is around £25. I got my BMPCC from MPB, they usually have them in stock. One thing is for sure, I won't be selling this one. No idea why I sold the other two, but it's always been a regret of mine. I purchased this one to capture daily family life, just like my dad did when I was growing up with his Super 8 camera. I've paired it with a Panasonic 12-35mm lens and a 1/8 Black Pro-mist filter. I've been playing with a 16mm Powergrade inside Resolve too, purchased from another BMPCC user (he has a channel on here, oliverkeys3953). The footage does indeed look and feel like 16mm film with hallation and rich colours. You can also use Resolve's AI upscaler and you will have incredible looking 4K footage.

The Blackmagic *micro* cinema camera solves pretty much every complaint about the og bmpcc. It supports larger batteries (and is easier to rig up a dummy battery with), has a full sized HDMI port, shoots compressed RAW up to 3:1, and can shoot 60fps. If you're getting one of these cameras today, I'd recommend getting the Angelbird V60 AV Pro Mk2 SD card, and can confirm that their 128GB card works with my bmmcc.

I bought a used one in 2018 it has a working HDMI port and even came with the lovely 14mm f/2.5 lens. I haven't ever shot a real project on it, but enough test shots to never want me to do a video on anything worse. Sadly finding a case and PL mount kit to turn it into something production ready - is difficult today as you have to look for used parts or old stock. But I have since picked up an actual "bag of primes", tiny C mount lenses for 16mm cameras, which fill the sensor just fine - and you can put 10 of them into your other pocket. And one interesting trick: lossless cdng can still be developed as Gen4 color in Resolve. However Gen1 just feels better It's surprisingly the lens which I still use for stills for about 95% of the images I take with my GX9. glad you give this a revisit. It's actually pocketable, maybe the Sigma fp is it's real sequel.

I wasn’t doing any video work at the time these hit and became such a little cult classic. So this

One of the best camera I ve ever had! Color space is so amazing!

I bought my first ex-rental bmpcc for £300 five years ago. The mini hdmi had come loose and was rattling around inside, but everything else was working fine. I shot loads of corporate content with it, adding another bmpcc to my kit a year later, again for £300, but this time with a working hdmi. I bought a MovCam cage and cable lock for tis one and used them both for two camera shooting. I love the look of the original camera and was intending to shoot a fiction short with it, but then the 4k version came out and a year later I bought my first brand new camera. I still might shoot a short with the original, but it'll have to be an outdoor/daylight project for ease.

I've just started shooting my first short film on this, which is the first 'proper' camera I've owned and used, and despite it's poor battery life and lacklustre low light performance, the image is great in post, especially shooting in RAW. My base model Mac Mini can handle editing the RAW footage which is epic for an entry level Mac, and the image that is produced is beautiful, something intangible about how 'filmic' it looks in this age of hyper sharp high resolution cameras. I may upgrade to the 6K Pro if budget allows sometime, but for now absolutely loving filming on this. I carry 10 batteries with me...

Hmmm! Dreaming for a bmpcc original mark2: with same body, same sensor, 3k vídeo up to 60p /2.5k 120p, tilt screem, 1 minixlr pic, Sony batery 3h, brightest screem, price $700 to $1000.

I think this might be my favorite camera of all time. The image from it is unreal for a camera that was at one point in time discounted to $500 BRAND NEW! What?! I might buy another one.

what lens did you use in the bmpcc shots? that's some of the best images I've seen from og bmpccs

Thank you 🙏 I have two because of the image ☺️

I have one, it was my first cam by at CVP, it's work great I use with my other alswys with some lumix lens to get some quick rushs on dng is great save me so many times on shooting.

i have some mold or maybe wetness between the 2 glasses in front of the Sensor ,only at the sides , it´s not affecting the image quality,. Any Tips and tricks to get rid of it? I really like the camera..

I've had a BlackMagic like this for about 3 years now, and it's funny because I've learned to use it blindly. It turns out that I always wanted it since I saw it go on sale, but it was never possible because it was so expensive in Mexico. During the Covid19 pandemic I got one in exchange for an XBox controller and a cell phone and it finally fell into my hands with a defect, the display is broken and believe me here, I have tried everything to replace it, I have been to 10 auctions around the world to buy another damaged one. I have spoken to the factory in China and they don't plan to do it anymore and there are many users like me. I learned the menus from RU-vid videos, I put it on a gymbal, turn it on and press "Iris" and then "Focus" and record. Some time later I set an external display, but just blindly, the images are great, a purity, a unique texture, naturally great in DaVinci, I love the damn little camera.

Sigma fp is perfect alternative of BMPCC OG. Hope BMD will carry out a similar form factor 8K full frame camera this year.

Thanks for such a lovely video ..... Do you have any recommendation for a Semi-Pro Still photographer and occasional Videography ? May be do a a video on it ???

I bought three of these cameras used off of eBay. I got a v-mount plate for them. I got a set of cine lenses from mieke and I am now going to get a b4 eng zoom lens for it sometime next year so I will have one lens that gets wide shots and super zoom shots.

I've had one for several years, though sadly I don't use it much. (More into stills photography, but I just had to have one!) The Metabones SB allows me to use my Canon glass, and I picked up a couple of cheap cine lenses in EF so that I could use them on my Canons as well. All told, a fun little camera!

Love to have bought one a few years back but could never find a cage for it and without it’s not so much fun to me. Any idea where to find one that is not 250 bucks or a fake ad?

lets talk adapters from m43 to......can the BMPCC OG use sony e lenses for specific example??

Our horror film Changeling (2021) which is on Alter's channel and was shot entirely on the BMPCC OG It picked up a handful nominations for best cinematography and won a few. The 1080p was more than enough to cut an excellent 2k DCP for exhibition

Pair it with some vintage lenses and you get even more organic results. I tested Nikkor's, Zeiss Jena's and even an old C-Mount Schneider Kreuznach and they all look fantastic!

I've owned two of these cameras over the years, Wicked image from them but the Micro was so much better as it had better battery and full HDMI, Could also do 60fps on the same sensor.

If I wanna act in front my own camera, could it work with either the P4K or with the black magic OG to act and film myself without the need of a camera with continuous auto focus? what lens and what distance should I keep when acting to get the best result if I choose to film with the OG or the P4K and act out monologues in front of it? please suggest! am new to this camera... have the Gh3 but I like to test making short one person plays with a cinema camera, either with P4K or the OG on my own, if even possible without anyone pulling focus for me?! I want to create cinema and not digital video... what do you think? thanks for getting back

I used to own a bmpcc but sold it. The micro hdmi jack broke twice and that was a huge problem in the field. Even if it breaks, I have to send it to the company, but I went to a private repair shop and fixed it.

Thank you for pointing out an advantage of m43/apsc that RU-vid f1.2 ‘filmmakers’ will never understand… Deeper depth of field with the same light gathering ability.

COOL! Thanks for the review.

good stuff man.. what’s the adaptor at 1:25… and s that PL to MFT?!.. need it bad! ty

I really want to explore this camera as a B & C camera... Just a fly in the wall. Excellent Video by the way!!!

Some day - a used one for me…love the sensor, too.

I remember the launch, I wanted one so badly. After going through a few DSLRs and handy cams, I bought one used off eBay two years ago. Then went a bit mad finding accessories and not actually using it, thanks mainly due to lockdowns. I love the damned thing, however I'd like a more modern one and move the BMPCC OG to B-roll.

love pocket cinema camera and have a lot of the things shown in the video. video quality is very romantic

I've not been able to find any affordable cages for this camera. Has anyone stumbled upon some good ones?

Does this camera also take still images?? Or only video?

I love mine!

Is this available online for international delevery ?

I plan to buy a B Cam for my Pocket 6K. Do you think it is a good idea and investment to get the BMPCC? Or directly go for another type of camera

Are these cameras good enough to shoot footage for commercial release films?

How does it compare to something like EOS M running magic lantern?

This definitely needs a successor with a 4K+ sensor. Let's say max 5K 30fps, that's plenty to play with (and to stabilize in post). Guess I'd buy that in a heartbeat.

I like this camera

sshhh don't remind people about this camera since I need to buy another one soon :P I fully agree with everything you said in the video - love this camera. Thanks!

love the camera i have two the main problem with them is the HDMI port on both cameras they have broken now its a showpiece im still pissed ....if you have one do not use an external monitor.

Do they make a 4K camera with HDR and 60p?

A sua loja envia para o Brasil?

Cool

This was a fun camera, but I’m so glad you mentioned the battery life. Absolutely made it useless without building it up.

It’s like your super 8 dad’s camera! I wish I could buy bmpcc and digital boleo d16 again

Like a lot (all?) of Blackmagic's cameras IR pollution is a huge issue. If you want to use ND filters, you absolutely need an expensive IR cut filter (or only use IRND.) Probably a good idea to use the IR cut filter all the time. Also, the selection of SD cards that consistently work in the Pocket is pretty limited as many of the ones officially listed aren't available any more, and just because a new card is rated as fast enough doesn't mean the camera's oddball implementation won't drop frames. It really can be difficult to use, but I guess that makes it good for learning to move from convenient consumer cameras to actual cinema cameras.

Thank you for giving love to this amazing camera on 2023. I would like to ADD this important information: The BM Micro Cinema Camera is just like this camera (same sensor, same colors, same magic) but only better: first and most important it has 1080p at 60fps, which the original pocket doesn't have. Also, the battery is WAY better, with more options. The form factor is way more confortable, with the possibility of adding grips and more buttons and stuff to make it very usable, without the awkwardness of the original pocket. Finally, the fact that the Micro doesn't have a monitor is actually a good thing, since the original pocket's monitor wasn't good, and almost EVERYONE that used the original pocket seriously ended up adding an external monitor making the built-in monitor unusable and even cumbersome to have in the camera. I strongly suggest the Micro Cinema Camera in every way. Buy I also love the pocket which gives me some sort of nostalgia factor from the time I had it with me and was amazed by it.

Still use this beaut as my main, even shot a feature film with it. Never selling or giving it away 🙌🏽

I wish they did the micro with variable ND's...

great video bro

I have one and have been using it for a while. I love it since the image you get out of it is an absolute bang for your buck, but it does have some drawbacks. The potential selection of lenses is huge, but the 2.88x crop is brutal and focal length becomes the real bottleneck, even with speed boosters. Adapters for C-mount (a lot of 16mm and super16 lenses) are a crapshot, sometimes they work, sometimes they just don't. Audio is awful, I only use in-camera audio as scrap tracks for sync. Cages for it are hardly being made anymore and the ones I have aren't as good as the ones for its successors. The mini HDMI is a true Achilles' heel, since it's soldered to the motherboard and if it breaks, the camera likely follows. I'd like to use a loupe viewfinder, but the only one I could find (the LCD has an uncommon size) by Kinotehnik is outrageously expensive for what it is.

Ergonomics has always been the Achilles heel of the pocket cameras. BMPCC6K Pro seems to be the pinnacle of “compact” ergonomics and image quality - it’s no pocket camera, but it’s most usable on-the-go before URSA lineup

I got a gh3 now with 3 lenses from 2013... I love the film, cinematic and poetic way of filming and not still photo so much today 2023... I might not start some huge company, I am more into directing and writing , but I like to make mini reels and film them only for my own enjoyment and share online.. should I just continue with Lumix and get a gh5 now due to the simplicity to live broadcast to instagram and using the same system I always have and so on or should I really try to get a pocket bm camera and re-learn how to film in a different way? -and can I use all my micro 4/3 photo lenses well with it? and finally, is there any point in spending the double amount of money to get the 4k pocket instead of the pocket og? -what about sharing live to social media from the pocket og vs live broadcast b the pocket 4 k? thanks!

The image of a uncovered sensor going in a pocket is giving me the anxiety shakes

Sony A7C is another newer tiny camera alternative with a full frame sensor.

Now you need to make a video on the 2.5K BMCC 🙂

Does anyone else still feel the pain of when BMD slashed the BMPCC price by 50% back in summer 2014??? I'd only had mine for a few months and was gutted....great times though, such an eye opening experience shooting with this camera after growing up with Mini-DV and DSLR's.

I have 2 of them. And I even shot an entire film with it, and everyone keeps asking how it looks so unique? The RAW on this camera is broken.

I think it is important to mention that with the bayer-sensor you only capture 1.6.k, not "true 1080p". This leads to moiré. And the "BMMCC" (Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera) is much better. Better battry life using LP-E6 standard. You can also use NP-F. cDNG compressed 3:1 raw which makes a huge difference and Full-HDMI port. So if you really want the "original pocket" better buy the "Micro Cinema camera" for 3 reasons. battery, compressed raw, Full HDMI. You have to rig it anyway.

I didn't even know this existed until now

Wonder why, with all its popularity, practicality, features n image quality, blackmagic is not making new bmpcc (eg mark ii etc)

It was fine at the time, but prices are mental these days. Basically at that price it's this used or the bmpcc4k new and it's not a competition. Great camera, but the prices need to drop before you can even think about it.

I too put my camera in my pocket with the sensor exposed to the elements.

If there is no ads in the clip then the whole clip is an ad 😂

Why have I not heard of this!!!! This needs a remake with a view finder seriously why wasn't there another model!!!

The only camera I regret selling … got it with the MB speed booster for 1100$ new - insane deal! Worked perfectly with my Sigma 18-35, sold it as a whole kit 🥲

BMPCC OG Cropfactor For example: Cropfctor = 2.88x BMPCC + 0.64 MBSB + F1.4 50mm > (50mm x 2.88) x 0.64 = 92.16mm That means a 50mm Lens with Metabones Speedbooster x0.64 on BMPCC OG looks like an 92.16mm lens on a camera with full frame sensor. F1.4 is the same but the bokeh looks like F2.5.

I've already broken two BMPCC without doing anything. The first had a sensor damage, the second a display damage. And I'm not a power user.

I do still really like the gamma curve of all the broll you showed. I really don’t like the extreme contrasty and crushed shadows of Sony, Canon And Nikon mirrorless cameras.

Love the BMPCC. Don’t love watching the battery bar literally drain in minutes.

Sigma FP i guess is the symbolic successor to it

i cant find it under 1200 pounds, please someone send a link:(

This video reminds me of why I sold mine. Had to rig it up to make it useful, especially the horrible battery life and almost completely useless monitor.

If you look at Android apps such as MotionCam which enable smartphones to film RAW video at higher resolutions in Cinema DNG, for me as non-professional it is good enough...

This video probably lasted longer than the actual battery of the camera but this camera does have a lovely image. However, the size is quite misleading. It's almost asking you to use it to get candid shots but you reaaally need to use it like a large cinema camera. The camera is just begging for an evf and a cage to mount a bigger battery Personally tho for the battle of the best small sensor camera, the Digital Bolex wins it in my heart

i wish there were pocket lenses

And the most important thing - it shoots maximum 30 fps, which is killing all other advantages. In my opinion 60fps is "must have" nowadays.

1080p is better than 4K 😅. Hold on, hold on - my sober rationale: I wonder how much all the recent videos reviewing older cams is a response to the Resolution Wars..? We've been promised and delivered 4K, 6K 12K cams etc, but the level of filmmaking (obviously) hasn't necessarily gone up. And the vast majority of people don't have a TV or monitor that can display above 4K. PLUS algorithms that upscale like Resolve's Supersize have been getting better and better. Maybe 1080p is something of a sweet spot and so people are looking back at cams that have pleasing colour science without the need to throw specs at you. Slow-mo is overused so maybe 30p is fine too. Case in point, a short film I shot on the OG BMPCC got selected at Birmingham Film Festival where they still have the UK's second largest screen (it was an IMAX screen until the cinema couldn't afford the licensing). I upscaled the film to 4K and delivered it and it held up! On a screen second only to the BFI IMAX! That film is here if you wanted to see an example of what the OG BMPCC can do - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-SBwje8EDl84.html Long live the little guy!

Original FP + L mount lenses is better option. Audio. UHD. cDNG. Photos etc. Also full frame!

Aren't Sony Fx30 and Fx3 at the same position?

I had a love / hate relationship with my micro cinema camera (same sensor). Fantastic image color and dynamic range-wise for its size, but very often I would get irritated at horrible color moire and soft images. I Would always have to sharpen in post. If they had only made the sensor something like 2.5k in the original bmpcc/bmmc.

It’s my first cinema camera.

Why nobody talk about the Sony Nex ? Less then 200$, i have found the Nex3 for 60$ and it take really great pictures et fine video

i love that the pocket has become extremely popular lately and i hope Blackmagic sees it and releases something small and simple again. the 4k and 6k are too massive for some situations and ive gone through 3 og pockets over the years because of defect issues and sensors dying, or having random failed pixels out of no where. i still have the first one from 2015, its got some kinks like the lens electronics stopped working but i use the fd speedboater and fd lenses on it now. but the other one died and then the replacement had pixel issues. so im down to just one again. and sometimes it has pixel issues but it comes and goes and it sucks

Videos like these bump the prices up. This camera was £350 a few years ago.

Bring back pocket micro and make it MFT 4k!