Can You See The Difference | BMPCC 6K PRO vs Arri Alex Mini (Real Film Comparison) 

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Shot my first feature with the OG BMPCC and got my first cinematography award with it for the film. Always love hearing these discussions of cameras and gear being just tools, cause they are. How you use them is always the benefactor. Much love!

I was more impressed by the color grading and matching of video output from different cameras; that's what made it hard to distinguish.

This is always the issue that I think really prevents a lot of people from creating… “I want the film to look super cinematic so I need to spend top dollar.” Whereas, realistically, the camera technology is getting so advanced that it’s getting genuinely difficult to tell the difference and to know if you can obtain a similar quality with a better lighting crew, editing, and color correction. I used to be a grocery manager years ago and we found that when you offered several options for products that a lot of people would get overwhelmed and decide not to buy any of the options. If you are only offered a few options you’re usually able to make a decision and live with it.

I can tell slightly but not by much. That’s mainly because I’m looking for a difference between the two, but if I was just casually watching a show shot with Alexa and a black magic I would not have noticed tbh.

One thing that’s good to note is that the BMPCC and Alexa look similar but would vastly differ under the right circumstances. In these circumstances, they are nearly identical. Take both outside? And Arri’s dynamic range would crush the BMPCC.

It's The English Teacher for me. Awesome film. So, it's easy to believe you, bro. Whatever you say. You're such an inspiration

Wow normally I'm really good at these tests but I couldn't tell the difference on some of these, you matched them really well!

So relevant. People get lost in the gear debate. 'A Clockwork Orange', the original British classic 'Scrooge' from 1951 featuring Alastair Sim (best version of scrooge in my opinion), Gone With The Wind, the cameras all of these films were shot on are long since dead and gone, yet the films themselves will continie to entertain audiences for years to come. Focus on story, lighting, the fundamentals, the things that actually _do_ offer production value, and stop worrying about gear all the time, absolutely. As my mentor said, oh some 26 years ago now "amateur talk equipment, professionals just create"

*Cool video my dude. Ignore the rude arrogant comments. You created an entertaining video. I would say it’s not just about image quality that separates the two cameras. Things like lens mounting options, modularity, robustness of the housing, dependability, operational parameters, time code and audio options and many other things make the Alexa a superior camera but as an owner operator of the 6K Pro, it definitely gives you tremendous bang for your buck. I plan to convert mine to PL mount so I can access more esoteric lenses. I think for smaller productions we would get better results hiring higher end optics like anamorphics or Vantage, Arri/ Cooke / TLS PL glass than paying to use an Alexa. Well that’s my take anyway 👍🏿*

There's a certain richness that the Alexa image has, the image almost looks thicker. Very hard to put into words without it sounding very cliche, but I can see why one costs more than the other. The 6K Pro still stands up though, not hating on it.

Wow, surprisingly I guessed correctly on all but one! However probably only because I’m an Alexa mini owner. and also have owned BM 6K pro/URSA mini pro G2 for several years. To me, the Alexa stands out to my eyes most of the time and I just love the look. It’s just something I can’t explain. And something I always miss when not using it. But I’m still impressed by how close Blackmagic can look and match up. Sadly, now that my eyes have gotten used to it, I’m not impressed by Sony or other systems anymore. Which kinda made me sad as a long time Sony a7siii user. Great video and good tips. I wish the Alexa mini was as portable as BM, then I’d use it for everything. But still so impressed with how BM does so well when my Alexa isn’t practical

I think you made an excellent point that most audiences wouldn't be able to tell the difference between shots filmed on different cameras. Many filmmakers want to defend their purchasing a specific brand or model of camera. So, they insist that the differences are very noticeable. When in fact, the people that you target your film for - an audience - cannot tell any difference shot to shot. In the end, it's up to you and how you shoot your film and color grade in post that determines the quality.

How you did that spinning camera shot?

I strongly belive a bm 6k is good enough for producing any kind of movie. Higher end cinema cameras have other advantages and if you have the budged you take an arri, its not necessary but why not.

I saw that short in the airport and thought it was awesome. Can you do a video showing how you graded it? I can't get my iphone footage to look like that.

The massive factor is there is clout with shooting on a RED or Alexa; the logic is "the pros working on movies I love use Alexas, thus if I use an Alexa, I become a pro too!". What's ironic is that renting a RED or Alexa is much more likely to completely screw you over at low-budget and self-financed levels. If most of your budget is to get that Alexa and the high-end cine lenses, and you can't afford the right location, the right set dressing, your audio is just the friend who was willing to come and hold the boom, and actors are just people you know who are fun people who seem like they could do a really good job probably, and you will have THE worst time. The duller space that you have to make do with is way harder to light to make it look good. It could look WAY better with better set dressing, but there was no money because of the Alexa. Or maybe you have a space that looks right, but you only have it for 1 day in it instead of 2 days because of the Alexa, so now you're scrambling to keep up with the shot schedule, compromising on everything, including actors' performances, to get through the shots in one day. Usually the first shots to go are the really awesome creative ones, in favor for generic coverage so you have the minimum available to have a finished product. The lighting is compromised, and the blocking that would keep the scene alive is restricted to actors standing and talking at each other because you have lowered power lights that are just out of frame. Your fun friends/actors are getting frustrated because they aren't used to waiting around while the shots are set up and it shows in their performances. And at the end, despite thinking you'd have filmmaker clout for shooting on that Alexa, the project will likely ends up looking fair-to-middling, and the opposite happens. Since other people and filmmakers have the "Alexa = Hollywood look" mentality as well, the clout you thought you would have ends up being more of "they had an Alexa and their film still ended up looking like shit, they must really suck". If you have balance right, put the budget in the right places, and shoot with a Pocket 4k + a Speedbooster, the optics flip and people get blown away that you could get such amazing results with just a $2k camera. You're more proud to put it in your reel, and the actual process of shooting that day goes from non-stop stress, to some-stress but still super gratifying.

1: I think a side by side comparison of the two cameras would be needed. They both looked great. As you said, I would expect the high end camera to have more accurate color reproduction as that is normally what you are paying for in both cameras and displays. 2: I think most high end phones can do scenes that are not complex. A lens that small has to introduce distortion that the video processor corrects on the fly. So at some point, in a complex scene the processor will reach its limit and unwanted artifacts will start to appear. Having said that, the smart phone is a great way for the low/no budget filmmaker to get their start.

That shot @ 0:04 in the bar is what threw me off, amazing look off of the BM 6k there. Great work!

I totally agree with you sir...100%

they both looked great

After falling back into this "I need to sell my c300 asap and get a new camera" times, your video really grounded me again. Thank you sir 😊

Thanks for doing this, and ... frankly ... the more people use their smartphones, the more 'used' to the subtle differences in gear the viewing public will be. The MAIN difference I see between the two in your example isn't color space...but shutter. There's something about the way the image is captured and moves on the Alexa that feels like it's truly in a cinema-storybook, whereas the BM cameras have a 'camcorder' feel to the captured movement. I can't explain it or quantify it - I can just feel it.

Shots form the movie look great Blake!

I had Pocket 6K Pro and it was amazing camera comparing to others high end camera like Alexa.

Great Vid! What type of "Adapter lens" did you place on the iphone 11?

You should do a breakdown of the movie shot with the iPhone 11 pro max

good point

I guessed them right. Yes, they CAN look almost identical, but the more you push to the extremes, the more you will see which is which. Like the shot at 04:09 with the harsh direct light - that would look so crappy and overly sharp on most other prosumer sensors, like you would be able to make out individual pores and skin blemishes much more, and the eyebrows would appear much sharper etc... while the Arri has an almost painterly quality, and the quality is so consistent from shot to shot, no matter how you change the light and situation. It will always come out with the same "flavor". It's veeeery subtle though ofc

Honestly, Everything I thought was the Arri was the Blackmagic. I think it really does actually have a better image than the OG Alexa (what the mini is based on). Crazy. The airport stuff I immediately recognized as phone footage and doesn’t look good at all imo.

BlackMagic has less sharpness and contrast and looks like movies used to until Arri came out with the Super 35. Their cameras are chosen for their dynamic range.

Do the Lux you sell work with FCPX? I’m just a dad who is getting into filming the kids musical theater stuff. Also, what’s your suggestion on sets that tend to have a large dynamic range on set? I sometimes run into problems with super hot spots because the lighting person is using a manual fader and some of the singers are off lighting

What quality you shot with using P6K Pro & Alexa? Was the bitrate comparable?

The only clip I wasn't sure about was the last one, as the atmospheric lighting was very good. but Arri feels just different... don't give me wrong the BM6k is very good.

Thanks! Any word on the new BMPCC 6K ?

he got me .. I was lying I couldn't tell. nice

I think it's better to compare on more dynamic camera movements:)

One of the biggest differences is see with BM cameras is the way it renders motion. it's not fluid and smooth like a ARRI or Red camera. the BM footage looks more harsh / 'Video-ish" you would think 24p is 24p and the motion should look the same but they defiantly do not.

Great video. The Blackmagic pockets can stand up with the big boys.

All seem high quality, even the iPhone clips. It seems to depend as much on lighting, grading, and lens use as much as which camera. Some shots looked better on one, some on the other. I'll never see a true 6k on my TV anyway.

Good video. I would have really liked to see the footage from the thumbnail. That's actually why I clicked. I wish there were more videos like this with black magic footage being compared to arri footage. Shooting the same thing of course side by side.

well, thanks for saying that was an Iphone, because I was going to say " that Alexa is an overrated camera, I don´t see a great great quality in those shots"😉. for example 3:23. But it ´s a very good video.

You can mix master primes with CP2 or 3. and it can fit together But it can go wrong total too. And then the problems will start. I often hear this cost factor. But if you are an artist, is money really that important? What artist am I if my ambition is not having the best of best? Best possible story, best possible actor, best possible image? Is money really that important? In the end almost no one has infinite money, but in the end will show the result if you went the extra mile too Money comes and goes, but the energy we put in our project, the image, the result will stay forever - unchangeable.

One question 444 12 bit for the two? or other solution

To my unprofessional eye, i would have been more helpful to see each one in a side by side comparison. Otherwise, the BMD alone was impressive.

3:08 is the only one i didn't correctly guess and idk why it looks bad

To be frank, BMPCC shots look actually BETTER than Arri shots on your video. But there’s a REAL REASON for it - you are USED TO work with BMPCC, you know this tool much better, you have more EXPERIENCE and skill with it. A tank has more firepower than a shotgun, but you will learn faster how to use a shotgun than a tank, it doesn’t mean that a skilful tank operator (well, there’s normally a team of three, but you get the point) will rip you apart apart during battle

i could tell difference sraight away, green tint and reddish blacks on Blacmmagic recognizable even from moon. Also Arri has motion close to celluloid filmn.

🎉🎉🎉🎉you Can make a tutorial on DaVinci résolve the color grading please 👏👏

Hey Blake, do you use constant quality or constant bitrate on your films?

Nice video.

If you know what you are doing, just about any camera will do.

I could definitely tell the airport scene was a phone camera

Many comparison videos do not talk about the superior Arri lenses which also boost the Arri look.

Wait are you the guy from the dark knight who joker said would squeal 😅

most of the times: expensive cameras equal expensive lighting. And thats where you see the difference. (+ color science of arri) :-)

I can smell and tell

Bmpcc and arri color science is so close that unless you are a professional colorist the films story will distract you from any differences.

yep, the arris still worth it

A cinematographer in Hollyweird said "Blackmagic 90% of an Arri at 10% of the price"

What lenses do you think would be awesome for a Biblical epic?

It's not about how good a camera can look, it's about how bad it can NOT look when circumstances are difficult. That's why you pay more for cameras. A BM camera will let you down in many cases, for example with hard-clipped highlights.

Can you turn fanfic I made into a short film? What if Mary Goodnight got kick out of the MI6 We start the story at the Bonds house Mary Goodnight was in a bathrobe and knocked on the door removing the rob revealing her bikini she put her hands on her hips waiting for Bond to come out she knocked again then again eventually she realized he wasn’t home then a car pulled up she was hoping it was bond but instead it was someone from the MI6. That person: Miss Goodnight your needed. Later in M’s office Goodnight: walked in you needed me sir? Goodnight: nice new water Fountain I was thinking of getting one myself and… M: sit down. She then sit. M: i’ve been looking at some paperwork and I now realize it was a mistake hiring you. Goodnight: what do you mean! M: because of your incompetence you nearly blew the mission! M: and why are you dressed like that that’s supposed to be evidence! Goodnight: well you say I wanted to surprise James and… M: keep it, you are relieved of duty get out! Mary Goodnight ran to the door M: and by the way I hope you enjoy that cause all of your clothing with Q’s tracker in it is technically government property and will be given to your replacement! Thank you for listening to this short story made I will be making a sequel to this but I want to know what job do you think Mary Goodnight should get next?

Amazing, the bmpcc looks better than the arri.

It like the cinematic equivalent of the cultural experiment where they opened up a luxury store in LA but with shoes and bags that were actually from ROSS.. and no one could tell the difference lol WHY WASTE MONEY ON AN ARRI??

You could only tell on the skin tones. Most people wouldn’t catch it

Hollywood should use blackmagic 6k. They shoot completely raw and 6k......I mean why not...Cheaper.....

I thought the iPhone 11 looked best.

I agree not enough of a difference for the price gap especially when you know what you’re doing. +---------+---------+ 🌹“Pray the Rosary every day, in order to obtain Peace in the world…...” ~Our Lady’s Words at Fatima May 13th, 1917🌹 -As always, Repent & believe in the Gospel!! God Bless.!! +---------+---------+

75,000 for that camera that's ridiculous I don't care how clear the picture is that's ridiculous people are just getting too damn greedy

Just use your tools and tell a good story!

Extra 2 stop of dynamic range for the start, extra 2 if not 3 stops of latitude, thicker richer texture and colour science, nicer highlight roll off... to properly compare them shoot ARRIRAW and Braw footage and CST in Davinci timeline ... People who don't shoot ARRIRAW and more importantly don't colour grade will never understand why ALEXA is 40 times more expensive than BMD. As for Alexa, blacks are really black, whites are really white. Most of BMD camera produce muddy blacks and orange reds, and they fall apart with weird patterns when underexposed 3 stops or more and latitude goes out of the window, where ALEXA is still by at least 2 stops above any other camera on the market and ALEXA 35 by 4 stops ! BMD camera can produce decent images within its limitation, but when you need push the limits in dynamic range scenes, they will fall apart when put against ALEXA by at least 2-3 stops... and that is lots of light, btw... otherwise lets just use iPhone 11 Pros... BMPCC6K is capable and exciting camera, but to compare it with ALEXA is just immature and amateurish IMO....

i can tell the difference

I can't see the point of comparing; its like saying Skoda driving at 70mph is faster than a Ferrari driving at 35mph.

The computational "depth of field" effect on the iPhone gives it away immediately. Totally unuseable.

Wait.... So you shot the movie on an ARRI. Then for reshoots you used a camera that you already own..... So you wasted all that money on a camera that you didn't even use in the end product? Nice.....

I got most of it right

The airport scene does look amateur in my opinion. I could spot it was shot on an iPhone.

At 4:53 you state, “it’s never about the kit”… But this comes off a bit hypocritical, as you just told us that you rented a $75,000 camera… plus a set of cinema lenses. So I ask the following question: if it’s never about the kit, why pray tell did you choose to shoot your film with an expensive cinema camera? What drove you to select such an expensive camera setup? What did it offer that your smartphone did not? In answering these questions, I’m convinced you’ll realize, sometimes it is about the kit…. But it’s never ONLY about the kit.

Blackmagic looks terrible