Right now, I get an opportunity to play with the brand new Blackmagic Design Cinema Digicam 6K.
I’ve an admission to make. Before now, I had by no means used one of many pint-sized Blackmagic Design cinema cameras. I might used the bigger URSA our bodies. Simply not the smaller traces just like the pocket or cinema cameras. Over the course of my profession as a filmmaker, and facet hustle as a tech reviewer, I’ve gotten to shoot with just about each model and mannequin of digicam available on the market. Because of the nature of my work, the majority of my filmmaking is finished on the Alexas, Venices, and REDs of the world, with nearly all of my nonetheless work break up between Nikons and medium format. For years, my post-production workflow has closely centered round Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve Studio for each modifying and coloration grading. However, regardless of what number of occasions I might examine them, I had by no means gotten an opportunity to play with one of many firm’s in style smaller-sized Cinema cameras with the DSLR-shaped our bodies that promise to supply top-level picture high quality at a fraction of the prices of their rivals.
Luckily, all that has modified as I’ve not too long ago gotten an opportunity to check out the brand new Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K with a model new full body sensor and the Leica L mount. As I simply talked about, that is the primary of the Blackmagic Design Cinema Cameras I’ve gotten to check. So, I will not strategy this evaluation as a comparability to different Blackmagic Design fashions. Nor will I be evaluating it to different particular mirrorless or cinema cameras available on the market. This can be a digicam meant to be thought-about by itself phrases. In order that’s how I’ll go about my evaluation.
I’d be remiss if I did not begin this part by telling you that this explicit evaluation took fairly a bit longer than I had deliberate. That is not a mirrored image on the product. Slightly a case of the universe seeming decided to squelch my plans in any respect prices. Once I do a evaluation, I desire to evaluation a product in a real-world situation quite than merely checklist the tech specs. Virtually any digicam made within the final decade has satisfactory specs on paper. What I wish to know is the way it works tangibly within the subject. So, my plan all alongside was to place it to make use of on a take a look at undertaking to simulate my common workflow.
To that finish, I first bought my arms on the Blackmagic Design Cinema Digicam 6K throughout the vacation season. I might gotten an opportunity to do your primary brick wall assessments, however taking pictures something significant can be troublesome throughout the days when household gatherings justifiably take priority over dynamic vary. So, whereas my first couple of weeks had been spent twiddling with settings and doing baseline testing to ensure the digicam truly functioned, the actual testing, on an precise set, was deliberate for the start of the 12 months. The second day of the 12 months to be precise. I might accomplished pre-production on a brief movie that I used to be all set to shoot. Discovered my places and my solid. All set to rock and roll. After which… I bought Covid. The date needed to be moved. My male lead booked a TV present which might put him out of fee. And I used to be compelled to spend the subsequent two weeks confined to my lounge till I might exit once more and rejoin the final inhabitants.
Whereas I used to be caught gazing my bed room partitions, my unique loaner model of the digicam needed to be returned. However, fortunately, I used to be capable of get a substitute from one other supply. With needing to return to the 1st step with the brief movie, I as an alternative determined to bump up the taking pictures date for a health spec as an alternative and use that for functions of research. It was going to be a small shoot as I used to be within the midst of a handful of different bigger shoots on the identical time. However, fortunately, this was the form of idea I might execute simply on the public park and check out the digicam with a dwell topic. I set the shoot for a 7 am name time and went to mattress the night time earlier than able to create. Then I wakened at 5 am on the shoot day to a uncommon torrential rainstorm hitting Los Angeles and turning that public park right into a public lake. So, as soon as once more, the shoot needed to be pushed.
Fortunately, I used to be capable of reschedule and at last bought to check out the digicam in the actual world quite than merely in hypotheticals. I am glad I did. As a result of, utilizing it gave me a reasonably good thought of its strengths and weaknesses in addition to the kind of filmmaker this device is likely to be finest suited to.
Who Is It For?
I believe this can be a nice digicam for filmmakers. Particularly youthful and/or impartial filmmakers working inside a restricted finances. By “filmmakers,” I imply conventional filmmakers who can be working in a crew surroundings quite than solo shooters taking a extra run-and-gun strategy. Not that there is something mistaken with working and gunning. I do it on a regular basis. But when your purpose is infinite content material creation the place you’re capturing life because it speeds by, versus a extra methodical strategy of working from a script, storyboards, and in depth preproduction, then logic means that you’ll doubtless desire a digicam with wonderful autofocus. Since this digicam has very restricted autofocus choices, this won’t be the one for a run-and-gun shooter. Conversely, if you’re the kind of one who sees themselves rising your profession inside conventional filmmaking, autofocus is unlikely to be your major consideration. You’re usually going to be working inside a crew framework the place another person is pulling focus for you. So, your major standards as an alternative can be getting probably the most picture high quality in your greenback. That is the place the Blackmagic Cinema Digicam 6K actually shines.
Picture High quality and File Codecs
Proper out of the field, with none planning aside from telling my canine to go fetch, the picture high quality of the digicam was obvious. At $2,595, you get a heck of a variety of picture high quality in your buck. Greater than sufficient within the arms of a filmmaker able to utilizing it.
Capturing preliminary assessments, the very very first thing that I observed was how stunning the picture felt proper out of the field. Now, magnificence is within the eyes of the beholder. However, to my eyes, the 13 stops of dynamic vary on this full-frame sensor resulted in a stunning picture. The digicam information in Blackmagic RAW (with H.264 proxies). As somebody who’s already within the DaVinci Resolve Studio post-production universe, this works effectively, as that is the one format I’d doubtless select to shoot in anyway. Nevertheless, if you’re used to recording ProRes or different codecs, bear in mind that this digicam may require changes to your workflow.
Whereas I imagine in getting issues proper in digicam, I did make a degree of deliberately pushing and pulling the picture in submit. Much less to right errors and extra to see how far I might go. I shot in Blackmagic RAW at 5:1 compression at 400 ISO and located the native coloration rendition was very pleasing while not having to be manipulated. Nonetheless, I made a degree to push it and pull it as many as three stops and did not discover the picture breaking up. Flipping and shifting coloration temperature was simply achieved. Whereas I had set my temperature and publicity accurately on set, the digicam did give me confidence that it could be capable of assist me within the occasion I had made a mistake.
Like most up-to-date Blackmagic Cameras, you possibly can shoot in both Fixed Bitrate (from 3:1 to 12:1 compression) or Fixed High quality (Q0, Q1, Q3, and Q5). One retains your bitrate/file dimension constant. The opposite varies bit charge to protect high quality because the contents of your body change. I do not usually get this granular when speaking about document codecs, however, on this digicam the file codecs are particularly necessary. Particularly as a result of, as I rapidly came upon, your capacity to realize the best high quality will rely in your utilizing the best pace media potential with out dropping frames. That is true each when recording to the interior CFast Specific B slot or by way of the USB port which lets you document on to an exterior drive like, as an illustration, one of many many small Samsung SSD drives I’ve amassed through the years. The power to document straight to an SSD has at all times been one among my favourite options on Blackmagic Design cameras. So, if I had been to buy this digicam, the very first thing I’d think about is buying the quickest potential SSD drive to run together with it.
Open Gate
One huge win for this digicam is its capacity to shoot in 6K Open Gate at 3:2. There are a number of codecs to select from, however taking pictures 6K Open Gate lets you profit from the full-frame sensor. Moreover, the advantage of taking pictures Open Gate, for content material creators who may want to supply each widescreen and vertical video, means that you’ve got extra flexibility to shoot horizontally whereas nonetheless retaining sufficient vertical decision to crop in submit for TikTok or different social media platforms. I’m actually actually not a fan of vertical video. However, it would not seem as if it’s going anyplace anytime quickly. So for jobs that demand a vertical part, having Open Gate obtainable is a significant win.
You’ll be able to shoot as much as 36 fps in 6K Open Gate (or 4K Anamorphic). That extends to 48 fps in 6K non-Open Gate. Then to 60 fps in 4K DCI or 120 fps in HD. This digicam just isn’t meant as an excellent slow-motion beast, however it has greater than sufficient pace for conventional filmmakers who would solely be utilizing gradual movement on a extra restricted foundation. Additionally, 6K is rapidly turning into one among my favourite resolutions because it offers a cushion for a conventional 4K supply whereas not essentially bloating your file dimension fairly as a lot as one thing like 8K. It seems like a cheerful medium.
Nonetheless Pictures
I do know I am not the one one who has talked about this, however I actually do want I had this precise digicam in field kind. As that is extra a digicam for filmmakers, it is precisely the kind of device that you’re going to wish to rig up. The DSLR physique format makes a variety of sense for content material creators who must shoot stills and video with the identical physique. However, as this can be a higher match for conventional filmmaking, the DSLR physique format has much less utility.
With that mentioned, I did use the Blackmagic Design Cinema Digicam to shoot the thumbnail for my video and located a couple of advantages I hadn’t beforehand thought-about. Primarily, whereas I used to be already going to make use of DaVinci Resolve Studio to complete the video picture, I used to be now additionally in a position to make use of the identical program to complete the thumbnail as effectively. Because the purpose of the thumbnail was to make one thing consultant of the video, having the ability to copy and paste the video changes onto the nonetheless body as a baseline made tying the 2 property collectively seamless.
Now, as I make a considerable amount of my dwelling as a industrial nonetheless photographer, I am not saying I am buying and selling in all my conventional nonetheless cameras subsequent week. However, in case your actual goal is to supply video content material and the stills themselves are there primarily to supply thumbnails to go together with these movies, utilizing the Blackmagic Design Cinema Digicam to shoot these thumbnails makes a variety of sense. Particularly in case your submit course of already facilities round DaVinci Resolve.
Button Format and Rear LCD
Regardless of being formed like a hybrid digicam, the Cinema 6K is decidedly constructed for filmmakers. This brings me to my subsequent favourite side of the digicam. The button structure.
For those who’re used to taking pictures with a mirrorless hybrid digicam, you may know that accessing video-centered instruments rapidly is normally a journey in remapping and memorizing a number of customized buttons then nonetheless having to dive into the menu half the time for even probably the most primary actions. The Blackmagic Design Cinema Digicam 6K places every little thing you may want actually proper at your fingertips. In my case, the three giant and simply pressable customized buttons on the prime of the digicam are set to false coloration, focus peaking, and focus zoom. You’ll be able to set them to no matter you need. However, for me, I discovered it extremely fast to verify publicity, focus, then double-check focus, so simple as 1-2-3. True, you are able to do these kinds of issues with most cameras. However, I discovered the structure of the buttons right here to be particularly handy and fast, lowering problem on set.
And, regardless that I do desire a field format, the present format does supply an actual profit. Particularly, the implementation of the massive 5-inch LCD display on the again of the digicam. As somebody who just isn’t an enormous fan of mounting exterior screens, it’s nice to have an LCD constructed into the digicam that’s giant sufficient to manually pull focus with. Most DSLR our bodies have tiny LCD screens, which is okay if you’re counting on autofocus, however may be only a bit too small for my quite weak eyesight. So, I liked utilizing the massive LCD on the Blackmagic Design Cinema Digicam 6K as I used to be pulling my very own focus whereas taking pictures.
With both the elective EVF hooked up or by way of the generously giant 5-inch tilting LCD display on the again, the digicam makes it straightforward to seize the picture you meant. False coloration, zebras, body guides, a 90% information for these wishing to protect protected outer edges for simpler stabilization in submit. Most monitoring instruments can be found on the press of a button or simply adjustable on the digicam’s touchscreen just by urgent on the setting on the show. You’ll be able to load your individual premade LUTs. So if you’re taking pictures to a premade present LUT or wish to go away set realizing your publicity technique conforms along with your plans in submit, the digicam makes it straightforward to realize peace of thoughts.
The menu system itself can be one thing different producers might be taught from. As somebody who would not shoot with Blackmagic cameras on a regular basis, I discovered the menu gadgets to be precisely the place you’d anticipate them to be. It was very straightforward to undergo the pages one after one other and have the digicam arrange the best way I wished with no trace of confusion.
L Mount
The digicam comes with the L mount. This can both please or upset you relying on what lenses you presently have in your assortment. I’ve bought an unnecessarily vast assortment of lenses spanning a number of mounts. What I don’t have, sadly, is any L mount glass. So, I wanted to grab an adapter to do my take a look at with my private assortment of glass. No biggie. The loaner additionally got here with a implausible Sirui Saturn 34mm 2/9 1.6x Full Frame Anamorphic lens. This is not a full lens evaluation, however the lens’ rendition complimented the physique effectively. Furthermore, the digicam’s capacity to desqueeze in-body in an effort to view the scene accurately makes utilizing anamorphic glass with this physique a cinch. In case you are an L mount lens holder, you will see the digicam to just accept a big catalog of latest and classic lenses produced for the platform.
Ports and Connections
Connections embrace a full-size HDMI port, headphone and microphone jacks, two mini-XLR audio ports, USB-C connection, in addition to a 12 V energy provide for plugging the digicam in whereas taking pictures quite than utilizing the normal Sony L Batteries internally. The evaluation unit I bought had the optional battery grip, which lets you carry on board three L batteries at a time to increase battery life. Sadly, due to the manufacturing delays I discussed earlier, by the point I bought to truly do my shoot with the second loaner, I used to be working with simply the only inside battery. I believe, if I had been to personal this digicam, I’d need this grip and would additionally doubtless rig up the system to a V-mount energy supply. In any other case, this digicam will chew by energy comparatively rapidly. When taking pictures my little movie, I bought about an hour and twenty minutes with begin and cease recording earlier than I needed to change the interior battery.
And although it’s a good follow, whatever the digicam, to document audio individually when potential, it is good that the digicam gives onboard XLR audio. They’re mini XLR, however nonetheless a pleasant function on this value vary. I’d have appreciated an SDI port as effectively. However that is asking so much at this finances degree.
Professionals and Cons
Right here is all you want to know in regards to the Blackmagic Design Cinema Digicam 6K.
Professionals
- Glorious picture high quality
- Nice worth on the value
- Button placement
- 6K decision good for 4K deliverables
- Open Gate
- In-body anamorphic desqueeze
- Seamless seize of Blackmagic RAW for DaVinci Resolve customers
- Big selection of built-in publicity instruments
- Menu system
- Giant tilting LCD display
- (Mini) XLR audio
- Tally gentle
Cons
- Battery life
- No inside NDs
- Watch out to spend money on finest playing cards potential to entry highest recording codecs
- No inside ProRes
- Restricted autofocus
- No IBIS
Conclusion
What makes this digicam a strong device for the impartial filmmaker is that it gives all of those advantages at a really affordable value. You’ll be able to have a number of of those cameras for the value of many single higher-end cinema cameras. However, whilst you sacrifice a couple of bells and whistles, the very primary query, “Can this digicam present prime picture high quality,” is well answered. Completely. I would not hesitate in any respect to make use of this digicam to shoot a brief movie or an impartial movie. It is bought every little thing a talented filmmaker wants to inform their story in probably the most environment friendly means potential on the proper value. You should buy the Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K here.
