filmguy123
Veteran
are there any downsides to mini XLR in terms of quality, power, S/N ratio, etc.? Or is it pure 100% XLR quality in a smaller form factor?
4k bmpcc
- Thread starter starcentral
- Start date
Samuel H
Major Contributor
I've just spent half an hour trying to work out the dynamic range of the GH5s when shooting RAW stills in 12-bit mode, compared to something that I know. The GH5 is very, very close to my a6000, and I think the GH5s in 12-bit mode is close to that as well, maybe just a bit lower, but it depends on the ISO. If the pocket 4k can match that, I'm definitely getting one. The amount of pushing and pulling that I can do on my a6000 raw stills is a completely different world with respect to what I can do with my a7S/RX100IV slog videos.
I don't know why mini XLR connectors are not more popular. I own two boundary microphones that use mini XLR connectors, and they perform the same as any of my full size XLR mics.
filmguy123
Veteran
I agree, Pure. At this point in video tech, it's mostly a convergence and size game for me personally. I have a sound devices pre-amp, XLR extenders, Atomos recorder, GH5 & S and EVA1, batteries, SSDs, etc. etc. etc.
What I am looking most forward to is further innovation along the lines of what BMD is doing here. I hope this spurs intense competition. How great would it be to have a GH6 (err... 7? 8? ha!) with improved IBIS, better than 5S lowlight, 14 stops DR, sound devices quality pre-amps, mini XLR inputs, internal ProRes/DNxHR/RAW recording, 5" OLED ultra bright screen, electronic variable ND, etc. all in one body. The creative freedom and workflow on that would be wonderful.
For all the time I spend researching and shopping gear, you wouldn't think I hate gear so much. Pretty excited for the next 10 years to obsolete everything and put it in my pocket, so it's just me, my brain, and my camera. Fun.
What I am looking most forward to is further innovation along the lines of what BMD is doing here. I hope this spurs intense competition. How great would it be to have a GH6 (err... 7? 8? ha!) with improved IBIS, better than 5S lowlight, 14 stops DR, sound devices quality pre-amps, mini XLR inputs, internal ProRes/DNxHR/RAW recording, 5" OLED ultra bright screen, electronic variable ND, etc. all in one body. The creative freedom and workflow on that would be wonderful.
For all the time I spend researching and shopping gear, you wouldn't think I hate gear so much. Pretty excited for the next 10 years to obsolete everything and put it in my pocket, so it's just me, my brain, and my camera. Fun.
Thomas Smet
Veteran
As far as I know the answer is no. Its the guts that matter and mini XLR still isolates the two channels and the ground. I guess its possible the thinner wiring could cause issues but I haven't heard of anything. Besides most people are not running 50 feet of mini XLR. Whatever short distances are used with mini XLR I'm sure it would be perfectly fine.
combatentropy
Veteran
The Red One's audio jacks were Mini-XLR. The only downside to Mini-XLR is you have to remember the adapter cable. The mini part is the jack, not the cable. So you just need a short cable with Mini-XLR on one end and standard XLR on the other.
Cameras would be better off if Mini-XLR became the standard (two could fit even on a body as small as an SLR, no bulky box required). But it will probably never happen. It's a chicken-and-egg problem. So many microphones, mixers, etc. So many crew with yards of standard XLR cable. Etc.
Cameras would be better off if Mini-XLR became the standard (two could fit even on a body as small as an SLR, no bulky box required). But it will probably never happen. It's a chicken-and-egg problem. So many microphones, mixers, etc. So many crew with yards of standard XLR cable. Etc.
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I'm curious, can you choose between 12-bit and 14-bit raw stills on the GH5s ? ( internally the GH5 sensor is 12-bit, where the GH5s is 14-bit )
Samuel H
Major Contributor
Kind of: if you shoot in normal mode, it's 14 bit. If you shoot high-FPS stills mode, for example, it's 12-bit.
dpreview tried both modes, you can see the results here: https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dc-gh5s-review/6
roxics
Veteran
I'm not sure if I should be excited or terrified those Sesame street characters are coming out the screen. Is this a new form of 3D or a new version of The Ring?
Bern Caughey
Veteran
I’ve got reservations about IR, moire, FPN, preamps, battery life, & more, but I still put down a $100 non-refundable deposit on the BMPCC 4K. I’m a fan of the GH5, & been debating adding a GH5S, but VLog-L artificially limits the DR of both & I doubt Panasonic is going to offer a better alternative. Won’t be getting rid of the GH5, & look at the Pocket 4K as just another tool in the bag.
The only other camera I’ve put a deposit on was the 4K URSA Mini, but never took delivery, & bought a FS7 instead, so a GH5S still has a chance to make it into my kit.
The only other camera I’ve put a deposit on was the 4K URSA Mini, but never took delivery, & bought a FS7 instead, so a GH5S still has a chance to make it into my kit.
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puredrifting
Major Contributor
Uh, just got a look at this in context with the scale of someone holding it with a lens mounted. How are they calling this a Pocket camera? It looks much larger than I thought it would look. At least GH5S size with the lens mounted. So what's all of the buzz for other than its cheap? Is that it, do people only care about cheap these days? Because Pocket this ain't.
philiplipetz
Veteran
"A film is not the telling of a dream, but a dream in which we all participate together through a kind of hypnosis, and the slightest breakdown in the mechanics of the dream wakens the dreamer, who loses interest in a sleep that is no longer his own.
"By dream, I mean a succession of real events that follow on from one another with the magnificent absurdity of dreams, since the spectators would not have linked them together in the same way or have imagined them for themselves, but experience them in their seats as they might experience, in their beds, strange adventures for which they are not responsible …"
"When I make a film, it is a sleep in which I am dreaming. Only the people and places of the dream matter. I have difficulty making contact with others, as one does when half-asleep. If a person is asleep and someone else comes into the sleeper’s room, this other person does not exist. He or she exists only if introduced into the events of the dream …"
—Jean Cocteau, The Art of Cinema
A bit of interesting information in this video. I wonder what the fan noise will be like in actual use. The mini-XLR is great, but if the fan is loud enough to be distracting... - hopefully it wont be. It sure looks like an amazing value. Looking forward to the first reviews down the road 
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:It's 7 inches long by 4 inches high by 3.5 inches deep. It's a brick...
But if everything pans out I will be happy to add this as another m4/3 body that can shoot RAW to my GH5 camera kit.
vcassel
Veteran
Value of features vs price > pocket sized or 'cheap'.
I have an URSA Mini 4K, which is a great value for its price, but I'd also like a smaller camera to work with so I can move on from my 5D III. This camera seems pretty perfect to me so far. Like I said before, I'll wait to see what Sony offers with their A7S III before I make up my mind.
NorBro
Major Contributor
'Pocket' is just a continuation of the branding.
Hundreds of thousands have begged for a Pocket II/BMPCC II for years, and even Grant - during the press conference - said he was asked so much about it every single time he spoke with people, so it was an obvious choice to include it in the name for its familiarity.
Even the first one was never meant to be taken literally. Like, really...what kind of camera is going to fit in a normal pants pocket besides a phone or compact point-and-shoot with a retracting lens.
Even though you could squeeze the BMPCC with a pancake lens if you needed to, its like come on now.
Hundreds of thousands have begged for a Pocket II/BMPCC II for years, and even Grant - during the press conference - said he was asked so much about it every single time he spoke with people, so it was an obvious choice to include it in the name for its familiarity.
Even the first one was never meant to be taken literally. Like, really...what kind of camera is going to fit in a normal pants pocket besides a phone or compact point-and-shoot with a retracting lens.
Even though you could squeeze the BMPCC with a pancake lens if you needed to, its like come on now.