POCKET 6K: Auto Focus
- Thread starter Peter C.
- Start date
Peter C.
Veteran
I thought BM was too small to develop proper AF. So they concentrated on their target audience.
I never could understand why BM used the photo camera body so long. If they had developed a box style camera like the Pixes years ago or built a modular system that you could customize. On the one had they have great image quality and interface and on the other hand terrible decisions with form factor and batteries. Should have always run on a V-mount battery.
Its a step in the right direction even though it will take time to work out the kinks.
I never could understand why BM used the photo camera body so long. If they had developed a box style camera like the Pixes years ago or built a modular system that you could customize. On the one had they have great image quality and interface and on the other hand terrible decisions with form factor and batteries. Should have always run on a V-mount battery.
Its a step in the right direction even though it will take time to work out the kinks.
NorBro
Major Contributor
The URSA Minis starting in 2015 were kind of a box (with a V-mount plate) but longer, chunkier (and this is if you didn't add any accessories to it).
To me, none of their cameras were/are like photo camera bodies besides maybe the 4K Pocket, but it's still wide and bulky and it's not like holding a Japanese mirrorless.
They also had touch AF (touch once and watch it go in and out and then focus) for a long time but it's pretty much useless. I always thought they could have hired some help to expand on it, but I guess not.
To me, none of their cameras were/are like photo camera bodies besides maybe the 4K Pocket, but it's still wide and bulky and it's not like holding a Japanese mirrorless.
They also had touch AF (touch once and watch it go in and out and then focus) for a long time but it's pretty much useless. I always thought they could have hired some help to expand on it, but I guess not.
Peter C.
Veteran
Its hard to tell from the outside whether it was a philosophical decision that serious cinema people don't use AF, or the expertise is more complex and expensive than we imagine. Doesn't RED have terrible AF too?
I'm talking about the Pocket which if you've used is unwieldy. Its both wide, heavy, and with a lens uncaged tips forward on to the front element. Very strange calling it Pocket because it's anything but that. Battery life is terrible, you can add battery grip which just adds to the bulk.
In my mind they should have simply taken RED's box camera design improved on it and made it less expensive for the entry level person.
I'm talking about the Pocket which if you've used is unwieldy. Its both wide, heavy, and with a lens uncaged tips forward on to the front element. Very strange calling it Pocket because it's anything but that. Battery life is terrible, you can add battery grip which just adds to the bulk.
In my mind they should have simply taken RED's box camera design improved on it and made it less expensive for the entry level person.
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NorBro
Major Contributor
Come on, dawg...it's brand extension and nameplate carryover in marketing.
The original Pocket could fit into most average-sized pockets [although without a lens unless it was a jacket pocket, which then adds ambiguity to the model name because both could fit into most jacket pockets (even with some smaller or pancake lenses)].
The BMPCC is likely on the top 3 list of their most successful cameras.
When I heard "Pocket 4K", I preordered without even looking. So their strategy and leverage at least worked on this [mine] consumer's psychology.
To me - and this is conjecture - I would lean towards "...more complex and expensive...".
I think they needed more help with engineering; optical, electrical, software/FW, imaging, systems, etc. More people to develop an AF system that was highly improved by the Japanese companies.
And BM has had some...let's call it innovative brainstorming.
At one point they wanted to use the big URSA, which weighs 16-17lbs (without a brick), as a recorder for DSLRs, lol.
The original Pocket could fit into most average-sized pockets [although without a lens unless it was a jacket pocket, which then adds ambiguity to the model name because both could fit into most jacket pockets (even with some smaller or pancake lenses)].
The BMPCC is likely on the top 3 list of their most successful cameras.
When I heard "Pocket 4K", I preordered without even looking. So their strategy and leverage at least worked on this [mine] consumer's psychology.
To me - and this is conjecture - I would lean towards "...more complex and expensive...".
I think they needed more help with engineering; optical, electrical, software/FW, imaging, systems, etc. More people to develop an AF system that was highly improved by the Japanese companies.
And BM has had some...let's call it innovative brainstorming.
At one point they wanted to use the big URSA, which weighs 16-17lbs (without a brick), as a recorder for DSLRs, lol.
rob norton
Veteran
I always thought it'd be easier improving IQ vs implementing the best AF but here we are. Generally speaking, Japanese camera companies are usability first, nice images being secondary, with BM being the inverse. I think AF is slightly in no-person's land on BM cameras, where for fast work and AF with stills lenses, it's assumed that IQ isn't the most important element. As in, the smaller BM cameras aren't great for this style of shooting but with AF they take a step towards Japanese style systems, minus the speed/size advantages. The pyxis and larger cameras are mostly in cinema glass territory (solo focussing with lidar) or a focus puller. Except it'd be cool for telephoto lens great AF tracking with BM's image, a pretty new combo to think about.
Of course it'd be a welcome bonus because people often own one camera then make it work in a number of situations even if it's not the ideal tool. I haven't used the latest batch of smaller cameras but they look like a nightmare for me but I'm sure this AF will be the additions some people have been dreaming about.
Of course it'd be a welcome bonus because people often own one camera then make it work in a number of situations even if it's not the ideal tool. I haven't used the latest batch of smaller cameras but they look like a nightmare for me but I'm sure this AF will be the additions some people have been dreaming about.