Blackmagic Pocket 495.00 Summer Sale

The batteries are the same as Nikon EL-EN20, if it's urgent they are readily available from a camera or battery shop.

As far as I know SD cards still can't be formatted or clips deleted in camera. No mention of that feature in recent firmware updates so you'll need to buy a few.
 
Excellent, thanks, I've ordered 3 extra. Going to have to look at my SD cards as I understand it can be a little fussy when it comes to those. Hopefully I will have the camera by tomorrow if they weren't just blatantly lying to me about having one left in stock...
 
I'm thinking about buying the pocket camera, and the issue for me is the Metabones adapter. B&H sells the adapter for $100 off when purchased with the camera. The adapter is specifically matched to fit the pocket camera's smaller sensor. Many people feel that it's a valuable accessory, but it's still a lot of money. If they decide to replace the camera with one with a slightly larger sensor (possibly because they're going to add 4K--obviously total speculation), then I'm stuck with a Metabones adapter that only works with one camera. Hmmm.
 
Egg Born Son said:
I'm almost wishing I had the opportunity to cancel my order. I bought this thinking it would finally open up the world of 16mm lenses to me. Shoulda done more research...
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I'm wondering if I should get one too. It's tempting, and I have a $100 credit at my local camera store to make it even more tempting, but I'm having a hard time justifying my gear lust to get one. What do I gain over the 5D3 with ML raw that I already have? Portability?
The metabones speed booster is a little expensive, or I'd have to buy a M43 lens. The sensor is still pretty small. OTOH, raw would mean that I could more easily match the video to any other camera in grading. I dunno. $495 is tempting though...
 
Jim Ritscher said:
I'm thinking about buying the pocket camera, and the issue for me is the Metabones adapter. B&H sells the adapter for $100 off when purchased with the camera. The adapter is specifically matched to fit the pocket camera's smaller sensor. Many people feel that it's a valuable accessory, but it's still a lot of money. If they decide to replace the camera with one with a slightly larger sensor (possibly because they're going to add 4K--obviously total speculation), then I'm stuck with a Metabones adapter that only works with one camera. Hmmm.
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I think the metabones is mandatory. It is as close as you are going to get halfway to fixing the wider end of lens options with the crop factor. A 12mm will give you a 21mm FOV with the BMPCC version of the speedbooster, without it the FOV will be 35mm. Any lens wider than that is likely to distort no matter how expensive. Most C-mount lenses won't cover the sensor until about 16-20mm. It also makes any glass you already own available to this camera if you have 35mm lenses. Consider it part of the camera. If you sell it down the track, sell it with the metabones. Get a better price and quicker sale. I suspect that blackmagic will keep this sensor size down the track. Offering S16 and S35 sensor sizes markets itself, I think. Even if the reality isn't that simple.

Otherwise the regular metabones MFT adapter will work on the BMPCC. It is $60 cheaper but not as good with the BMPCC. instead of making your pocket camera the equivalent of S35, it makes it the equivalent of MFT so the crop factor become 2x instead of 1.75x. So the 35mm equivalent FOV on a 12mm lens will be 21mm on the BMPCC version, 24mm with the MFT version 24mm FOV and 35mm with a dumb MFT adapter which isn't a bad compromise if you have a 12mm. On the other hand a 50mm lens will have a FOV of 87mm, 100mm and 144mm respectively so you can see the dilemma on the wide end of the spectrum. The BMPCC version is also sharper. But the MFT version will work with any other MFT system camera. I'm torn too since I also have a GH2 but I think I'll get the BMPCC version as my widest lens is 16mm.


Andrius Simutis said:
I'm wondering if I should get one too. It's tempting, and I have a $100 credit at my local camera store to make it even more tempting, but I'm having a hard time justifying my gear lust to get one. What do I gain over the 5D3 with ML raw that I already have? Portability?
The metabones speed booster is a little expensive, or I'd have to buy a M43 lens. The sensor is still pretty small. OTOH, raw would mean that I could more easily match the video to any other camera in grading. I dunno. $495 is tempting though...
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The more research I do (and I've been doing a lot, sick in bed for 5 days now and it takes my mind off my poor poor overly abused cough muscles) the more I'm getting comfortable with the purchase. The key (aside from doing your research before you purchase...never seem to get the hang of that one) is to be brutal in focussing on what you are getting it for. You can go crazy with support equipment but then you might as well have bought the more expensive more inclusive camera.

As for the image, I've been watching a lot of graded and ungraded comparison videos of the pocket vs various DSLRs. I haven't seen one where the DSLR wins to my eye. I'm not looking forward to learning the new workflow and the idea of having to manually sync external audio does not fill exactly me with joy...
 
Egg Born Son, that is some good thinking. Yes, if you have existing lenses the Metabones Speed Boster is almost a necessity. If you buy it from B & H, the $100 off on the Metabones makes it that much easier to sell if you have to. The three possible adapters are:
$429. Magnification factor: .71 - Micro 4/3
$489. Magnification factor: .64 - For the BMCC (2.5 K)
$489. Magnification factor: .58 - For the pocket camera
Get well soon.
 
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Egg Born Son said:
I bought mine from B&H last thursday night and it said 7-21 days backorder from memory. It shipped friday and will arrive tomorrow. Your mileage may vary.

You might have dodged a bullet. I'm almost wishing I had the opportunity to cancel my order. I bought this thinking it would finally open up the world of 16mm lenses to me. Shoulda done more research. Took the better part of that time to find one that even covers the sensor. I suppose $500 isn't so bad for learning a lesson about crop factor the hard way. I won't be looking at any more c-mount lenses that's for sure. I realise now that tricking this thing out will turn it into a white elephant fast, so going to have to reign in my ambition. $500 off could easily end up costing me thousands. If I treat it as a transitional camera I can save this impulse buy from ignomy, so I've got to keep the accessories simple, total cost under $2000.

After researching c-mount I've realised metabones is essential so I essentially get that for free with the discount. Other than that a small cage to protect it, cheap audio solution and maybe a loupe (or evf if it works with my other cameras) and I'm done. Might stretch to get the Sigma 18-35mm to make it a single lens camera although I'll probably just stick to my Nikon glass. I think it can still be worthwhile as long as I work within its limitations. And after reading about RAW workflow I don't know how keen I am to get that image anymore. Probably best I didn't find that out on a much more expensive set up.
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I almost pulled the trigger on one the day of the announcement but the reasons you mentioned are why I didin't. Still so tempting as that price.
 
firehawk said:
I almost pulled the trigger on one the day of the announcement but the reasons you mentioned are why I didin't. Still so tempting as that price.
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Glad I helped you decide. It's easier to feel happy about a purchase when you go in with open eyes. I bought on impulse, which is okay at the price. Until you realise it's pretty much useless without at least $1000 of extra investment. On the plus side been doing a lot of research and with my revised expectations and better idea of what it's for, I think I can make it work for me. If nothing else it is by far the cheapest way to dip your toe into the world of raw. And the footage I've been looking at online is absolutely gorgeous. Even though we always carry on that the cinematic look has more to do with lighting, framing and production design, the graded test footage I've seen of basic street scenes and the like have me thinking that attitude is a little too dismissive of the cameras contribution.
 
I'm going to wait a couple weeks and see what the used market holds. I dont need it but if the camera used marks down even more then why the heck not!
 
Woohoo! It's here. Been sitting on my step for who knows how long. Bloody couriers, is it really so hard to ring the doorbell? Best not to dwell on it. I gotta get this box open and have a play. I'll report back once I get it open and working!
 
Egg Born Son said:
Even though we always carry on that the cinematic look has more to do with lighting, framing and production design, the graded test footage I've seen of basic street scenes and the like have me thinking that attitude is a little too dismissive of the cameras contribution.
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I am happy to see someone else think the same way as I do. Yes, there is way more to it than just the camera but some cameras just have at least a slight natural advantage right out of the gate.
 
Received the camera yesterday. It was a faulty unit (major sensor issues) but 2 things I wanted to mention.

1. It is EASY to use. I was expecting it to be a little more complicated I guess, but it was extremely intuitive (for me anyway).

2. Crop factor was not an issue. My widest lens is 14mm, and even at my 50mm the crop factor wasn't an issue. For hand-held anything over 24mm will be a problem, but with proper support it's no problem. I like the "long" look, even for wide shots, so that's probably why I didn't have an issue with it.
 
Egg Born Son said:
Woohoo! It's here. Been sitting on my step for who knows how long. Bloody couriers, is it really so hard to ring the doorbell? Best not to dwell on it. I gotta get this box open and have a play. I'll report back once I get it open and working!
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Ahhh... The exciting anticipation of a new camera in transit :) I like that feeling.
I hope the BMPCC works out well for you. Who knows, I may end up buying one yet. Trying to figure out how much more stuff I really needed to buy for it and then how best to work with the footage is what slowed me down.
 
Already have lens for my gh4.. for 500$ this camera is amazing. I use it last night and grab few video with my family everywhere in stores and nobody disturb me because i grab a small camera like a phone.. After we use great camera it hard too come back with iPhone video.
 
Hey brandon sorry to hear bout your bmpcc. I just reluctantly sold a good one before this announcement but having a bit of sellers remorse and thinking about taking the plunge again since you just cant beat the price. I'm just a little concerned these cams may be rejects from thei lab... I really hope not cause I reall want black magic to succeed as a company since they seem offer us low budget filmmakers such affordable options.
 
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