BlackMagic has established themselves as a company that produces quality video equipment with practical if not unique design choices. The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 6k is the company's next iteration of their Pocket Cinema line, expanding on their popular 4k model. The 6k adds a super 35 sensor, higher resolution recording capability with impressive frame rate options, and a Canon EF mount. It might look like a weird 90s knockoff 35mm film camera you'd find at a thrift store made from plastic with a lead weight in the bottom, but don't be fooled. The Pocket Cinema 6k is a serious tool with serious capability for serious shooters that want to make serious films. Seriously.
Looking at the camera's body it does look a bit... shall we say... different. The grip gives it the ergonomics of a mirrorless body, but without any viewfinder. That's ok since the large 5" rear display makes it easy to touch to autofocus as well as see exactly what you're doing with great clarity. The overall aesthetic of the camera body holds over from the 4k Pocket Cinema, though the EF mount adds a substantial amount of flange distance. Some might say this is a missed opportunity considering a shorter flange distance with a different mount would have allowed for a multitude of adapters and speed boosters which could have expanded even further on the already huge array of Canon EF lenses already available. Still, the EF mount will serve the camera nicely and provide a vast array of well established still and cinema lenses, like our collection of Canon Cinema Primes. The body is made from a fancy carbon fiber polycarbonate composite which makes the body lightweight and look cool.
The Pocket Cinema 6k boasts a host of pro features not least of which is the XLR mini port which provides phantom power for external mics. It also has a standard 3.5mm in and out for headphones and a DSLR style shotgun mic. The button placement is convenient and will make changes on the fly easy.
The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 6k shines thanks mostly to its larger and higher resolution super 35 sensor with a maximum recording resolution of 6144 x 3456 16:9 at 50fps. You also have the option of shooting 6k at 60fps at 6144 x 2560 2.4:1 and 60 fps at 5744 x 3024 17:9. It's important to note that if you're going to be shooting at these higher resolutions, not to mention 120 fps at 2.8K 2868 x 1512 17:9, you're going to have to record in BRAW, Blackmagic's RAW recording format. This isn't a bad thing considering Balackmagic is helping to bring RAW video to the masses, however the RAW workflow does require processing through the proprietary DaVinci Resolve Studio before working in a standard editor like Adobe Premier. This is an important point to consider since we can't provide the DaVinci Resolve Studio software with the rental, but is required for BRAW footage. Therefore, if you're renting the Pocket Cinema 6k and want to take advantage of its more impressive features, you'll need to aquire the software by going to Blackmagic's website here.
The Pocket Cinema 6k impresses further with its 13 stops of dynamic range, making it easier for shooting indoors while still retaining detail in highlights outside of a window. It also boasts dial native ISO sensitivites for better control over noise. Able to accept SD cards, CFast, as well direct record to a USB-C SSD drive like our 2TB Portable Samsung T5 SSD, the 6k remains flexibile in its storage compatibility.
Blackmagic continues to impress and bring pro cinema camera features to those with a DSLR or mirrorless background. A solid option to use on set for a plethora of end uses, the Blackmagic Pocket CInema 6k makes it easy to record high resolution RAW footage in a user friendly package. Rent a BlackMagic Pocket Cinema 6k and take your filmmaking to the next level.