ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

11 years, 2 months ago - Andrew Morgan

The BM4k is a mixed bag - if you light for it the camera can produce a stunning image unbeatable for the price (better even than the new Panasonic GH4) *however* its low-light performance is poor, you have to shoot iso 400 otherwise you'll run the risk of having horrific fixed-pattern noise in your shots. Built-in audio is also sub-par for professional use - you'll need a pre-amp or you'll need to record external audio.

With good, fast glass and a DoP that knows the camera's weaknesses you'll be fine - if you go into a shoot with it unprepared and unfamiliar with its issues then it could be disastrous.

It does have some great qualities though - ProRes HQ recording, global shutter and the aforementioned great image. If your final output is 1080p though my advice would be to shoot on the BM Cinema Camera in 2.5k RAW (or something else altogether).

11 years, 2 months ago - Tom Johnson

It's a fantastic camera, similar to the Red MX (and Epic) and is about the same in Low light, maybe a bit worse. If you're shooting a feature it should be lit anyway, to achieve that filmic / fictitious look (as opposed to documentary). I also have the blackmagic 2.5K which produces a better image imo, but doesn't have rolling shutter so not ideal if you're doing whip pans (but who wants to do whip pans?). It's also better in low light, (even better than the Alexa and Epic MX). If you want a really detailed and very boring but clinical exploration of the blackmagic 2.5K then by far the best tests here done by the guy in the link at the end of this email. (this one deals with low light) he has also done part 1 and part 3, where he tests the blackmagic 2.5K against the Alexa and Red Epic. He finds there's not a lot between them and infact the roll off in the highlights (the most important factor in digital cameras) the Blackmagic 2.5 K does better than the Epic. There are many factors that vary in different cameras, but there is no doubt the Blackmagic 2.5K is awesome. The 4K is also excellent, but different. It depends on your needs. It's good to have both cameras, like me. Then you can exploit the good and the bad from both.
http://nofilmschool.com/2013/02/blackmagic-cinema-camera-red-epic-arri-alexa-raw-test-part-2-low-light/

11 years, 2 months ago - Kays Alatrakchi

I agree with Andrew. It's a promising camera, perfect for exterior daytime or bright interiors, but not suited for low light or nighttime shoots. The preview screen is also problematic (this is true of all BM cameras) so an external monitor is a must have. Battery life is also very short so you will need a good external power source.

I wish I could recommend the GH4 as a 4K alternative, but IMHO Panasonic video looks...well...video-y; and that has not changed with the GH4. You're also dealing with a cropped sensor which might or might not be an issue for you, and a severely compressed 4:2:0 video file. For my money, I'd rather have more latitude in post and a little less resolution; so assuming that the crop sensor is acceptable, I have to second the suggestion to consider shooting on the BMCC 2.5K.

Lastly, if you're ok with shooting 1080p, but you need a camera which will absolutely rock in low light shooting, I should mention the Canon 5D3 equipped with the Magic Lantern raw software. The IQ is stunning and its low-light capability is second to none.

11 years, 2 months ago - Neil Oseman

I own a Blackmagic 4K. I wrote this blog recently about its pros and cons - http://neiloseman.com/?p=5378 - and I'll be publishing another in the next few days about my experiences of using it on a short recently. It's true that, by today's standards, it's not great in low light, but if your DP lights everything properly that's not going to be an issue. It has a few other quirks, but it's great value for money and I'll really rate the organic images it produces.