@kholi, Any chance you could post some side-by-side DNGs vs ProRes and make them available for download?

@spacewig

There's a difference concerning color fidelity, DR (just like the 2.5K, all of the DR the camera has to offer is accessible with RAW), and detail.

It's all just there, accessible.

I think you can definitely make the ProRes look nearly as solid as the RAW with sharpening etc., and for most people ProRes will be enough. But, the RAW's an obvious step up once you get down to comparing the files, especially in dicey situations.

Still have to net a pair of 64GB Sandisk cards, if not three. I chew through the 32gb cards very quickly just testing/pixel peeping.

Edit here: I have some DNGs, but it's the most mundane stuff. I'm still testing/trying to find any faults, and currently in post and pre-production so there isn't a lot going on.

I can share some of the DNGs, though. We're permitted to do so.

Does anyone else have the problem of the clock/calendar in the BMPCC resetting all the time? It's making media management a little difficult since the clips aren't listed in chronological order.

I do agree that it's very simple to expose the top end on the camera, even without zebras as I've attempted, and also in video mode. Somehow the screen actually works? It reminds me of the HVX200 screen, though, because I could expose that camera without any other tools, just looking at the screen.

Basically, if it's clipping to yellow(ish)/cyan(ish), backing off of that a tiny bit will give you some headroom with ProRes in post, and much more when shooting RAW. I've tried this with the video mode as well, and definitely leaves room in the baked in color.

But, on to the problem of underexposing too far to protect highlights: I don't think there's any other way outside of adding something to the camera (histogram), a meter, or shooting a few TBs if real world footage to develop the instinct. I can do it without a histogram now, but that's after using the 2.5K for nearly a year now.

I've definitely started using the TVLogic waveform more, though.

Color shouldn't take a drastic hit unless you're lacking IR in broad daylight. The noise, however, without processing that's just something that one will have to remove in post.

I attached some images as examples of color when underexposed.

The beach shot is basically two stops underexposed, it was well after sunset.

The guitar was around two stops, shot at 2.0 on the Sigma 18-35

The chick swinging was pure darkness outside of the neon lights to the side. It's 3.5 stops under on the SLR 25/0.95 wide open.

The color isn't the issue, to me anyway, the noise is definitely present.

@digger

We were using Rokinon Cine on the 2.5k and SLR Magic and Voight on the Pocket. So we were everywhere!

i use a similar battery, theyre great. your a very brave man to go shoot with only a day under your belt ha.

I got my BMPCC yesterday right before work. I filmed part of an engagement shoot today and my gosh was it challenging! Here's a list of what I dealt with today.

-The screen is so hard to use. Its not as clear as I imagined. I got lucky because I brought a cheap LCD monitor I used for framing and focus. It was sharper than the BMPCC and that shocks me. The color rendition on my BMPCC screen is very good although near useless in bright outdoors.

-When they said the battery drains fast, holy granola does it drain fast! Literally if you take your eye off the level for a second, the percentage will drop FAST. I had 7 batteries with me. I only shot 20gb of data and yet i burned through 4 batteries. And that was turning it on and off between takes! I hope they make a dedicated battery for this one like the Switronix for BMCC. Hopefully its as small too! My advice for now, ORDER MORE BATTERIES! I got the 1800mAH batteries from Ebay. They last longer than the one that comes with the camera.

-Focus peaking is a bit weak. Sometimes it doesn't detect edges at all. Hopefully a firmware update fixes that or adds a feature to increase the sensitivity of the peaking.

-After installing 1.4.2 firmware, the onboard Audio cleared up. No screeching noise!

-20mm Lumix Lens DOES NOT WORK! A minute or two after stopping the aperture down, it resets itself to F1.7... Weird!

-Last but not least, I hope they put a Delete feature or at least a Memory Left info tab.

All in all, it was fun! A challenge worth taking and learning from! Even grading the footage is tough! Im not a DaVinci Resolve guy. I'm going to stick to Apple Color until I learn Resolve properly (anyone with good links to tutorials please PM ME? :D ). The node system is enticing but its a lengthy process for fast turn around.

I'm actually finding Magic Bullet produces a better slap on film look than film convert for this camera. Here is what I find works. Create an adjustment layer in Premiere Pro, ad MB preset Curahee or No.85 to the adjustment layer. Remove any diffusion effect in preset. Play with powering off/on other effects in presets as well. Decrease opacity of adjustment layer to get final look (usually around 30-60 depending on image).

+1 on intense test to include all possible scene types, using actors (or stand-ins), both moving and static...basically, all variables. Then also test your post editing and exporting workflow. Bottom line: make sure you can get the images you want and need. Also hopefully the guys who have been shooting with BMPCC can give you heads up on what to expect with this camera. (Also if running audio through cam, definitely master that process as well, to make sure you are getting the sound/audio you want and need.)

I don't have the experience that many of you guys have, and I am working with a competent, but young crew. Saying that we are used to shooting with Canons (my DP) and Panasonics (G6 currently) and will have roughly two weeks with the pocket cinema camera before we start shooting, should we just stick with what we know for now?

@peaceonearth

They are pretty expensive, but that's something you carry with you to another camera. I'm wondering if the company has any plans to put the glass into 77mm filters. They could sell them at 75-80% the current MSRP and make more money.

I have a 77mm UV/IR behind a 77mm vari ND and so far haven't noticed much in the way of pollution. Had the 77mm for my fs700 and tried it out on a whim with the BMPC.