I admit that I'm a novice when it comes to video and that I don't understand all the terminology. I am eager to learn, and that's why I come to this and other sites. I also understand the principle behind shooting 'flat' in order to be able to manipulate the image in post. I would like to provide examples, but nearly every BMPCC video I've seen has been 'fl... and lifel...' I can however share an example of what I do consider to be a 'correct' video, with beautiful highlights, mids and shadows, shot with the GH1 and GH2 cameras.
I haven't seen any charred bodies, flat, lifeless or otherwise, but it's not clear you understand how the camera operates.
Is the notion of LOG or Film Mode familiar to you? Do you understand that footage directly out of the camera is not meant to be attractive or acceptable? That this footage has a low-contrast, washed-out milky appearance, and that it's designed this way for a reason and requires post-production to add proper saturation and contrast?
Sorry to be so pedantic about it, but if you don't provide examples, it's hard to address your complaint.
@jrd I'm not 'conflating' anything. I've never read anyone else remark about the flat and lifeless images out of the BMPCC before, only how wonderful the images look (and that goes for Black Magic's most recently released camera as well). And for that matter, I've never heard anyone else comment that most of the videos from this camera that have been posted online are poorly color corrected. Excuse me if I haven't seen those posts. Edit: I just Googled BMPCC and "flat, lifeless images", and it would indeed appear that if anyone makes an innocuous remark about 'flat' or 'grey' images concerning the camera, they are instantly burned at the stake. I should also add that I've yet to see a crisp image made with the pocket camera.
At the very most, according to the testers, the camera can do some 10 stops of dynamic range, and even that is stretching things. No wonder all the videos I've seen from this camera look so horribly flat and lifeless.
You can't conflate this test with your complaint --repeated many times? - of "horribly flat and lifeless" footage. You rarely see more than 8 stops in 35mm release prints, and nobody claims those prints are "flat and lifeless". It's easy enough, with any camera, including those with less dynamic range than the BMPCC to create bright popping images, if that's your ideal.
Most of the BMPCC footage online is poorly color corrected. Some isn't corrected at all and is offered as an actual example of BMD file mode.
If this is "flame territory", it's because the matter has been explained many times before, but never seems to sink in.
@CaptainHook I do read French, and from what I read in the article, it looks as though Black Magic has made grossly exaggerated claims about the dynamic range of the BMPCC. To begin with, exposing correctly proved extremely difficult for the reviewers (En pratique, l'exposition de cette petite caméra nous paraît laborieuse et peu précise). It also seems that the camera clips very easily in highlights (La première sensation, c'est que la BMPCC clippe rapidement les hautes lumières, même en RAW), which apparently is not recoverable in post. And just to clarify, the reviewers at Focus Numerique did use DaVinci Resolve Lite for editing. At the very most, according to the testers, the camera can do some 10 stops of dynamic range, and even that is stretching things. On the other hand, the camera did quite well in low light, and the reviewers recommend using RAW under these conditions for the least noise possible (Sur les très basses lumières, le capteur de la BMPCC s'en sort très bien). No wonder all the videos I've seen from this camera look so horribly flat and lifeless. But I'm approaching flame territory...
John has posted repeatedly that for RAW the cameras store 16bit linear in 12bit LOG format, that unpacks inside Resolve as 16bit linear again.
In fact, article say similar thing just formally and proves that actually only 10bits are used.
@jonpais - i don't know, i don't speak french sorry. Just responding to the comment that the Pocket raw is not linear.. We've known since the BMCC first arrived it's stored as LOG. But John also said back then it unpacks in Resolve back into 16bit linear.
At least they mixed up a few things: their Tilta is a Gini…
@CaptainHook So the results of Photo Numerique are all wrong?
John has posted repeatedly that for RAW the cameras store 16bit linear in 12bit LOG format, that unpacks inside Resolve as 16bit linear again.
@Vitaliy Thanks so much for the link. A very enlightening read, indeed.
BMPCC raw is nonlinear.
Also RAW research show that only 10bits actually are present in 12bits raw file.
I am working on one right now ... send me a PM
Is there any solution to use a smartphone instead of an external monitor? I have a big full HD Note 3 and I want to use it for that. I think it is relatively simple. Need an HDMI transmitter stick plugged into BMPCC (or any camera with HDMI output) with wifi direct, or Android hardare built in... Does already exist, or is it posible to manufacture one?
@Sarah839 If you select the Nikon mount version of the Sigma lens, then you will have full manual control over the aperture and focus of the lens on the BM Pocket.
Raw footage with a C-mount lens (SK 25mm f/1.8)
I purchased this camera recently. Here are a few impressions.
Is there a work around for the Sigmas?, I have them already and have seen some great footage on Vimeo paired with the Pocket..
Only manual lenses plus Panasonic and Olympus lenses work on the Pocket.
Can anyone help? Does anyone know if the Sigma art lenses are working in terms of aperture on the pocket now?
I'm particularly thinking about the 19mm. Such a great lens, but sad it has problems on the pocket.
mainly for 4K BMPC - but there is only one firmware for all cameras
BMPCC firmware update to 1.6.1.
Promises "general stability improvements." I installed it with no problem. Since I never had any instability before (aside from shaky cam!), I am not sure what is improved.
@act Nice looking video.
@act Well done on that video
I picked up a lilliput 5dII 7inch for 130 bucks(open box) on amazon it works great...one of the few "cheap options" It actually looks really nice and has a built in hood.
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