The Best Blackmagic Cinema Camera Footage so far!

Blackmagic Design caused a bit of a stir last year at NAB when they announced the Blackmagic Cinema Camera, just slightly larger than a DSLR it can shoot at 2.5k resolution and more importantly in RAW format. The 13 stops of dynamic range were unheard of at the relatively low price point of £1795 ($2995).

There were of course many cynics and a lot of fuss was made over the camera's small sensor size, at 15.81mm x 8.88mm it is much smaller than the s35mm sensors of the high end camera's out there. This was the beginning of a long ended debate on how wide it can shoot and if the sensor was too small to allow beautiful shallow depth of field.

I managed to check one out during the companies UK tour and even as these questions were being raised by other members of the audience I found myself wondering what upgraded model Blackmagic would be announcing next year at NAB.

I wasn't surprised this year when they came out and announced a super-35mm sensor model, enough fuss and interest had been expressed in a bigger sensor version. What I was surprised by was the jump to 4K resolution and the global shutter. With this shutter its goodbye rolling shutter jello. Even a Red Scarlet at over£12000 ($15490) has rolling shutter issues unless you pony up an additional $9000 for their shutter adapter.

One bombshell wasn't enough and they also revealed the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera a 1080p HD camera that shoots RAW priced at £775! ($995)

In honour of these latest additions to the lineup I've collated some of the best online videos shot with the Blackmagic Cinema Camera so far, and lets face it if these videos look this great how exciting will it be when we see the pros start getting hold of the new 4k and pocket models.

The Quiet City: Winter in Paris from Andrew Julian on Vimeo.

Anything and everything by Andrew Julian inspires me, his location videos taken presumably whilst he's on holiday are so well timed and paced and it really shows his patience as a filmmaker waiting for the right shot. Again below another video by Andrew both of these really showcase the BMCC's incredible dynamic range, and are why they're at the top of my list.

Meet Me in Big Sur from Andrew Julian on Vimeo.

This video is a great example of how BMCC can be used for broadcast quality advertisments and the colour grading and skin tones look spot on.

WEHBE / MILLONES DE COLORES / PV2013 from LA CREME FILMS on Vimeo.

This next one is both technically impressive and down right hillarious. 

JEANOCIDE from Camp Comet on Vimeo.

I have to admit I quite like cinematic wedding videos and this next one is a great example of how the BMCC can be used in the wedding videography business to great effect and with stunning results.

Lauriane + Emmanuel // Highlights BMCC from Mickael Gresset on Vimeo.

This video shot by Jason Xinzhou has been made available as a public download so if you want to have a go at grading BMCC prores files heres you're chance. I like this grade by Impulsekitty Productions and it shows how cinematic grading can really increase the production value of even just available-light shots.

Black Magic Cinema Camera. Quick ProRes grade. from ImpulseKitty Productions on Vimeo.

And here's the rest of the best.

BMCC Tokina 11-16 Test from Fabrice LAU TIM LING on Vimeo.

BlackMagic Cinema Camera - ProRes First Impression from Hans Purwa on Vimeo.

Moon River from Gabriele Vinci on Vimeo.

 

Tropical Heat from Adam Roberts on Vimeo.

Sampler.2 - Blackmagic Cinema Camera from Nicolás Wong Díaz on Vimeo.

Having looked at some of those what do you think? Let me know in the comments box and let us know if you've seen any amazing Blackmagic Cinema Camera footage online, not mentioned here.