Signaling a merging with the L-mount Alliance, Blackmagic Design has released a new L-mount Cinema Camera 6K with a full-frame sensor and a host of capturing options from 3:2 full-frame to wide-screen anamorphic.
Once known as the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K, the renamed Cinema Camera 6K will have impressive low-light performance and dual native ISO.
Image Credit – Blackmagic Design
“With the new Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K, we wanted to create the most portable camera possible for high-end, large format cinematography,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO.
“That’s why we took the Pocket Cinema Camera platform but completely re-engineered the electronics inside around a full-frame sensor and L-Mount.
This means our customers get amazing large-format images in an extremely portable design that also works with the accessories they already own. This is a truly high-end cinema camera and we think it gives our customers a whole new way to tell their stories.”
Image Credit – Blackmagic Design
The 6K image sensor has a 24x36mm sensor for an open gate 3:2 image while using the full image area.
In concert with a custom-designed built-in optical low pass filter, the Cinema Camera 6K is capable of imaging up to 13 stops of dynamic range with a dual native ISO of up to 25,600.
Blackmagic states that shooters can capture detail in bright sunlight, or almost no light with low noise and remarkable color from Blackmagic color science.
The large sensor also supports 6:5 anamorphic recording without cropping, filling the widescreen image with more detail and higher resolution than previous models.
Shooters can even opt to crop down to a Super35 image frame for instant close-ups that fit within the open gate footage.
Image Credit – Blackmagic Design
The camera can capture up to 36 fps at 6048 x 4032 3:2 open gate or 60 fps at 6048 x 2520 2.4:1 and 60 fps at 4096 x 2160 4K DCI. Higher frame rates of up to 120 fps can also be had in 1080p HD.
Shooters have the option of capturing to a built-in CFExpress card recorder, or to external flash media disks and SSDs via USB-C. 12-bit Blackmagic RAW files and H.264 proxies can be recorded simultaneously in full resolution.
Image Credit – Blackmagic Design
The camera’s articulating 5-inch LCD HDR touchscreen has 1500 bits of brightness, with on-screen overlays indicating status and menu options such as histogram, focus peaking, levels, frame guides, and the access of LUTs for monitoring shots to maintain a designed look and color pallet.
The monitor can tilt up to 180° flat or down 47° so that shooters can frame a shot from almost any position.
Meanwhile, the optional articulating OLED viewfinder display has a proximity sensor and a 4-element glass diopter with a -4 to +4 focus adjustment, which can be added with a single screw.
One thing that has traditionally been a challenge for the pocket design has been its battery life, but Blackmagic has engineered the Cinema Camera 6K to operate with higher capacity NP-570 batteries and a locking DC power connector which can keep the camera running throughout the day.
Camera operators can also add the optional battery grip for hot swapping to additional batteries, or the included AC adapter plug to power the camera and charge the batteries when the camera isn’t being used. The result is promised all-day battery life with continual use.
Lastly, with its new affiliation to the growing Leica/Panasonic L-Mount alliance, the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K will support all Leica, Panasonic, and even vintage still photography and cinema lenses that customers may already own.
Pricing and availability
Blackmagic has also managed to keep the camera at around the same price point as before, with a retail price of $2,595.
It is available now worldwide from Blackmagic Design and all authorized retailers.
[source: Blackmagic Design]
Order links:
- Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K, Leica L Mount (B&H)
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