BLACK MAGIC 4k Camera is now shipping @$2995. Also, FW 1.6.1 released

[Chris Barcellos]

According to posts by company officials at Black Magic on the company forum, the 4k camera is now shipping. The camera price is also reduced to $2995, a further stinging blow to the original adopters of the original Black Magic Cinema cameras. Those with preorders are promised that price.

Much like the Pocket camera, the 4k camera is not shipping with the promised 4k raw.

Blackmagic Forum • View topic - Blackmagic Production Camera 4K Now Shipping for US$2,995


Firmware 1.6.1 for all cameras was also released, but appears only to have minor upgrades to fix bugs. As he did over 6 months ago, Grant Petty claims that more software releases are coming for all cameras.

Blackmagic Forum • View topic - Black Magic Camera Utility 1.6.1 available!

[Chris Barcellos]

As far as I can tell, the firmware update has nothing in it for EF for MFT owners. Another bust for those users who have waited patiently for Black Magic corrections for their firmware. Nice job Black Magic <not>!!!

[John C. Chu]

That's amazing for the price.

I have a question about the Super 35mm size sensor: Is that full frame like a Canon 5d mk2?

Edit: It is a 1.6x crop like a APS-C sized DSLR.

[Darren Levine]

just why is it a "stinging blow"

by now, BM's methods/madness is pretty obvious, odd things are to be expected

secondly, they just gave a $1000 'thank you' to those on the long overdue 4k preorder list.

[Shaun Roemich]

Originally Posted by Darren Levine

just why is it a "stinging blow"

Chris is talking about the early adopters of the 2.5k camera which has several serious unresolved issues that buyers have been hoping would be rectified by now.

[Dylan Couper]

Originally Posted by John C. Chu

That's amazing for the price.

You've heard the saying, you get what you pay for... Right?

[John C. Chu]

Ha!

I haven't really been closely following developments in these cameras, but they do intrigue me. I feel for early adopters or pre-orderers though.

For me, the main things are cost of media, (SSDs or fast SD cards in case of the Pocket camera), crop factor and fitting things like the Metabones or Lens Turbo adapters. The workflow seems interesting too.

[Shaun Roemich]

Originally Posted by John C. Chu

For me, the main things are cost of media, (SSDs or fast SD cards in case of the Pocket camera), crop factor and fitting things like the Metabones or Lens Turbo adapters.

And therein lies the rub...

those SHOULDN'T BE the main things. The main things should be:
- does it work as advertised?
- will it EVER work as advertised?
- will it exhibit fundamental flaws such as hot/stuck pixels in the dozens?
- will it exhibit the dreaded "black hole" effect on highlights?
- will it be End-Of-Lined with no future support or rectification of the issues above (and any new ones)?

I'm interested in the camera as well but the 2.5k version spooked me BADLY.

I'll be testing Dylan's when he gets his exhaustively. For my sake as well as for his.

[Claire Orpeza]

If anyone's interested in the lenses and accessories that are compatible with the Blackmagic 4K cam, Jeff Lee just published a round up of lenses, support systems, on-board monitors, and more over on the blog:

Lenses and Accessories for the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K | CineTechnica

[Chris Barcellos]

I will never buy another Black Magic product, unless it is proven to me to perform what Black Magic claims it will do. I am a 2.5 EF buyer, and with an 8 month delay in delivery, then a camera that has incomplete firmware support for another year while Black Magic has concentrated on the Pocket Cinema and 4K models, it is clear to me that while the goals stated are worthy, Black Magic really can't always deliver what it says its going to do.

So talking about accessories, etc., seems premature to me, in light of the fact that the camera is being released incomplete.

[Daniel Epstein]

Chris,
I said the same thing to myself about Canon after buying an early XLH1 and feeling like a beta tester. I eventually did buy a Canon 7D and now do consider other Canon products as well. I am having a good experience with BMD Decklink 2 card but a am staying away from being an early adopter for most manufacturers.

[Brian Rhodes]

I picked up my production camera 4K today from Tape Works Texas. I will try to shot some clips this weekend and post.

[Phil George]

Hurray I have a Black Magic 4K camera. The first time I powered it up indoors all I could see were vertical pattern noise all over the picture.
What a shame, I have waited for a long time only to find it is useless in the shadows. I absolutely can not use this in anything but a very bright sunny day and fully exposed and not to point the camera at ANY SHADOWS.
It's going back for a refund. Be warned, you only get what you pay for!

[Chris Barcellos]

Sorry to hear about your problem Phil. Some have been saying this is not common to all those cameras, but it seems pretty universal to me if what I have followed over at the Black Magic forum is to be believed.

[Chong Pak]

Really shocked to hear that BM released a new camera NAB, they should really fix the cameras they have out now before releasing new ones.
I returned my 4k bmcc camera after 4 days, BM stands for bowel movement!