Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K: Affordable Full-Frame Cinematic Brilliance

Politics, News Sept. 15, 2023, 5:50 a.m.

Blackmagic Design introduces the Cinema Camera 6K, its first full-frame camera with L-Mount compatibility, offering a 24.6MP sensor, dual native ISO, and cinematic features, all at an affordable price.

Blackmagic Design has introduced its groundbreaking Cinema Camera 6K, marking its first foray into the L-Mount alliance and the realm of full-frame cameras. This innovation boasts a brand-new 24.6-megapixel sensor, offering a resolution of 6,048 x 4,032 pixels. With the capability to shoot up to 6K and the inclusion of dual native ISO for exceptional low-light performance, Blackmagic Design is poised to make waves in the cinematic world. Notably, this camera has departed from its previous use of Canon's EF mount and is now compatible with L-mount lenses from renowned manufacturers such as Panasonic, Leica, Sigma, and others within the L-mount alliance. However, it's worth noting that, in keeping with the brand's cinema-oriented ethos, the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K lacks features like continuous autofocus and built-in stabilization.

CEO Grant Petty shared his vision for the new Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K, emphasizing the goal of creating a highly portable camera tailored for high-end, large-format cinematography. To achieve this, they reengineered the internals of the Pocket Cinema Camera platform around a full-frame sensor and L-Mount. The advantages of this new sensor are significant for filmmakers, offering a shallower depth of field and enhanced low-light performance. Blackmagic Design promises an impressive dynamic range of 13 stops and dual ISO performance extending up to 25,600. Additionally, the L-mount configuration represents Blackmagic Design's inaugural venture into the realm of mirrorless-style mounts, characterized by a relatively short flange distance that results in a slimmer profile. However, this design choice precludes the inclusion of a built-in ND filter, which was present in previous models.

The Cinema Camera 6K supports all standard resolutions and frame rates, including DCI 4K and 6K, and still images up to 24.6 megapixels. For instance, it can achieve a 6K open gate (3:2) resolution at speeds of up to 36fps or 60fps at 6,048 x 2,520 (2.4:1), as well as 60fps at 4,096 x 2,160 (4K DCI). Notably, users can work in true anamorphic 6:5 at substantially higher resolutions than competing cameras, reaching 4.8K at 24fps with a resolution of 4,838 x 4,032. The camera also supports a maximum frame rate of 120fps in HD.

Featuring a brilliantly bright 5-inch tilting HDR touchscreen with 1,500 nits of brightness, users can easily assess HDR video directly from the camera, even in challenging lighting conditions. Blackmagic equips the camera with essential shooting aids such as a histogram, focus peaking, levels, frame guides, and more. Users can also apply their own 3D LUTs for monitoring purposes, making it a versatile tool for filmmakers.

Video recording is available in the 12-bit Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) or H.264 proxy formats, with storage options including CFexpress B or an SSD via the USB-C port. The camera boasts an array of audio ports, including a locking XLR port, HDMI output, NP-F570 batteries (along with a locking DC power connector), and an optional BMPCC Pro Grip. At a price of $2,595, the Cinema Camera 6K stands as one of the most affordable full-frame cinema-specific cameras in the market.

In tandem with the Cinema Camera 6K release, Blackmagic Design also unveiled the Blackmagic Camera iPhone app. This app offers users cinema-like camera controls and looks, allowing adjustments to settings such as frame rate, shutter angle, white balance, and ISO with a single tap. Furthermore, users can record directly to Blackmagic Cloud in industry-standard 10-bit Apple ProRes files, up to 4K resolution. This app promotes collaboration among creators by seamlessly integrating with Blackmagic Cloud. It is currently available for free download on the App Store, offering a powerful tool for filmmakers on the go.