“With the new Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K, we wanted to create the most portable camera possible for high-quality, large format cinematography,” said CEO Grant Beatty. “That’s why we took the Pocket Cinema camera platform but completely re-engineered the internal electronics around the full-frame sensor and L-shaped mount.”
The new sensor offers a number of advantages for film photographers, namely a shallower depth of field and better low-light performance. To that end, the company promises 13 stops of dynamic range and dual ISO performance of up to 25,600. With the L-mount, it’s also Blackmagic Design’s first mirrorless mount, with a relatively short flange distance that makes it slimmer than previous models. The downside is that there is no room for the built-in ND filter found in previous models.
The 6K Cine Camera can shoot at all standard resolutions and frame rates up to DCI 4K and 6K, and still images at up to 24.6MP. Gate Open is available in 6K (3:2) at up to 36 fps, or 60 fps at 6,048 x 2,520 (2.4:1) and 60 fps at 4,096 x 2,160 (4K DCI). “Customers can work in true 6:5 anamorphic at a much higher resolution than other cameras that use anamorphic lenses at 4.8K at 24 frames per second and at a resolution of 4838 x 4032,” the company said. Maximum frame rate of 120 fps is available in HD.
It comes with a very bright (but not quite clear) 5-inch 1500-nit HDR touchscreen that allows you to check HDR video directly from the camera, even in bright conditions. Blackmagic offers the usual photography tools like histogram, focus peaking, levels, framing guides, and more. You can also apply your own 3D LUTs for monitoring. It has a Blackmagic touch interface that is easy and fun to use.
Video is recorded in 12-bit Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) or H.264 format, either to a CFexpress B or SSD via the USB-C port. Other features include a wide range of audio ports, including a lock-on XLR port, an HDMI out, NP-F570 batteries (along with a lock-on DC power connector) and an optional BMPCC Pro handle. The Cinema Camera 6K is on sale now for $2,595 – making it the lowest price for a full-frame camera intended for cinema.
Along with Cinema Camera 6K, Blackmagic Design has debuted the Blackmagic Camera iPhone app that gives users cinema-like controls and appearance. “Customers can adjust settings like frame rate, shutter angle, white balance and ISO, all with one click. Or record directly to Blackmagic Cloud in industry-standard 10-bit Apple ProRes files at up to 4K resolution,” the company wrote. It also works with Blackmagic Cloud, allowing creators to collaborate with other users. It is now available on the App Store as a free download.