I’m not buying the Blackmagic Pocket 6K Pro - After 1 month of testing

I’ve been testing the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6k Pro for about a month now. I really like the camera, but who is it actually for? I lay out my thoughts in this video.

*Use my coupon code SPENSER at checkout to get your first month free when you sign up for an annual subscription.*

My Gear:

Chapters:
00:00 - Pocket 6k pro intro
01:01 - The problem with ND filters
03:00 - Exposure solutions
03:49 - What I like about the 6k Pro
06:00 - Who is the camera for?
08:31 - Filming an ad with the 6k Pro
08:42 - Musicbed Sponsorship 6k Pro footage
09:37 - Final thoughts

#pocket6kpro #blackmagicdesign #bmpcc6k

[coreyrobn]

❤️ 6k Pro. It’s become the perfect Situational B cam. We just shot pickups for a feature two days ago and used the Alexa Mini as the A cam for all static shots and the Pocket 6 Pro on an RS2 held out the window for all of our driving/ motion shots. Matched like a charm with the buttery LUTS and a slight grade!

[TJ-pool]

Proof people will complain no matter what you do as a manufacturer

[Mr_Moka]

I think we as a community have really misused the terms A cam and B cam. At what point did a camera with internal 6K RAW (with amazing color science), with internal NDs, 5inch monitor, high frame rates etc. not qualify as an A cam? The differences between the two should really come down to dependability and workflow. What ever camera gives you the best image, within your budget and simple workflow to deliver should be your A cam. I think we all have become spoiled in our expectations and just need to talk less and and create more. Because at the end of the day the cameras we are getting now, we could even dream of just 5 years ago especially at this price point.

[mikemuponda]

The thing with this camera is...for all its shortcomings and workarounds ...the image quality is just phenomenal. The image quality literally makes me shut up 😂

[nightsandtheory]

This is a total non-issue. Bounce some light.

[adamtemple]

No, the next step is to light your scene, not a variable ND or crank up your iso,
like a cinema shot

[honest_noise]

Dude, grab a matthews double net, skin up some opal or ND the damn window. Heaven forbid even stop down to T3.5. A camera will never be perfect. A lesson to videographers who want to be DPs in the future....let the lighting and shaping up natural light do your heavy lifting. Right time of day, treating the room/windows and supplement lighting will get you 95% there. Fix it in Pre.

[edoardobrugnatelli]

I genuinely don’t get the “problem” with the internal nds. If increasing your ISO by literally 1 stop generates that much noise, you’re probably already shooting too high. And if that’s the case then just do the opposite - decrease the ISO by 1 stop and add 2 more stops of light by changing the nd back.
Also, 2 stops shouldn’t be that big a deal anyway, unless you’re shooting a scene with an extreme dynamic range and have no way to possibly reduce it (which is pretty rare). I don’t know, to me it just seems to become a problem in very few and specific instances, which happens with everything, since nothing is perfect. Including variable nds, which no matter how expensive they might be, are still 2 circular polarisers stacked on top of each other, which introduces all kinds of other problems.
If I’m missing something, please do let me know, I would actually like to know!

[lofihifi]

The evf, variable nds and battery pack are literally the point.

[VivaMediaInc]

We had a previous gen 6k pocket cam, two Sony's A73's, and two Ursa Minis. When the 6K Pro was announced, we sold everything, kept the previous gen 6K and bought two 6K Pros. It's a damn near perfect camera for us. The tilt screen alone was enough of a selling point for us! The built in ND's are also amazing for the style of shoots we go on.

[topicruben]

Ok, not all of us have enough money to have an A cam and a B cam. In my case this is the only camera I own at the present time and I’m very happy with it. I sold my EOS R and changed to this and I don’t regret it a bit, as I said in my video. I’m also very happy about the NDs. If I had the money I would’ve bought the FX6, or even the A7SIII, but for the time being this is awesome! I’m also planning to get the battery grip, not the evf. Thanks 🙏

[ShazammtheProducer]

Ive watched many of your videos really seemed like you were nitpicking with this camera

[FernandoTorres-yoeh]

Meanwhile I'm here using the 1080p BMPCC as my A camera... and I love it.

[AKGreen]

Why not carry around a 1 stop ND to put on the front when the exposure needs that subtle adjustment?

[gearreallydoesntmatter]

I would fine adjust using the shutterpeed. I go off the 180 angle at least once every single video I shoot. Never been an issue.

[burgunbeerd]

That's why I love the Sony FX6 EVND so much. Absolute control

[MichaelDrowley]

Variable Nd’s are still a really good way to go if you can get stepper rings and leave them on your lenses.

[auxsom]

A rare video from an experienced shooter who is keeping it real about a great camera, even if it has flaws. Madd respect. Just subscribed. Highly appreciate your honest opinion, including the specific examples regarding pros/cons of this camera.

[NoahsNostalgia]

I got the 6k pro a few weeks ago and just took it on a short road trip, having the flip screen and internal nd was a huge time saver. i definitely prefer to rig up cameras though so i agree that it doesn't make a ton of sense if you're going to do that. i have the 4k as well so ill probably just upgrade that to another 6k pro and have 1 rigged and 1 normal just like you said. great video!

[NatesFilmTutorials]

I see your point on the stages of ND. While I would take it over a camera without built in ND any day. You do have to compensate in some regard typically stopping down in super bright scenarios.

The logical evolution is electronic ND found in the FX6/9 a minimum of 1 stop and seemless adjustments to 1/128.

Sure you could use a matte box, and have all the filters you could ever want. But in real world use, I have not had the luxury of extra crew or the time to make such changes. The ability to dial in perfect exposure on the camera is invaluable