How to use the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera | Complete Walk Through

You just purchased your first Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera.

AND I DIG THAT ABOUT YOU!

Now you need to know how to use it -- A walk through of the settings so you're starting out right.

You've come to the right place.

First, you'll need to know the basics like media, battery, firmware updating -- stuff like that. I did a separate video for these items:

Assuming you've watched that, I'm ready to guide you through the menu of the Pocket Cinema Camera and give tips on what settings to use for narrative filmmaking.

Personally, I'm blown away with the offerings from Blackmagic Design, and can't imagine my independent filmmaking without my Pocket Cinema Cameras and DaVinci Resolve.

#howtousepocketcinemacamera
#onlinefilmschool
#writeanddirect
#blackmagicpocketcinemacamera

[stevens]

Very helpful video. I'm shooting with this camera for the first time and your tutorial is exactly what I needed. Thanks so much!

[cowboycomedytv]

This is the punch word's I have really been searching for month's, thank God I dive into your tutorial, didn't west time to subscribe😀
With your teaching I am definitely a perfect DOP, God bless you for giving me what I really wanted!....

[bantublood]

In list form:
1. Learn the important aspects of using the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera.
2. Settings like zebras and focus assist are helpful for shooting.
3. Use framing guides to save time in post-production.
4. Don't worry about white balance when shooting in RAW, as it can be adjusted in post-production.
5. Set the frame rate, ISO, and white balance according to your needs.
6. It is recommended to record in Blackmagic RAW with constant quality for greater flexibility in post-production.
7. Set the shutter speed based on the 180-degree rule for cinematic motion blur.
8. Use presets to save custom settings for different projects.
9. LUTs (Lookup Tables) are useful for managing colors during post-production.
10. You can preview how your footage will look with an applied LUT, which can be helpful during shooting to assess the desired look after color correction.
11. The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera comes with standard LUTs, but you can also acquire high-quality LUTs from designers or websites like Etsy to customize your workflow.
12. Always remember to keep the "Apply Lut and File" option turned off to prevent a LUT from being permanently recorded on your footage, which can be problematic.
13. The zoom button helps with precise focusing and can be useful, but don't forget to deactivate it to avoid accidentally recording with zoom.
14. The playback button allows you to review your footage and apply features like false colors and focus assist to evaluate exposure and focus, which is useful, especially in solo productions.
15. For best results, remember to set your camera to record in raw, adjust the dynamic range, shutter speed, and appropriate 4K resolution, and save your settings as a preset for easier future use.

[deedeecobain]

This channel is the best tutorial source for this camera

[darioerics]

Thank you man I learn so much from this single vidoe than I knew just having the camera for 2 years. Your voice is so calming and teachable. Thank you immensely.

[yohansennaidoo]

I have been thinking of getting the BMPCC 4k and your video popped up on my feed, and LET ME TELL YOU this was no mistake. I had so many questions and you answered all of them. Very informative and easy-going. You truly deserved a sub and a like. Keep it up!

[Rabid_Raccoon_Films]

Wow, best video I've watched . Period, thank you!

[JohnM]

Great passion for Blackmagicdesign and commitment to tools that get the job done, that is making a real world film. Love the Channel production values. These are some of the best getting-started Pocket 4k videos around, especially since the Pocket 4k/6k are mostly misunderstood by YouTube space. Keep going here.

[ubacow]

Man i wish this video was out years ago back when the p4k launched, it would have been helpful

[tstyles]

You are AMAZING!!! May everything you touch prosper and bring you joy!! Thanks for this lesson!

[keirwells]

Many, many thanks. I’ve done a couple of test shoots (interviews) using two BMPC4Ks and couldn’t work out why I couldn’t get the ideal results. You cleared it up for me!!! Again, thank you!

[RoyKiams]

All my questions answered with a single video. It's amazing being new here.

[LonnieMathis]

This would have been great to know before shooting my first scene. This was by far the best video I've seen yet. You were very clear and spoken well, also easy to understand. Thank you so much!

[KardSharp]

First off…, THANK YOU! Im a show runner / producer who also shoots independent projects. I have a big one coming up which will require me to be a one man band. I’m “not” a DP. I’m used to hiring DP’s which is unrealistic for my upcoming project which will require lots of shots of myself on camera, probably shot at odd hours in a lit room at a table with a deck of playing cards.

I own the pocket 4K and have been frustrated trying to learn it on my first few attempts. I find myself giving up and just shooting on my iPhone instead. After seeing this video I’m confident I can get the quality I’m going for without bringing in a DP or exchanging the camera for something I’m more familiar with.

The big kicker that I really appreciate about your tutorial was how beautiful the image was and how great the quality was. You may have shot it on a different camera other than the BM, but you took the time to make a simple tutorial look beautiful and satisfying to watch and listen to.

Bottom line… I’ve subscribed! I’ll be watching more of your tutorials and am feeling excited and more confident about my upcoming project thanks to your tutorial. BTW… I love the “Take away” recap you do in this tutorial. Makes me look forward to learning more from you in the near future.

Thanks again for producing this content! And wish me luck on my upcoming project. I’ll be watching your tutorials to get me through it!

[channelchen]

OMG ... your intro! "It is time to get more familiar with you Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera...." Have you been living in my brain?! Camera over there in storage box, for 1 year .... me over here, hesitant!!! Thank you for posting this tutorial!!!!

[Westles]

Thanks so much for making this video. It's by far the most comprehensive, and well explained walk through I've found so far for the Black Magic camera. Just subscribed!

[VladPustai]

That's it! You're my favorite YouTuber already. I've seen all your videos at once. I am also a RS3 Pro, a Blackmagic 6k Pro, a Davinci Resolve user, so...a lot to learn from you. Keep up the good work! Subscribed!

[jaeprism]

this was very very useful, thank you!

[mylifepart]

I love all the videos i have seen today in my learning of the Pocket...but this one is by far the best i have seen ...thank y ...

[saylacofilms]

I wish this video had chapter markers! For example:
01:27 focus assist