Balckmagic Pocket Camera: What would be good lenses for it?

Yodaman

Yodaman

So, I've been out of the filmmaking loop for a while (not that I was really ever in it :P ), but last I checked a DSLR gave you the best bang for your buck!

Now, today I learned about the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, and I'm simply blown away by the price and the image quality! Not so keen on the battery life, or that the SD cards it requires are God-awful expensive, but other than that it looks like a FABULOUS camera, and would serve me better than a DSLR would for sure!

My question, though, is that it uses an Active MFT mount, and I'm having some trouble finding some decent lenses for it. I found this Olympus one, but I would like a lens that could have more variety than just 17mm. Anybody have any good recommendations? I think I heard that the Pocket Camera can't use powered lenses but I'm not sure [UPDATE: On their site it says it can use electronic lenses, so yay!] - if anyone has any experience with this camera and lens type, please help me! :D

Also, what would be a good wide-angle lens? I can't remember how to tell focal lengths. Is it the smaller the number, the wider the shot, or reverse? :P

Thanks everyone!
 
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well, you can order it and still debate because it will take a while to ship.. :) If you change your mind again before it ships, then cancel the order, but if not.. then..

You know you will be happy with any new camera.. so dont agonize overmuch, every thing has limitations, and problems..

By the way, do you know the actual LCD dimensions?.. I know its 3.5" diagonal, but that doesn't tell me the dimensions.. my letus hawk 3:2 viewfinder has an opening of 60mm x 45mm... dont know if it will cover the entire screen. If the screen is on the bmpcc is 16x9 then it should.. but .. you never know..
 
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Do you mean the resolution on the screen? It's 800 x 480px, over a 3.5" screen should be plenty sharp enough for basic use, but I imagine people will want to buy a full HD external viewing monitor. :P

Ooh, just found this video on Vimeo, definitely shot before any recalibration, and it's BEAUTIFUL.

I don't think I'm going to regret this purchase decision! :D
 
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No, Im looking for the dimensions of the screen,.like 75mm x 50mm or whatever..

3.5" is diagonal.. Alternatively I can calculate the screen dimensions IF I know the ration, i.e 16x9 but thats not clear either.. Im estimating from a photo and scaling a ruller that the screen is about 70mm
 
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I know - I had to double check my math because the numbers seemed too low at first, but in context they make sense. The whole camera is only 2.6" tall and 5" wide. It's kind of ridiculous how small this thing is considering the quality it puts out.
 
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Interesting thread to follow over on the Blackmagic Forum :)

- First, Kristian Lam of Blackmagic Design announces that Camera v1.4.2 update addresses the "Black Sun" effect.

- Next, BMPCC shooter David Talbert tests it out: https://vimeo.com/74446435

- It seems to work.

- But BMCC shooters soon realize that it is for BMPCC only and does not fix their camera's similar problem.

- BMCC shooters are not amused.

- Thread devolves into angry ad hominem insults and oaths to 'never buy a BM camera again'.

I have been tempted over the past few days to turn around and sell my pre-ordered (April 26th) BMPCC as soon as it arrives at a markup (they're selling for $1300-$1400 right now on eBay) in order to "upgrade" to a $1995 BMCC - but why sell a camera that the company is fixing - for a camera the company has ignored for over a year? Probably not a good idea.
 
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brunerww said:
Interesting thread to follow over on the Blackmagic Forum :)
Click to expand...

You know, I've been checking in there once a week or so just to see where things are at with the pocket cam, but that forum actually makes me really appreciate the other forums (like indietalk) that I'm on. It seems like every thread related to the new products devolves into a fight between people who are angry that the cameras haven't shipped on time, people who think the other people are idiots because they're so impatient, people who have their cameras but aren't happy with them, people who are happy with their cameras, people who think BM should recall all the cameras, people who just want a firmware update, an occasional update from BM, people who aren't happy with that update and demand more information, people who are thankful for the update and think the people who want more are idiots, people who want to start a class action against BM, and people who just want the audio problems fixed.

It's exhausting. I can't really figure out what it is about cameras that seems to get people so personally invested in whichever brand/model they have/want.
 
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....Auuuugh! Now I'm reading about random dropped frame issues, from the comments in this video over on Vimeo. That's kind of a MAJOR PROBLEM!

Could be a couple of faulty cards the guy was using, at least that's what I hope... and if it proves to be a more widespread issue, I hope it's fixable by firmware!

Anybody else hear anything on dropped frames? Guess we should all start watching for that happening now...
 
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ItDonnedOnMe said:
You know, I've been checking in there once a week or so just to see where things are at with the pocket cam, but that forum actually makes me really appreciate the other forums (like indietalk) that I'm on.
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Agreed - the folks here at Indietalk are great.

ItDonnedOnMe said:
It's exhausting. I can't really figure out what it is about cameras that seems to get people so personally invested in whichever brand/model they have/want.
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Amen again.

Yodaman said:
....Auuuugh! Now I'm reading about random dropped frame issues, from the comments in this video over on Vimeo. That's kind of a MAJOR PROBLEM!

Could be a couple of faulty cards the guy was using, at least that's what I hope... and if it proves to be a more widespread issue, I hope it's fixable by firmware!

Anybody else hear anything on dropped frames? Guess we should all start watching for that happening now...
Click to expand...

This has happened to several shooters who have tried alternatives to Sandisk Extreme Pro SDHC/SDXC or Delkin Elite UHS-I cards - the only two cards recommended by Blackmagic Design.

If people don't use the cards recommended by the manufacturer I wouldn't say that's the camera's fault.
 
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Yodaman said:
OK, so as long as I use either of those cards things will be alright? :)

Glad to hear it's not really that big of an issue after all!
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Use the SanDisk and you should be fine. Given the cost potential of a card failing at the wrong time, there's really no excuse not to get good quality, high speed cards.

It's possible there is a camera issue involved, but more like the fault of using sub-standard media for the device. To be fair, I've only skimmed over the source material about the drop frame problem.
 
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David.rhsc said:
Use the SanDisk and you should be fine. Given the cost potential of a card failing at the wrong time, there's really no excuse not to get good quality, high speed cards.
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Extremely good and valid point! I was thinking of getting the $129 64GB SanDisk Extreme back when I was planning on getting a DSLR anyway, because it was rated extremely high on Amazon and was recommended by some friends. Good money for good quality!

As for the dropped frame issue, I can only "see" it a few times in the video, it's really not very noticeable (but you definitely don't want it!), but the guy said he edited around them quite a bit. There was just a few he missed, and in the comments someone noticed them and spoke up.

Otherwise, that video definitely shows all that the camera is capable of. Beautiful, detailed images in stunning quality! :D
 
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I should watch more of the footage coming from this thing. I can think of ways to use it, even though I am writing up a plan to buy some significantly more expensive kit over the next 12 months.

Problem is that it would just make me want to buy an old set of Zeiss MKI's or a s16 zoom or something. Which is 5-7x the cost of the camera. :lol:
 
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So even though I said I wasn't gonna change my mind again... :D

I just went ahead and ordered a Canon T3i from Amazon. It isn't because I didn't want the Pocket Cam, or because I was scared of the problems with it, it's because I can't afford to wait until as late as next year in order to get a camera. I have a couple of possible projects coming up as soon as next month (helping a friend with something), and decided to just bite the bullet and get SOMETHING to shoot with! Plus, if I can churn out something great from a slightly inferior DSLR, surely when I upgrade to the Blackmagic Cinema Camera (as that is my plan eventually!) I can crank out something that's even better! :)

Obviously, the big advantage with going for Canon instead of Panasonic is that I can get EF lenses to use on the EF mount of the Cinema Cam, instead of the silly passive MFT mount.

In total, for a good class-10 SD card from SanDisk, a carrying case for the camera and accessories, and the camera itself and the kit lens (plus shipping and tax), my total only came to $650.18! That leaves me with a LOT of extra money to spend on better glass and sound equipment at the end of the month!

So yeah, call me a flip-flop, but I think I made the right choice. I guess we'll just have to wait and see! :)
 
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I think you made the right choice too. It's rarely a good idea to put off things you could be shooting now while waiting for a camera for any significant amount of time.

It's also not like you'll lose the investment in the canon - worst case you sell the body for $3-400 next year, keep the lenses for the new camera, and think of it as a $200 rental rate for a 6-month period. That's not a bad deal at all.
 
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Yeah, I meant on the 2.5K Cinema Cam, since I do want to upgrade to that someday. That was my plan all along, although with the Pocket Cam I would've waited a little longer! :)
 
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