Blackmagic has announced a sale on its popular 6K Cinema Camera, offering discounts of up to 40 percent.
However, the company warns that the stock is limited, sparking speculation about the potential release of a new higher-resolution model in the near future.
The base Pocket 6K model comes with professional features, including a 6K full-frame image sensor, optical low pass filter, support for Blackmagic Raw and Pro Res video codecs, and camera-to-cloud functions with proxy recordings.
Image Credit: Blackmagic Design
The 6K Cinema Camera also supports lenses from Blackmagic’s participation in the L-mount alliance. Lenses from Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma provide full metadata transfer on new lenses while supporting vintage lenses that a shooter may already have.
The full-frame 6K CMOS image sensor has a native resolution of 6048×4032, with a dual native ISO of up to 25,600 and over 13 stops of dynamic range.
The large sensor also supports using true 6:5 anamorphic mode without cropping, providing a detailed cinematic image through 3:5 open gate mode. The 6K Cinema camera can shoot full resolution at up to 36 frames per second, or cropped up to 120 fps, and supports Super 35mm image sizes.
The camera writes original camera files to a solitary CFexpress Type-B Card but can also upload H.264 proxy files up to the cloud. The camera can also house a handful of LUTs to apply to raw video footage and supports metadata transfer from L-mount lenses.
Image Credit – Blackmagic Design
The 5-inch adjustable LCD screen shows HDR footage with impressive clarity and color gamut, with a brightness of 1500 nits. An optical-electronic viewfinder can also be attached to the camera’s hot shoe. The camera also has connections built in for HDMI, USB-C, and 2 Mini-XLR Audio Ports.
If there’s any issue with the more compact cinema models, it’s that they tend to deplete the rechargeable batteries a bit too quickly. Blackmagic has addressed this issue by adding larger NP-F570 batteries, and the optional Pocket Camera Battery Pro Grip, which doubles power capacity, extending shooting time between swapping out power cells.
Pricing and Availability
The $1575 sale price for the 6K Cinema Camera amounts to a discount of $1,020. Blackmagic warns that this 40% sale is available for a limited time only and while supplies last.
At a retail price of under $1600, the Blackmagic 6K Cinema Camera offers a great opportunity to pick up an extra cinema camera or make the jump away from DSLRs and mirrorless platforms for a more cinematic setup. The sale does not extend to G2 or Native EF mount models.
Many are wondering if this sale could portend that Blackmagic is making its way out of the L-mount alliance by dropping its lens support. If that’s the case, fear not, with a very short flange distance of only 20mm, shooters can use adapters to fit lenses from Canon EF, ARRI PL, and other models without impacting image quality.
Moreover, since Blackmagic’s traditional window for announcing a new model before NAB has passed, with the Pyxis being the only new affordable cinema camera the company has announced for 2024, it’s a long shot that an 8K or higher Pocket model is forthcoming this year. But who knows? There’s plenty of time left in 2024.
[source: Blackmagic Design]
Order Links:
Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K, L Mount (B&H)
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate partner and participant in B&H and Adorama Affiliate programmes, we earn a small comission from each purchase made through the affiliate links listed above at no additional cost to you.
Claim your copy of DAVINCI RESOLVE – SIMPLIFIED COURSE with 50% off! Get Instant Access!