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PICS: World's most compact digital film camera

September 15, 2013 10:05 IST

Check out the amazing features of Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera that was launched August 2.

After the much celebrated effort by Black Magic Designs for introducing the Black Magic Cinema camera back in 2012, the film and photography industry welcomed its sibling, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera on August 2, 2013.

The new camera inherits most features and specs of is predecessor, and comes in a less-than-an-inch thick, superbly engineered body. The portability invokes its versatility wherein you can carry the camera anywhere and shoots almost anything, given the specs it sports.

A super 16mm-sized, 1080 HD sensor, wide dynamic range with 13 stops, an in-built SD card for Apple ProRes high-quality files, an active Micro Four Thirds lens (mirrorless lenses for film photography) mount, loss-less compressed CinemaDNG RAW capturing, and a price tag of just Rs 60,750 (across online dealers in India; the website, however, quotes the price as Rs 91,350) are some of the basic attractions of this digital cinema camera.

Other features, just as exciting, follow...

PICS: World's most compact digital film camera

September 15, 2013 10:05 IST

True cinematic look

The high-quality ProRes 422 (HQ) capture and super 16 size sensor, in sync, grab the credit for the ultimate look. You can exploit a wide ambit of adapters for the super 16 lenses for your cinematic liberty.

The Micro Four-Thirds lenses count for inexpensive alternatives that let you to adapt other lens mounts like PL (Positive Lock lens mounts that can be used with 16 and 35mm movie cameras).

Whichever lens you use, you can electronically take total control of your lens and easily point and set the focus. All the video capture comes in full HD 1080p resolution at 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, or 30fps.

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PICS: World's most compact digital film camera

September 15, 2013 10:05 IST

All the quality audio comes in via the integrated stereo microphones. Your high-quality files readily find room in fast working SD card so that you can have them on your PC to correct the colour temperature or even edit them, quickly.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera is ideal for shooting independent films, documentaries, music events, etc., and the perfect tool to be used in photographic journalism.

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PICS: World's most compact digital film camera

September 15, 2013 10:05 IST

World's most compact digital film camera

A super strong magnesium alloy embodies Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera and its entire design can be termed as superbly compact, robust, stylish, and lightweight. To say it 'slides in' your pocket rather than just 'fits in' would be apt.

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PICS: World's most compact digital film camera

September 15, 2013 10:05 IST

Wide dynamic range

With more colour grade power, you can attain more detailed image. Technically, you can redeem all sensor data for DaVinci Resolve colour grading. There are 13 stops for the dynamic range that contribute a great deal in achieving the digital film look as well.

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PICS: World's most compact digital film camera

September 15, 2013 10:05 IST

Records directly to SD card

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera comes with an in-built SD card store, which can easily save ProRes 422 High-Quality and lossless compressed CinemaDNG 12 bit RAW image files. This camera is compatible with most of the NLE, non-linear video editing softwares popular today. Insert the card directly into your PC to edit the videos.

This camera is one of the rare cameras that truly support open file formats. In other words, you would not find strange file formats that won't work with your editing software. There are two settings for the dynamic range, namely, video REC709 and film log where you can choose the one that suits you better.

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PICS: World's most compact digital film camera

September 15, 2013 10:05 IST

With the 'added' DaVinci Resolve Lite function, you can correct the colour of your files and code them into the file formats, which are the best for post production processes. The commonly available SD cards can be formatted for either exFAT or HFS+ storage system to make them run compatible with Mac OS X or Windows' operating systems.

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PICS: World's most compact digital film camera

September 15, 2013 10:05 IST

Crystal clear display

The HD 3.5-inch wide LCD lets you focus precisely and zoom-in to 1:1 aspect ratio to the frame size. At the bottom of the monitor, you can see the shutter angle, remaining time, current ISO setting, setting for aperture, status for video recording, remaining battery, and recording time.

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PICS: World's most compact digital film camera

September 15, 2013 10:05 IST

Connectivity

The micro-HDMI connectivity with its choices for quick on-the-set monitoring (you can make frame adjustments right on spot), a mini-jack microphone compatible with general Audio Video mic, and the standard mini jack headphones socket for monitoring the audio, prove very helpful on the set. There is LANC (Local Application Control Bus) input, for controlling the camera remotely, which gives power to the camera and charges the removable battery with 12V DC.

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PICS: World's most compact digital film camera

September 15, 2013 10:05 IST

Accompanying accessories

You can use many lenses as accessories with your Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. There is wide range of adapters that can be used for turning from Micro Four Third lenses to other lens mounts as PL.

With that as a feature, you can utilise several Super 16 cinema lenses as well as other professional lenses.

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