GEAR
BLACKMAGIC DESIGN PYXIS 6K
THE VERDICT
Like the Cinema Camera 6K which hosts the same sensor, Blackmagic’s Pyxis is an affordable full-frame camera that offers incredibly detailed, filmic-quality footage from its 6K Raw files. If you’re an expert at Resolve you’ll love it, but if you prefer other NLEs there will be a learning curve. It’s worth it as you have to use BRAW files. Although you could get shooting and editing right now with an out-of-the-box Pyxis 6K for just £2640/$2995, with a lens simply boshed on, the camera needs some extra accessories to make it truly usable. True to Blackmagic’s strategy, these are good value too – but this doesn’t get away from the lack of internal ND filters, image stabilisation and continuous AF. The Blackmagic Pyxis works best when used manually in cinema-style, considered shooting, with good light and no superfast action. If that sounds like your brand of work, then you will love the Pyxis and its incredible results.
More information blackmagicdesign.com
HOW IT RATES
Features: 8 Internal Raw but no ProRes, IS, ND or continuous AF Performance: 9 Raw files are amazing, apart from in low light Handling: 8 Needs a side grip, accessory monitor/EVF for solo work Value for money: 10 Low price for a 6K Raw, full-frame sensor cinema camera OVERALL RATING: 9/10 A full-frame 6K Raw camera that needs to be understood Pros: 6K Raw, a real cinema cam, good value for money Cons: Poor AF, needs rigging up
to the side. It costs just £323/$295 for the basic monitor or £486/$445 for a kit with a mount, all the cables and accessories, like a sunshade. For £621/$645 you can add on a rig with included carbon-fibre accessory rods. An EVF like the Ursa kit, which costs £1505/£1695, turns it into a genuinely useful camera, although it still needs a right-hand grip handle for on-the-shoulder work. Lots of companies make these bolt-ons, but you’ll need the £58/$59 rosette plate. If you have this, you can use the USB-C output for power and send the video signal to the external monitor. However, there is no HDMI out, so to use it with many external monitors you’ll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter. The camera does have the pro-level SDI output, so this can feed a monitor too. Drive time The Pyxis comes with a small plate that bolts onto the right side and accepts an SSD or even a phone to stream from. The camera’s connectivity to Blackmagic’s own cloud service and direct streaming to YouTube and Facebook, among others, offers an elegant solution to getting your footage out in real time.
“The Pyxis 6K is very much a modular cinema camera, as you have to choose the accessories you need”
caddy at the same time, you’ll need to rig up something more bespoke. Whatever you’re doing, the built-in monitor screen is excellent, with clear menus and all the useful tools such as false colour and zebras. It also offers mini-XLR audio input with phantom power, decent internal mics and preamps. However, to use full-size XLR mics you again need an adapter. If you really want some decent AF, you can fit on DJI’s Focus Pro system, linked to LiDAR. This would let you use the Focus Pro grip on the side of the camera to control everything and link it to a focus motor on the side of the lens. Although the camera comes with a battery slot to take the popular Sony BP-U fit cells that can offer D-Tap output to power accessories, you could rig up a V-Mount battery to keep you running all day. The Pyxis 6K is very much a modular cinema camera, as you have to choose the accessories that you need for your specific shooting. This does add significantly to the overall cost and bulk, but what you get is a fully customised, full-frame cinema camera that shoots 6K Raw in incredible detail. And that makes it a great buy.
You can plug in an Ethernet cable or even use it as a webcam via USB-C. This cradle, to accept a phone or SSD, sits where the grip would fasten and uses a couple of Velcro straps to hold the device in place. You can record your footage direct to a drive or hook up a phone via the second USB-C socket. But if you want to use a side handle and USB
PIC’ED APART The camera does a good job in better lighting and slower shooting scenarios, and can produce a filmic look
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