TOOLKIT BLACKMAGIC CINEMA CAMERA 6K
SCREEN SHOT The camera is equipped with a five-inch screen, several useful inputs and outputs, plus a CFexpress Type B slot
2020 PQ Gamma for HDR. These LUTs are useful for normalising the monitor image while recording Log, and you also have the flexibility to load your own LUTs. The 6K camera features an optical low-pass filter that effectively combats moiré. While there’s some rolling shutter skewing, DaVinci Resolve offers a function using internal gyro metadata to reduce it, albeit with a small crop. This technology is also effective in minimising shakes, particularly useful for handheld use as there’s no built-in image stabilisation. Once again, a slight crop is involved. Moving on to the physical aspects of the camera, the 6K Pro’s twin card slots – consisting of one CFast and one SD – have been replaced by a single CFexpress Type B slot. However, there’s still the option to record to an external SSD through the USB-C port. Sadly, the built-in ND filters are gone, possibly due to the change in lens mount from Canon EF to Leica L, a native mirrorless mount with a shorter flange distance. This adjustment may have made it impractical to incorporate ND filters. However, the Leica L-Mount
is compatible with EF and PL adapters, providing a broad range of lens options. The camera accommodates Blackmagic’s accessories designed for the 6K Pro model. You can attach the optional EVF, which slots into a port on the top-plate after removing a blanking panel and securing it with a screw. The EVF features a 1280x960 colour OLED display and swivels through a 70° range. The camera also supports a battery grip that screws onto the bottom plate, which accepts two extra NP-F batteries. In practical use, we achieved roughly an hour of shooting per battery. The five-inch HDR touchscreen does tilt, but lacks full articulation. It serves as the interface for changing settings and navigating the refreshingly simple menus. Dedicated buttons for ISO and white- balance adjustments, along with three customisable function buttons, provide convenient shortcuts. At the rear, you’ll find buttons for the instant autoexposure button and autofocus employing the slow contrast detection AF set-up, limited to single-shot mode. This camera excels in manual
focusing, with features like a punch-in focus button for precise focusing and a high frame rate button. During recording, essential information is displayed around the screen’s perimeter, or you can opt for a clear view by turning it off. The camera is equipped with a full- size HDMI socket for clean 10-bit ProRes output, a mini-XLR input with phantom power and features like false colour and zebra pattern for effective monitoring. Notably, it also includes high-quality internal microphones and preamps, complemented by on-screen audio monitoring for easy visibility. It’s not a fast-action, run-and-gun camera, but a high-quality cinema camera trapped inside a uniquely designed body. Get past that and the rigging issues it can bring, and you will be surprised at the results.
More information: blackmagicdesign.com
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