50% OFF BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera + FREE Batteries

• • 31 Comments

Big news, right now you can save 50% OFF the BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera (Body). I never thought to see a price drop this low and this soon for the BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera - especially following a recent firmware update. Either the new GH4 camera has affected sales on the BMPCC or could this mean there's something new around the corner..

Here's a recent press release that adds even MORE functionality to this amazing little camera. More file formats allowing for longer recording times on the same cards!

[Update] Blackmagic Design Announces New Apple ProRes™ formats for all Blackmagic Design Cameras
Fremont, CA - July 17, 2014 - Blackmagic Design today announced the immediate availability of Camera 1.8.2 software which adds three new Apple ProRes™ file formats for the Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera and Blackmagic Production Camera 4K. Camera 1.8.2 update is available now free of charge from the Blackmagic Design website.

Blackmagic Design camera customers have always been able to record in both CinemaDNG RAW or compressed ProRes 422 HQ formats, however now this new software update adds three additional Apple ProRes™ file formats, ProRes 422, ProRes 422 LT and ProRes 422 Proxy. This means customers using Blackmagic Design cameras will be able to get significantly smaller video file sizes allowing much longer recording durations on the same media card, all while preserving full frame 10-bit 4:2:2 quality.

Because this update is available to our camera customers free of charge, they simply need to download it, and install the update from their Mac or Windows machine using a simple USB cable connection to the camera. Once the update is complete, customers will see these new formats available in the camera menus.

Because this update reduces the data rate of recording, it means customers can now choose lower cost SSD or SD cards while still recording high quality video in SD, HD and Ultra HD resolutions. Using ProRes 422 Proxy it is possible to record 230 minutes of 1080HD video on a single 64GB SD drive. Selecting the type of ProRes format for recording can be set via the on screen menus and all ProRes types can be played back instantly.

The Apple ProRes 422 formats are designed specifically for multi-stream non linear editing, minimal generation loss and fast export, making them very popular video file formats for post production and broadcast. All ProRes files recorded with Blackmagic Cinema Cameras and Blackmagic Production Camera 4K can be opened directly in DaVinci Resolve 11 and Apple Final Cut Pro X™ for immediate color correction, editing and finishing.

“We are extremely excited to release this next update for our camera customers ,” said Grant Petty, CEO of Blackmagic Design. “With the addition of the 3 new ProRes formats, cinematographers can now record for longer on low cost SSD’s and SD cards without sacrificing image quality, as they are still recording in full 10 bit 4:2:2 quality. Because our cameras feature a software centric design, we are very excited to be able to update our cameras with more and more features over time and make the cameras better and better! And there is more to come!”

In any case, this is a great deal and a camera I still use quite often. Here's the link to a few different places all knocked down 50% OFF.

blackmagic bmpcc camera50 off BlackMagic
find-price-button Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera + FREE Batteries


find-price-button BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera - via Amazon


find-price-button BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera - via B&H

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31 thoughts on “50% OFF BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera + FREE Batteries”

  2. sebastian roland

    shit im late deal is off everywhere , ill have to wait and see now , do you think theres something new aroud the corner?/

  4. Emm

     Post author

    @Steven - The latest firmware allows the Samsung cards to be read by the BMPCC. I ran a quick test shooting for just 1 minute and was able to shoot in every format but RAW.
    My file sizes were
    1 minute ProRes HQ = 1.4GB
    1 minute ProRes 422 = 900MB
    1 minute ProRes LT = 635MB
    1 minute ProRes Proxy = 292MB

    I haven't tried shooting for more than 1 minute so it's something I think needs more testing to ensure there's no buffer issues. With the smaller file formats I don't see a problem.

  5.

    Hey Emm,

    I was wondering if you had tried out those Samsung SD cards that were posted on here a few weeks ago on the BMPCC after the new codecs were added? I remember reading they didn't work before, but I was curious if they work with the more efficient codecs -- 422 and LT?

    Thanks

  6. Emm

     Post author

    @J ha na - The Canon 5D Mark III can shoot RAW with ML, but only for a limited time. Outside of that, you don't have 10 bit HDMI out, you don't have ProRes file formats, you can't shoot RAW for more than a few minutes at a time. The Canon 5D is $3K and the #BMPCC is now less than $500.

    The BMPCC is truly an amazing camera for the price, and though it may lack the high res of more expensive 4K cameras, the things you can do in 1080p for under $500 bucks is really really amazing.

    I shot a project recently mostly outdoors and I chose the BMPCC over other cameras because RAW gave me more image to work with in post. In my opinion, the small size, light weight, image quality, and price is unmatched with any other camera. Now with new file formats you can shoot longer recordings making it even more flexible than say a Sony RX100.

    If you want to keep things compact with just, a pistol grip handle, lcd view finder, panasonic 14mm & 20mm pancake, you're ready to tackle a good amount of projects with great image quality.

  7. J ha na

    I have a canon 6d. @cheesycam... is this superior quality? You've used the 5d and blackmagic...thoughts?

  8. lolicht

    It's difficult to understand where is BM going to … look at their new camera, the URSA, it's really a weird" thing", no vf, a huge foldable huge screen … Regarding the BMPCC it look like a good deal, but even if i'v some vintage c-mount lenses waiting for a welcoming body, i'm not buying it, after browsing around to check the picture quality … look at Bloom's "Venice" short, it remind me a bad 5D2 with moiré and aliasing on every bricks, electric wire, water, even lashes … did the very new firmware solved some how this issue ? and there's the strange grid that pop up in hi-lit areas ...

  9. Crookid

    @alan nguyen It's a great camera. They might be trying to make up for some bad reviews due to firmware issues. However, I hear since their new firmware update, everything is on the up and up.

  10. Crookid

    Holy cow, talk about a price drop.

    I agree btw, there is no way that this is just a "summer sale". Either they have a new version dropping or they are desperate. Either way, it just goes to show you how much of a profit these companies make with their cameras. Which is why I always try to buy a generation early or wait 6 months after a new release.

    Nevertheless, I think a new version is the most likely scenario. They probably have one with 4K releasing.

  13. Jonas

    they have it at CVP.com I still thought it was a good deal wen I bought it at first. Its a great little camera with a few quirks.

  14. DBounce

    The BMPCC is decent, but battery life, controls, screen and ui suck. Also with 4k now available to the masses, the case for the BMPCC looks poor. Clearly this is being reflected in sales. Something new is coming. Probley something 4k. But it better have good battery life, and much better controls, screen, Vu metering etc... GH4 has raised the bar. This is good for consumers. Everyone else needs to step up their game.

    I had the BMPCC awhile ago. I will pass. It's called the "pocket" camera, but in use it quickly becomes giant once everything needed is added, which defeats the purpose of a "pocket" camera.

  15. Emm

     Post author

    @John - Yes I think it can match pretty close in color. The BMPCC makes shooting RAW a bit easier. Runs longer than 12 minutes and has the option for Prores or capture 10 bit HDMI out. A few things even the 5D can't do.

  17. John

    hey @Emm would you recommend this camera as a cheap "B" camera for the 5D Mark iii shooting RAW. I'd love to have 2 cameras shooting RAW. Its really tempting but I am curious what BM is getting ready to release!??

  18.

    holy s*** that's a crazy deal. don't have a use for a raw shooting camera myself, but even if there's a new camera around the corner this is still awesome!

  19. Robby

    Usually this means they'll announce a new pocket cinema camera at photokina in September....Getting rid of old stock to move in the new. Here's to hoping for better frame rates and main controls...

  20.

    It's an insane discount. And makes an already good deal just ridiculous. I still can't for the life of me see myself having a need for this type of camera, but RAW and pocketable for 500 bucks? damn good for people just getting into things

  21. emx

    How much for the SD card and extra battery to get up and running. I'm thinking about selling my GH3 or Gh2 to get one of these.

  24. Emm

     Post author

    @terry_mickie - I think the 2.5K BMCC will see some discounts this year (i'm just speculating) but the 4K Production Camera still offers great value for the price as it shoots RAW (neither Sony A7s or GH4 offers RAW).

    As I remember, the HDMI out on the pocket cinema camera is not interlaced, it is progressive. There may be only one framerate (23.98) that outputs a weird wrap, but almost every other framerate including 24p are detected as progressive from a Ninja 2 and record normally.

  25. terry_mickie

    So I guess I'll ask the next logical question. Do you think the 2.5k and the 4k are going to get slashed too?

    Emm, it the HDMI out on the pocket interlaced? How would a Ninja 2 handle that? Would the picture be affected by converting from interlaced to progressive scan and what's the best method of doing it?

  26. Emm

     Post author

    @getem - I think 4K is the game changer this year, not for the full resolution, but just what you can do with it before exporting to 1080. Blackmagic is definitely a company to watch out for, they've given us many great cameras long before anyone else, so i'm expecting they have another great camera coming out soon. BTW, this is just my opinion, I have no inside info on anything.

  27. getem

    @Emm I agree

    If a summer special they could have easily price it around $200-$250 less, but to slash it by 50% is a serious eye opener, truth is Panasonic GH4 is currently changing the market......

    Blackmagic camera have excellent image, but you need to seriously know how to use these cameras in order to get that great image + you have to deal with the workflow and size of files.

  28. Steve

    @Emm this calls for an article to be written about what you need to hit the ground running with this camera!

  29. Emm

     Post author

    @jermaine - I've seen a lot of gear come and go. 50% is too much to be called a 'summer special' without some hidden reason. Either sales are really bad, or something new around the corner. This is not your average promotion. I'm going with the rumor mill, something new to be announced soon.

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