To absolutely none of the usual Blackmagic fanfare, the company has today released the new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2. It’s a fairly big upgrade over the original Pocket 6K, as it’s essentially a Pocket 6K Pro but without the built-in ND filter, which keeps the price of the 6K G2 at $1,999, same as the original 6K. This also means you get that 5″ tilting touchscreen display, NP-F batteries, optional EVF and Mini-XLR input.
Blackmagic has also announced the new Blackmagic Camera 7.9 Update today, adding 6K G2 support and adding an updated user interface to the Pocket 4K, 6K and 6K Pro, along with focus assist intensity adjustment, custom presets and LUTs are retained after software updates and improved lens and autofocus support. It also adds support for the Pocket 6K G2 to Blackmagic RAW.
The Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2 is, as I mentioned, essentially just a Pocket 6K Pro but without the built-in ND filters. This difference saves you $500 on the purchase price vs the 6K Pro and will be a welcome change for those who prefer to use their own ND filters externally either screwed onto the end of the lens or by using a matte box. Built-in ND filters are great for a camera to have, but not all ND filters are built exactly the same, and we all have our own personal preferences when it comes to which are our favourites!
Other than the lack of NDs, the specs for the Pocket 6K G2 are essentially identical to that of the Pocket 6K Pro. It has the same sensor, with 13 stops of range and dual native ISO up to 25,600. It takes the same EVF addon as the 6K Pro and shoots up to 60fps with the full size of the sensor or 120fps windowed. The 6K G2 also comes with Blackmagic’s 5th Generation colour science – the same as the URSA Mini Pro 12K.
Of course, you also get support for anamorphic lenses and you have that nice big 5″ tilting touchscreen display to help you get a good view on your shot even when your camera’s at an awkward angle. And, as usual, you get a free 2-seat license for DaVinci Resolve included with the camera so you can start editing that 6K BRAW footage right away.
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2 features
- Designed from carbon fiber polycarbonate composite.
- 6144 x 3456 sensor with 13 stops and dual native ISO up to 25,600.
- Compatible with a wide range of popular EF lenses.
- Up to 25,600 ISO for incredible low light performance.
- Standard open file formats compatible with popular software.
- Adjustable LCD screen.
- Includes Blackmagic Generation 5 Color Science.
- Optional Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Pro EVF.
- Professional mini XLR inputs with 48 volt phantom power.
- Larger NP-F570 battery, optional Blackmagic Pocket Camera Battery Pro Grip.
- Includes full DaVinci Resolve Studio for post production.
Blackmagic also teased a new feature they’re working on in the video above. The Blackmagic Pocket cameras feature a built-in gyro. Their plan is to have this gyro data embedded into Blackmagic RAW files while it’s being shot so that the camera knows its exact orientation on every single frame. When this footage is then loaded into DaVinci Resolve, it’s able to read and reverse that gyro data to help its built-in stabilisation features produce a very steady shot. There’s no word yet on when this is coming, but judging by the quality of the sample clip shown in the announcement video, it doesn’t look like it’s far off at all!
Blackmagic says that the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2 is available to buy now for $1,995 (the same price as the original 6K and $500 less than the 6K Pro). You can also find out more information on the Blackmagic website. The Blackmagic Camera 7.9 Update for the Pocket 4K, Pocket 6K and Pocket 6K G2 is available to download now.
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