4K Acquisition Arrives With BMPC

The Blackmagic Design Production Camera 4K has recently arrived at Postquis Design LLC. We’ve waited for a while to make the move to the 4K dance as we felt that critical functionality was missing in the BMPC 4K camera until recently. The release of Blackmagic Design’s firmware version 1.9.5 removed those concerns and it was time to join the 4K production world. The addition of audio meters in the on-camera LCD, time remaining for the SSD, a histogram (albeit a small one), and the ability to format your SSDs in the camera make for a very welcomed firmware upgrade.

Now comes the time to rig it for our projects and how we prefer to work in the field. Many hours were spent over the past months deciding on how that would begin when the time came… what would be the best cage for it… the foundation for all the other tools for which it would be equipped. We always kept coming back to one in particular, the View Factor Studios BMCC cage, which also fits the BMPC 4K model. The design of it is such that it fits the BMCC and BMPC 4K cameras like a glove. We look forward to its arrival and will be posting some BTS of it when it does!

Till then, it’s time to check out some glass with it and run it thru some preliminary tests. Ours is the EF mount version (BMD has recently announced a PL version also for the 4K camera) and should do well with Canon ‘still’ lenses. But for those new to the cinema/video production world, ‘cine’ glass which is de-clicked and has built in gears for follow focus and aperture if needed often makes life much easier on set.

Below are a Rokinon 14mm T3.1 cine de-clicked lens on the BMPC 4k and a Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 photo lens. Take note of the side markings on the Rokinon cine lens. Should you rig your BMPC with the intent of having a focus puller work with you… these side marking make it much easier for them vs the top markings on a stills photo lens.

BMPC 4K w-Rokinon 14mm Cine Lens

Rokinon 14mm T3.1 cine lens with BMPC 4K

Additionally, with a cine lens you get smooth changes on your aperture ring. You aren’t restricted to 1/3 stop clicks… you can fine tune your aperture to any position between what would be clickable stops on a photo lens.

BMPC 4K w-Tokina 11-16mm lens

Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 photo lens with BMPC 4K

Stay tuned for more updates on our blog as we continue to get our BMPC 4K all dressed up for the 4K party! Next up… getting it slipped into the View Factor Studios Blackmagic Design camera cage.