Blackmagic Design has taken the wraps off its groundbreaking Cinema Camera 6K, marking a significant milestone as the company’s inaugural L-Mount camera, forged through a partnership with Leica and Panasonic. This release also marks the company’s inaugural foray into full-frame camera territory. Sporting an all-new 24.6-megapixel sensor boasting a resolution of 6,048 x 4,032, the camera offers stellar 6K capabilities and incorporates a dual native ISO for exceptional low-light performance.
Departing from its previous use of Canon’s EF mount, this camera is designed to accommodate L-mount lenses from an array of manufacturers within the L-mount alliance, including Panasonic, Leica, Sigma, and others. As is characteristic of Blackmagic Design’s cinema-centric cameras, it is not equipped with features like continuous autofocus or built-in stabilization.
CEO Grant Petty explained the development, stating, “With the new Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K, we wanted to create the most portable camera possible for high-end, large-format cinematography. That’s why we took the Pocket Cinema Camera platform but completely re-engineered the electronics inside around a full-frame sensor and L-Mount.”
The novel sensor provides a host of advantages for filmmakers, including a shallower depth of field and superior performance in low-light conditions. It offers an impressive 13 stops of dynamic range and delivers dual ISO performance that reaches up to 25,600. This new addition features Blackmagic Design’s first mirrorless-style mount with a relatively short flange distance, resulting in a more compact form compared to previous models. However, this design shift means there is no room for the built-in ND filter found in earlier iterations.
The Cinema Camera 6K boasts compatibility with all standard resolutions and frame rates up to DCI 4K and 6K, with stills reaching a remarkable 24.6 megapixels. It offers versatility with 6K open gate (3:2) at up to 36fps, or 60fps at 6,048 x 2,520 (2.4:1), and 60fps at 4,096 x 2,160 (4K DCI). The camera even allows users to work in true anamorphic 6:5 at higher resolutions than competing cameras, delivering 4.8K at 24fps with a resolution of 4,838 x 4,032. Additionally, it supports a maximum frame rate of 120fps in HD.
Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K with LP-E6N Lithium-Ion Battery Pack & 64GB Ultra UHS-I SDXC Memory Card Bundle
Equipped with a brilliant 1,500 nit 5-inch tilting HDR touchscreen (though not fully articulating), the camera enables real-time HDR video monitoring directly from the device, even under bright conditions. It provides essential shooting aids such as histograms, focus peaking, levels, frame guides, and more, as well as the ability to apply custom 3D LUTs for monitoring. The intuitive and user-friendly Blackmagic touch interface enhances the overall user experience.
Video recording is accomplished in either 12-bit Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) or H.264 proxy formats, with options for CFexpress B or SSD storage via the USB-C port. The camera is equipped with a wide array of audio ports, including a secure XLR port, HDMI output, NP-F570 batteries, and an optional BMPCC Pro Grip. Remarkably, the Cinema Camera 6K is now available for purchase at a competitive price point of $2,595, positioning it as one of the most cost-effective full-frame cinema-specific cameras available.
In tandem with the Cinema Camera 6K, Blackmagic Design has introduced the Blackmagic Camera iPhone app, providing users with comprehensive cinema-like camera controls and styles.
Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2 Bundle with Lexar 64GB Pro SDXC Card and Watson NP-F550 Batteries with Chargers (2-Pack)
The app allows for convenient adjustment of settings such as frame rate, shutter angle, white balance, and ISO with a single tap. Users can also record directly to Blackmagic Cloud in industry-standard 10-bit Apple ProRes files up to 4K. Moreover, it facilitates collaboration among creators through integration with Blackmagic Cloud. The app is now available for free download on the App Store.