If you are in the US, and you've had a pre-order for the EF-mount version of the Blackmagic Cinema Camera, they are currently in stock at places like B&H. While there aren't infinite quantities, if you've been looking to buy, you can get one right now at a number of different retailers. If you switched your pre-order to the Micro 4/3 version, there might be some light at the end of the tunnel for shipping on that model, especially as it has been some time since the Beta testers got a hold of that model. We've also got more footage shot with the Pocket Cinema Camera from John Brawley (which shares the same sensor technology as the original BMCC). This time he takes the camera into some serious low-light situations and puts the camera through its paces.
Here is Kristian Lam from Blackmagic in their forum (all of these were posted on June 6th):
The Pocket Cinema Camera shares the same sensor technology as the Blackmagic Cinema Camera EF and MFT but the sensor package is physically different. Therefore, sensors for the EF/MFT model cannot be used in the Pocket Cinema Camera and vice versa.
As for Blackmagic Cinema Camera MFTs, you'll be happy to know that they will ship really soon, possibly as early as next week.
Shipments will leave the factory today so I hope customers will start receiving them from the start of next week.
As far as the possibility of the BMCC getting an active MFT mount after the announcement of the Pocket Camera, Kristian mentioned that as well:
The camera is passive mount as per the specifications on the website.
So there is a bit of good news, but obviously anyone hoping for an active mount to use lenses from Panasonic or Olympus will either have to get their hands on a Pocket Cinema Camera or wait for the next version of the BMCC, which may or may not have active mount (and that's also assuming they make a second version with that sensor). There were some mentions earlier when it was announced that an active Micro 4/3 mount was going to take a bit of work to get into the current body as-is (if it was possible at all), so clearly they've decided not to delay the camera any longer and start getting it to users as soon as possible.
It's unclear how many would actually be shipping from the factory, but there is no question somebody is going to get one within the next few weeks.
We've also got more Pocket Cinema Camera footage from John Brawley. It was shot in ProRes Log, mostly at ISO 1600 (except for the first couple of shots), and no noise reduction or sharpening was applied:
Lens wise I had the Panasonic 14mm F2.5 (first few shots) and the Panasonic 20mm F1.7 (second lot of shots before the ferry travelling left to right) then I was principally on the Olympus 45mm F1.8 but I also had the 12mm SLR Magic T1.6 and the SLR magic 25mm T0.96
I had the terrific O’Connor 1030Ds head along for the ride too, but that was the only rig. I shot over 3 hours and used three batteries.
This was all cut and finished in FCPx with a beta version of Nick Shaw’s BMC plugin for converting BMD FILM to REC709.
It should also be noted that the camera got very wet during shooting and was still running like a champ. The Pocket is made to take on a little water, but I imagine it falls well below of weather-sealed cameras like the Canon 1D X or 1D C (as it should at only $1,000). It's going to be a bit more versatile lens-wise than the BMCC MFT, but the Pocket will have a bit less detail in the final image due to starting with only 1080 pixels on the sensor. This definitely one to keep your eye on, especially as it's compatible with tons of Micro 4/3 lenses, and works with image stabilization.
Links:
Disclosure: Blackmagic is a No Film School advertiser.
