We just got through talking about Blackmagic's low numbers for shipping Pocket Cinema Cameras, and the delay on the Production Camera 4K, but now we've got some pretty exciting news about their other camera straight from CEO Grant Petty. The 2.5K Blackmagic Cinema Camera, which we've told you is now shipping regularly from major resellers, just got a massive price drop. Instead of retailing for $3,000, the company has now reduced the camera's price to just $2,000. Here is what Petty said about the shipping dates:
The new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera is now shipping and there is a software update for it posted on our web site.
There are some new features in the software for the Pocket Cinema Camera. You can now focus by pushing the focus button when using an active MFT lens. This makes it very easy to accurately focus. The focus peaking feature is still there and you enable it by double pressing the focus button. The focus zoom feature is enabled by double pressing the OK button.
There will be an update for the 2.5K Blackmagic Cinema Camera soon that will also add these features, plus new de-bayer processing that will improve the cameras sharpness when shooting non RAW files.
The Blackmagic Production Camera 4K is not yet shipping as we need some more time. Our first batch of sensors was delivered only this week, so we have not been able to complete the software for the camera. We expect to start shipping in about 3 to 4 weeks once the final software work and testing is completed.
Here he is on the price drop (emphasis mine):
We have worked very hard over the last year to be able to build the Blackmagic Cinema Camera at a lower cost so we can reduce the price and allow access to digital filming to a wide range of cinematographers and photographers.
We have done it and from today the Blackmagic Cinema Camera EF and MFT models will be reduced in price to US$1,995. This is very exciting and is one of the proudest moments of my life to be able to do this!
I think people will be able to use the savings to invest in some exciting lenses and rigs to really boost the creative possibilities. The Blackmagic Cinema Camera is a fantastic design that's now well proven. The advantage of the 2.5K sensor is it has enough resolution to eliminate the bayer resolution loss of a HD sensor, but when shooting RAW it produces files that are too not to big to store and work with easily. It's a fantastic solution.
All orders placed that have not yet been filled, can be reduced to the new lower price.
This is absolutely dirt cheap when you consider that the camera still comes with a full version of DaVinci Resolve, a program that retails for almost $1,000. If you were to buy that software plus UltraScope separately, you're almost getting the camera for free. There is no doubt that Blackmagic wants to take some of the heat off for not quite delivering on time with the new cameras, though this is definitely a more interesting way to do it. Obviously if you bought a camera only recently, you're probably disappointed that you could have saved $1,000 from the retail price, but that's kind of the way it is with any product.
Grant also mentioned that they've developed a new community for content creators called Splice:
So I have created a new community page where we have people talking about their stories and posting their projects and images online. It’s not about Blackmagic here, as I really just want to share people's stories about their work and how they got started in the industry.
I get to talk to so many people from thousands of post production and broadcast facilities, so I hope this website lets others enjoy these stories as well.
When we proposed this website to people in the industry, they were really receptive to the idea and have been fantastic in supporting it. They have really opened up and shared the tough times as well as the good times. They have explained how they got started in the industry and even the big breaks that made them who they are today. It’s fantastic and we are so lucky that we have had this support.
If you are interested in reading these stories, please head to www.splicecommunity.com
I hope that Splice will be a community space where you can go to see the background stories behind so many great projects. We will feature everything we can from feature films, shorts, TVCs and documentaries. There are loads of projects from directors, DPs, editors, colorists, visual effects artists and post houses who have all shared their stories.
With all of the recent developments with other camera systems, and the missed shipping target for the 4K cam, this price drop makes a lot of sense. Blackmagic has proven once again they are willing to shake things up a little, even if it might upset a few customers or lose a little money in the short term.
For those looking at their next camera, is the 2.5K BMCC back on your radar if you'd been looking elsewhere?
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