It's been in the works for some time now, but CinemaDNG RAW recording has finally arrived for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera (which is now in stock at places like B&H if you'd like to pick one up). Though it was mentioned that RAW would be ready when the camera began shipping over the summer, more time was needed for testing and to ensure that it worked properly. Check out more from the announcement below as well as which SD cards you'll need to actually record in RAW.
Here is a bit from the announcement:
The new Blackmagic Camera 1.5 software update adds CinemaDNG RAW file recording so customers can now capture super wide dynamic range in a single file. Wide dynamic range RAW image recording allows users to capture the brightest highlights and the darkest shadows simultaneously, capturing more of the scene than is possible with a regular video camera. CinemaDNG RAW files give users incredible freedom to be able to adjust the exposure manually during color correction with Davinci Resolve allowing more flexibility for incredible feature film look color grading.
The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera uses the open standard lossless compressed version of CinemaDNG RAW. CinemaDNG RAW lossless compression works in a similar way as a ZIP file where the RAW files are compressed during recording without the loss of any part of the image, so all images retain the same quality when they are decompressed. That means customers get back the mathematically perfect high quality RAW file image that they recorded.
And from Kristian Lam in the Blackmagic forum:
We recommend the Sandisk Extreme Pro 64GB SD card if you're going to be recording RAW.
The lossless CinemaDNG RAW will work in DaVinci Resolve and applications from Adobe like Photoshop and Lightroom. However, the Preview and Quick Look feature in OS X is not compatible and you will not see a proper image. This has been reported to Apple. Hopefully, they will have an update that will address this.
Right now if you want to record RAW with the camera, you'll want to pick yourself up a Sandisk Extreme Pro card (though it's possible you may be able to record for a short period of time with slower cards). With a 64GB card recording at 1920 x 1080 24fps, you'll get around 20 minutes of recording time, depending on the scene, since the codec is somewhat variable at about 2-2.4MB per frame according to John Brawley (not per second).
It should be noted that even though this version of CinemaDNG is compressed, the compression is actually very minimal, and will not affect picture quality since it's what is known as lossless -- meaning, you're not actually losing picture information in the process. This is different from something like the RED EPIC, which records in a lossy compression scheme that can affect picture quality depending how much you compress. The advantage to that system, however, is in the flexibility of being able to conserve more space for projects like documentaries or web material that may not need the same level of picture detail as a Hollywood feature film.
If you're looking for one, they are in stock in quite a few places, and you may be able to walk into a store and buy one like I did with mine at Rule Boston Camera. If you've already got a Pocket, head on over to the Blackmagic support page and download the newest camera utility version 1.5, which will install the RAW firmware.
Links:
Check-Out: Cine Lenses – Most popular Lens Deals this week
With any & every B&H purchase You will automatically be entered into the Monthly Gift Card Raffle.
Your Comment
55 Comments
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DOWNLOADING NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 12, 2013 at 3:04AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Man, swear I visualized that kid who gets the Blastoise Pokemon card saying this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PSvWR4dZKc
November 12, 2013 at 4:12AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Awesome! Couldn't have expressed myself any better. LOL
November 12, 2013 at 9:08AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Has anyone here tested slimRAW ? It sounds as nice complimentary software for losslessly compressing CinemaDNG RAW archives. Any hands on opinions?
May 18, 2015 at 5:52AM, Edited May 18, 5:59AM
WoW!!... I happen to see this post just a minute after i pressed the order button..!!
November 12, 2013 at 3:26AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Congrats!!!
November 12, 2013 at 7:30AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Any footage spotted in the wild?
November 12, 2013 at 3:31AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
John Brawley posted frames you can download: http://nofilmschool.com/2013/10/raw-support-coming-soon-blackmagic-pocke...
November 12, 2013 at 3:38AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
here's some frames from a Nikkor 35mm 1.4 and Switar 16mm 1.6 on a BMPCC… with original dng files and color graded jpgs
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a1z3ajeq72ohmbr/RBG8Bp4S3k
November 12, 2013 at 12:45PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Will this update add the compressed RAW option to the BMCC?
November 12, 2013 at 4:13AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
lol. try it.
November 12, 2013 at 7:53AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Can't wait to see the RAW footage samples. Come on people!!!
November 12, 2013 at 4:15AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Oh oh! looks like I’ll need to download Resolve 10. I’ve been trying to avoid it hoping I could continue to work natively in FCPX. Here’s hoping I can get my Sandisk extreme cards rated at 45mbs to shoot RAW. My only interest for RAW is doing quick, indoors, real-estate shots. I won’t need to record for more than 10 consecutive seconds. Crossing my fingers hoping my cards will work for this purpose!
November 12, 2013 at 4:31AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Resolve 10 is FANTASTIC. Significant upgrade on earlier versions.
November 12, 2013 at 12:12PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Sorry, but if you don't have a really fast SD card, it's not even going to record. I just updated, and my Sandisk Extreme 45MB/s card won't even write a frame in RAW, though it's fine in ProRes. Sandisk 64GB Extreme Pro is the only card on the supported list for RAW.
http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/support/detail/faqs?sid=27541&pid=34849&...
November 12, 2013 at 4:06PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Agree, I just tried it.
November 20, 2013 at 6:04AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
I think the Adobe suite was updated with Cinema DNG support (premiere and whatever their grading software is named).
November 14, 2013 at 4:30PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
I don't really understand the excitement that much, the highlight recovery of prores is pretty much the same. Anything that isn't clipped can be fully recovered. I don't really get what you can do to a RAW clip that you can't do to a baked clip on black magic.
November 12, 2013 at 6:44AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
If you look at some of the side-by-sides on BMCuser raw looks sharper and more detailed than prores.
November 12, 2013 at 6:51AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Sharpness, give me a break, no one has any issues with sharpness on the BMC prores.
If a shoots important, I would probably shoot Raw too, but some people are acting like some holy grail has opened up, your images will be 95% the same.
November 12, 2013 at 6:58AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
ProRes on the BMC IS softer than raw, hence why BM are releasing an update (when they finally get to it) to produce "sharper" images with ProRes.
November 12, 2013 at 8:51AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
That isn't to say I don't think ProRes is sharp enough. Just that it IS softer due to the internal debayering algo.
November 12, 2013 at 8:53AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Hmm, sorry if I'm pointing out something obvious, but doesn't the difference in sharpness just come down 2.5K (RAW) vs 1080p (ProRes) ?
November 12, 2013 at 9:25AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Probably! Me pointing this out doesn't mean I'm not completely confused as to what the balls BMD are up to ;)
November 12, 2013 at 3:22PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
The promised update is for the BMCC, to introduce a new way to debayer/downscale from 2.5K to 1080p. That said, it's possible that there's some kind of sharpening being introduced in the raw interpretation process. Certainly apps like Lightroom include some sharpening by default when interpreting raw stills.
November 12, 2013 at 4:09PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
I can't believe that you are seriously questioning why RAW is so great, spoken like a true novice. 13 stops of dynamic range is why, you don't get that on a prores file, any professional in the motion picture industry knows this. If you are shooting home videos then RAW is not something for you and PRORES would fit you just fine.
November 12, 2013 at 2:14PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
hahahahahahahahahaha
November 12, 2013 at 3:18PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
I'm all for the Raw and own the BMCC but the 13 stops applies to both the prores and the raw dude, thats a sensor achievement not the Raw capture. If it was just down to the raw you'd have to ask yourself why stop at 13?
Again, I'm with you on why this is an important update and not for a second agree that prores is 95% of what the Raw is.
November 12, 2013 at 5:31PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
raw for one grand. that's all.
November 13, 2013 at 2:50AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
too bad for me, i dont own a black magic cinema camera... My video camera is a smartphone
November 12, 2013 at 7:37AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
smartphone, dumbcamera ...sorry, was too easy.
November 12, 2013 at 10:33AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Awesome. Will be trying it out today. Though it's dark in Edmonton this time of year so can't shoot outside much after work. Sunset is 4:45PM. Yeesh.
That's a lot of data to store though.
November 12, 2013 at 7:58AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Any other changes with the new firmware? Can we format cards in camera yet or see how much time we have remaining to shoot on a card? I love the image from this camera with prores so much, but I'd love a few interface improvements and features...
November 12, 2013 at 10:05AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
+1
November 12, 2013 at 12:59PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
I've been checking NoFilmSchool every day for the past few weeks, waiting for this post. And it finally has arrived.
Today is a good day.
November 12, 2013 at 10:18AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Also RULE camera still had some in stock when I ordered mine a few weeks ago. They ship :)
November 12, 2013 at 10:24AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Dealer in Florida. I just received two more of the BMPCC $995 plus shipping 954.937.6600
November 12, 2013 at 11:43AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
How much of a discount will you give me if I buy both?
marshallartsentertainment@gmail.com
November 15, 2013 at 3:57AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
where the hell is 4k
November 12, 2013 at 12:24PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
So just to recap:
a) there is plenty of stock about
b) it now shoots RAW
c) there are a ton of cages/rigs/battery solutions available, from cheap to pro
d) it has an insane number of lens options, from stabilised modern coated to classic/vintage to Master Prime
e) they provide one of the best RAW post software packages FREE, which they just updated
I say some people owe Blackmagic an apology.
There are really no more excuses as an indie filmmaker. I look forward to seeing a ton of new dramas and docos in 2015. Unless there's some other reason you're not making your movie...:-)
November 12, 2013 at 12:30PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
..and for Doco work on the BMCs, I'm quite fond of this idea: https://vimeo.com/78623865#
With either the Sigma zoom or Canon 16-35 this is a very viable rig.
Now someone just needs to build an IS version. :-)
November 12, 2013 at 12:36PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Even from this scrap you can tell: the RAW is NICE.
BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera Raw from gary on Vimeo.
November 12, 2013 at 12:40PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Magic Lantern now has continuous shooting in Raw on the 5D3 and Panasonic's GH4 will have 2K + 4K. Thank you BM, for giving the video industry a surge of adrenalin.
November 12, 2013 at 1:02PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Ya, I thought the big news today was the recently announced Panasonic 4K sensor that will probably power up the GH4.
November 12, 2013 at 1:07PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Not so much, no.
I think we're very close to a tipping point where the breathlessness is now saved until at least a prototype starts appearing, and even better shipping. That might be wishful thinking on my part.
/I thought the part re the GH4s specs where EOSHD's Andrew Reid moans that 'these are the specs the 1DC should have had' very funny/nonsensical.
Oh you mean the camera that's been out for 6 months shooting vs this unconfirmed selection of specs for a camera that won't appear for at least another 4-5 months, and may not ship until the 1DC has been live on set for @18 months? Well yes Andrew, all cameras should have the specs of the ones in the generation that follows. I'll agree to that.
November 12, 2013 at 3:27PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Ya, that was a tad unrealistic. The price-per-processing ever declining ratio among the portable devices has been among the top achievements of the recent era. Apple's latest iPhone is something like 56 times more powerful than its first model that came out in June, 2007. The current Qualcomm Snapdragon was a single core 500 Mhz chip in 2007 and a quad core 2.3 Ghz chip in 2013, The power consumption per unit of processing power is way down as well. Eighteen months under Moore's Law is a long time.
November 12, 2013 at 11:04PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Hey guys, you can download sample RAW footage from the BMPCC, courtesy of Birdo ;) http://tinyurl.com/kn2bu2c
November 12, 2013 at 1:21PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Really hoping for compressed raw on the BMCC 2.5k
November 12, 2013 at 2:26PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Who needs 4K when you can have 4.3K. In your smartphone!
http://www.streetinsider.com/Press+Releases/OmniVisions+OV10822+Brings+D...
November 12, 2013 at 11:20PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
The sensor is only 1/2 inch so it still will not be as capable as real cameras with larger sensors.
November 14, 2013 at 6:03PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
I got the camera today! will try to shoot RAW tmrw and post it pretty untouched to vimeo (European time, so folks from USA would probably have a chance to see it when they wake up) :)
can't wait to put my hands on it!
November 15, 2013 at 7:58AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
hell, what I am talking about! it is probably gonna be a huge file, will upload it to some other place for download
November 15, 2013 at 8:00AM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Blackmagic cheats their by saying thier new 4 k camera can shoot 4k raw. Its not possibile now. We have to wait for the software upgrade they promise to release anytime in future???? but they are not mentioning it anyware in their ads or website or in the manual also. Its so disappoinitng to see that they jus playing with our expectaions and their promises. So dont buy Blackmagic 4k for raw recordings now... wait for the software upgrades. It may take 0ne yr or 2 yr.... who knows.
I am dissappointed by buying one
March 29, 2014 at 11:21PM, Edited September 4, 8:56AM
I want to help
Hello
I've got a Black Magic Camera Cinema 4K
But it does not depict the form DNG RAW؟
How I Make shoot format DNG RAW؟
April 9, 2014 at 3:18PM, Edited September 4, 8:56AM
Hello
I purchased the Black Magic Cinema camera 4K.
I was horrified when her grandmother did not Shooting DNG RAW
And you're talking about a free update you tell me how do I do that?
And I thank you very much.
April 9, 2014 at 3:45PM, Edited September 4, 8:56AM