A user by the name of Power_cheung on the forum of a website, www.filmaker.cn, has recently published several photos and a few details of how he installed his own flip screen on a Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. (I’m just going to call it the Pocket 4K from now on, mmmkay?)

Power_cheung states that it’s in the early stages and that future versions will be simpler and solve some of the existing problems (I’ll get into those in a minute), but for a first go, it’s got some serious potential.


On top of the pre-existing display, Power_cheung mounted his own personal display to a pair of custom made hinges. From the photos, they appear to be friction-based, allowing the screen to stay in place without any additional locking mechanism.

The hinge system is two-stage, first hinging up from the back in conventional fashion to give us a “selfie screen” (honestly, if I could have a selfie video in 4K RAW… I totally would) and then from another hinge point on the back of the newly installed screen, allowing it to move backward and forward and even to face downward and, likewise, upward.

Rear View, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K with Flip Up ScreenCredit: filmaker.cn

It is essentially the exact same screen modification that Sony implemented on their RX0 MK II, but on a full-fledged cinema camera. Nice move, Power_cheung.

I couldn’t find any specific details about how the mod was achieved, seeing as how there’s no external cable connecting to the camera. In one of Power_cheung’s photos, though, we can see a ribbon cable sneaking behind the existing screen.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K with Flip Up Screen wiring modificationCredit: filmaker.cn

I think Power_cheung somehow re-routed the video signal from the existing screen to the new one, but that’s just speculation.

While the screen may flip, the image doesn’t. Power_cheung hasn’t seemed to figure out how to change this in-camera, considering the original design of the Pocket 4K has no need to flip the display. As a result, my 4K RAW selfie will have to be taken while referencing an upside-down image. We all have to sacrifice, though.

What about you? If you had the time and, frankly, courage, would you mod your Pocket 4K to have an articulating screen? Leave a comment and let us know!

Source: Newsshooter