Last year, when the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera arrived, I made a video to break it in, and laid down a commentary to share some insights. Not the newest thing now, it’s still the only option for capturing 10-bit 4:2:2 log video without a big rig, and costing under a grand. But it’s always needed a bit of rigging, and while filmmakers keep using it to make amazing films – examples here – there’s still a lot to talk about, in terms of rigging it right. Following up the commentary I made last year that went sort of viral, here’s a similar chat: because sometimes showing stuff, and talking over it, works better than writing an article. For a streaming clip, it does run long, but it covers lots of ground – and I’m looking forward to your comments below.
The first and main theme is that it’s wise to choose Canon EF-mount manual cine lenses, so that you can adapt them to the Micro-4/3 mount on the BMPC (and E-mount on Sony cams) with gadgets that take advantage of the conversion, enabling behind-the-lens ND filters and focal reducers. But it’s also true that typical Canon EF-mount lenses that aren’t fully manual will lack aperture control this way. Important to clarify! (There is not currently any Metabones solution specific to this need.)
GEAR LIST (in order of appearance):
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera
Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 zoom lens
Rokinon Cine lenses for EF mount
HolyManta VND
Light Craft Workshop Rapid ND (use my coupon code LC-1308 for 10% off)
View Factor Contineo cage
Tamrac N-45 padded leather quick-release camera strap
Zacuto Z-Finder
Ikan battery adapters (choose desired battery & mounting)
5.5 x 2.1mm female (Ikan) to 2.5 x 0.7mm male (BMPC) adapter
Tascam DR-60D audio pre-amp/recorder
Rode NTG-2 shotgun mic
Polaroid shotgun mic mount
Flolight 1/4″-20 Stacker for mic mount
Tether Tools Jerkstopper thread mount
Roxsen Focal Reducer EF to Micro-4/3
It seems ViewFactor Studios is no longer in business. I ordered a Contineo BMPCC Cages over three weeks ago and it still has not shipped. I have left messages and sent a couple of emails and got no response. It seems they have their website up just taking money from customers and don’t plan on ever shipping products. Still holding out but wondering if anyone has recently been able to successfully purchase anything from them and got what they ordered? Seems I can only find people from mid 2014 who bought from them and nothing since then. I did dig through their forum and found a lot of customers ordered and paid for Red Camera Controllers years ago and to this day they never shipped. One customer posted he contacted the BBB and they said they got a response from ViewFactor Studios that said they were out of money and had to wait until other people ordered to complete all the orders. Not a good sign. To the author of this post I would suggest removing the link to ViewFactor Studios and posting a warning, I am out $185 because of your recommendations.
Looks like I may have jumped the gun I did get a call today from ViewFactor notifying me the cage will ship on Friday. Looks like their cages are pretty popular and they were backordered. I tried to delete my previous comment but there was no option.
Thanks for clarifying, Jim. At the same time, it’s fair game to hold View Factor to account for falling behind and ignoring your inquiries. I’ve got several e-mails out to them that they’ve left unanswered for months, even after I’ve promoted their products in the sense of coverage like this, so it’s enough to get me looking at other options (lately it’s D|Focus Systems). But I’m glad your problem is (hopefully) resolved.
Hi,
I found this video very helpful designing a rig for the BMPC thank you. Just a question regarding the Holymanta/Roxen Focus Reducer combo: does the focus reducer go on first then the Holymanta? If they are both MFT/EF adapters how does this work together? Do I still buy the Holymanta VND EF I MFT?
Also Roxen filter site says ‘The depth is about 7mm, may hit the sensor of some cameras such as G1. The optical glass may need to be adjusted for Olympus OM-D, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema camera’. How is the optical glass adjusted and have you needed to do this for the BMPC?
Thanks
Zach