Blackmagic Design has announced a significant sale on its acclaimed 6K Cinema Camera, offering discounts of up to 40 percent. However, with stock being limited, industry observers are speculating whether this signals the imminent release of a new, higher-resolution camera.

Grant Petty, CEO of Blackmagic Design, commented on the sale: “The Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K has been very popular with customers since its launch. Customers have been excited to capture amazing large format images in an extremely portable design that also works with new and vintage lenses they already own, in an entirely new way.”

The discounted Pocket 6K model boasts professional features, including a 6K full-frame image sensor, optical low pass filter, support for Blackmagic Raw and Pro Res video codecs, and camera-to-cloud functions with proxy recordings.

This camera supports a wide range of lenses, thanks to Blackmagic’s involvement in the L-mount alliance. Lenses from Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma offer full metadata transfer for new lenses while maintaining compatibility with vintage lenses. The camera’s short flange distance of 20mm allows for the use of adapters for Canon EF, ARRI PL, and other lens models without compromising image quality.

Key features of the 6K Cinema Camera include:

Full-frame 6K CMOS image sensor with a native resolution of 6048×4032
Dual native ISO up to 25,600 and over 13 stops of dynamic range
True 6:5 anamorphic mode without cropping
Full resolution shooting up to 36 fps, or cropped up to 120 fps
Super 35mm image size support
The camera captures footage to a CFexpress Type-B Card and can upload H.264 proxy files via wifi to the cloud. It also includes support for applying LUTs to raw video footage and metadata transfer from L-mount lenses.

Additional features include a 5-inch adjustable LCD screen with HDR capabilities, a brightness of 1500 nits, and the option to attach an optical-electronic viewfinder. Connectivity options include HDMI, USB-C, and 2 Mini-XLR Audio Ports.

One area of concern has been battery life, but Blackmagic has addressed this with the inclusion of larger NP-F570 batteries and the optional Pocket Camera Battery Pro Grip, which doubles the power capacity and extends shooting time.

Pricing and Availability

The 6K Cinema Camera is now available for $1575, reflecting a discount of $1,020. Blackmagic has emphasized that this sale is limited in time and stock. At this reduced price, the camera offers an attractive option for those looking to enhance their cinematic capabilities or transition from DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. The sale, however, does not include the G2 or Native EF mount models.

Speculation about a new model or that BMD may be dropping it’s participation in the L-Mount Alliance has been fueled by the timing of this sale. Traditionally, Blackmagic announces new models just before the annual NAB Show, but this year only the affordable Pyxis cinema camera has been introduced. While an 8K or higher Pocket model seems unlikely for 2024, the year is still young, and surprises could be in store.

[Source: Blackmagic Design]