I’m sorry I couldn’t get pass the first 5sec when you said you are using video mode in the pocket. Every professional knows this camera is designed for post production, not using directly out of camera. That’s the whole purpose of this camera and the codecs they give you. I have 2 of these cameras and it has never left the raw/film setting, gives me complete control in my edit bay and I can match any camera look I want. Other then that I watched a lot of your videos and I am a fan. Thanks

Hey Dave! Try this on your next video: Shoot in raw Match raw to Sony in resolve Save the LUT Apply LUT to the p4k Record with LUT on camera Compare

Before you comment on this video, please listen to what I said at the start of this video, the reason I am using video mode instead of Film or Slog is because it takes ME (DAVE) out of the equation. This video will explain why I did it this way: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y82pbNqou8fDg30.html

Interesting choice to use video mode on the BMPCC 4k, since almost all users of the BMPCC 4k are interested in it's "Film" mode and dynamic range. Would've much rather seen an S-Log on the A7R3 vs the BMPCC 4k's Film Lossless Raw

Thanks for this, was interesting to see the comparison I think it is worth noting, though, that this really isn't how anyone would use the Pocket 4K. if you're going to shoot with the video profile, you'd might as well not shoot with a Blackmagic camera. These cameras are really all about shooting RAW and having options in post.

I actually liked the pocket 4Ks original footage. Film’s gamma levels are usually lower than digital cameras.. which is why they don’t look as “cinematic”. The Sony’s images looked super digital compared to the pocket camera, in my opinion.

This one is for the video makers, not the film makers

I run a Sony A7iii and it was a calculated decision over the pocket 4k. One of the things I gave up was the ability to record RAW and the excellent codecs that the pocket 4k offers. You have to make use of these codecs and compare them to the A7iii using HLG + Leeming LUTs for it to be a clear comparison. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to post.

Damn the pocket 4k has amazing dynamic range...color grading heaven for low budget

In the sunrise shot, you suggest it's a matter of preference, but I found myself asking "Well, were the clouds pink or were they orange?" It's kind of important to know if the clouds were actually pink and the Sony rendered them orange, or vice versa. Without having seen it myself, I can't say which is more accurate, but I can say the BM image looks more natural and pleasing. Perhaps this is an example of how the Sony pushes reds toward yellow? Thanks for the comparison video. And don't sell yourself too short on color grading, you can't possibly be as bad at it as you claim. :)

Interesting find re: color in the shadows.

I am of similar age to you Dave and can completely relate to the focusing on small screens. We have the ability to fix almost everything in Post - but being out of focus, as far as I know, is not fixable. Always wanted an EVF that I can strap to my head - sometimes it's hard to get down to the camera at certain angles. The obvious solution with this camera is to plug in a monitor. I think even though you were matching the Sony to the Pocket - your skin tone looked better to my eyes on the pocket - not so much as hue color but the skin looked more natural in its pigmentation. The highlight roll off with Sony's always seem a little harsh on skin tones to me and look less realistic. Colorist approach would have been to get one perfect and then match the other. Not a huge fan of Sony color either but it is such a popular camera line now that we all start getting used to it - which makes other things look off. I also think that if everything matched up to the vectorscope - the camera would lose it's character and at that point you may as well use the color chart overlay in Resolve. Color grading is never about accuracy - it is about perception.

If you're exposing for the highlights and the midtones end up darker, doesn't that just mean that the camera has more dynamic range?

I think a number of BM fanatics simply didn't understand what Dave wanted to demonstrate here. He clearly demoed that BM Pocket 4K is absolutely not for a regular videographer who expects readily available "color science" from a camera like the BM Pocket. I am really happy and appreciate his work that his review just demonstrated that for the style I do videography a camera like the Sony A7III or Canon EOS R with their S-Log, C-Log is way more than enough. I wouldn't have time and perseverance to learn the competence to tweak out the extra "bells and whistles" from the image of this camera.

I appreciate you work on this, but I don't think its a very good comparison to compare the Pocket in video mode. The point of a comparison is not to see if you can make the shots match I wouldn't think. You want to see how the colors compare. I think it would have made more sense to record the pocket in film mode and the Sony in slog2 or 3, apply a basic rec 709 lut to each, and then compare how the two footages look. That would have shown any differences.

The blackmagic cameras base footage is NOT supposed to be saturated or vibrant or contrast'y and that is on purpose. You are supposed to color grade it to get it looking right and its ability to let you do that is one of its biggest strengths and allows the footage's quality to be both flexible and very high quality if you know what to do with it. Try comparing ungraded red footage to a cannon dslr with color done in-camera based solely on color and of course the cannon will look better before editing. This is no different. The low contrast, low saturation, low vibrancy footage is what allows such excellent ability on these cameras to retain highlight and color detail in a way that looks almost like film because it is getting pretty damn close to actual film light quality (arii alexa for example is damn near perfectly filmic)

Nice comparison Dave! Interesting to see how much saturation the Sony bakes to the file by comparison. I want to point out that you can import a 3D LUT with the corrections that you would make to the color and tone curves so that you can bake those adjustments to your file instead of having to adjust them every time in post. Thanks again!

Thanks Dave, I'm certain that the reason software allows for color correction is just for that reason. Cinematographers keep great records of their lenses, lighting, dates, and such, so they can go back if necessary for re-shoots, and also to maintain colors, lighting between shots. In the case of measuring color differences between the two cameras, everything must be as equal as possible. Can you get adapters to permit putting one common lens on both cameras? Especially those with no glass in between. Personally, I think the review is excellent, and you've more than amply shown that the BM camera can be matched, and that's all that's likely needed. Dave, the country owes you a great deal for your time and effort doing these videos. I hope someday you get some kind of KZfaq views award. Larry

I’ve shot Sony mirrorless since it was released because the workflow is amazing. I’ve never chosen then Sony for its color science. It’s wretchedly bad. The reasons LUTs are so popular for this camera is because people always want to make it look different. There’s no true red and the greens look comical. I have to make so many adjustments in Resolve it’s crazy. Its why I moved to the GH5 and pocket 4k. Still have my Sony. Still like the camera. Still hate the color.

Putting those two together for comparison is a insult to BMPCC, period.

Great examples of the differences Dave... thank you. 👍 I think I prefer the colour of the BM simply because it feels more natural to me, but if I didn't need RAW then I'd probably be going for the GH5S !

Wow, eye opener! I'd rather work 'with' the BM than 'against' the over saturated and contrasty Sony. Was looking at both for a purchase coming up next month. Thank you!

Isn't a bad review, but the Pocket 4k is not the appropriate tool for the purpose described in the video. The big difference of this camera resides in its post-production capabilities: you can recover under and over-exposed footage, gradients are shown as gradients and not monochromatic bands, and there is more room for colors to be manipulated without the codec exploding like crazy, dirtying the whole image.

Hey dude, the BMCC4k is meant to be a Cinema Camera. Just like with RED, it's not going to look as colorful as any other camera because of the awesome potential of color grading in post production. I don't think you should be messing with saturation before working with the color grading first IMO, so its a bit of an unfair review here. The Sony is more of a point and shoot camera though

3:14 put your phone into a vr box or do the 3D eye trick... the two cameras are spot side by side which creates a 3D image!

Thanks for this Dave. Love the colour science in BM cameras and (even on this test) I'm never quite convinced by the Sony DSLR colours. There's always a sense (to my eye) that Sony seem to be 'trying a bit too hard', as is evidenced in the beautiful big sky you shot. Hands down prefer the BM colours on just about anything. Really helpful test :)

The problem with the test is the Blackmagic has more contrast. Two cameras cannot give you similar contrast due to sensor and internal processing. If you shot in log they would be closer in results. I rather have more detail with contrast than with higher highlights. Blackmagic cameras are film cameras and apart from RED are most have less saturation and contrast. The parameters for the test are not fair.

If you're going to NAB this year, check out the Z CAM E2. I think you will like the colors even better than the Sony and BM. Now that they have ProRes as well.

Can't you just buy an external evf for the camera? Doesn't make sense to lose interest in the whole product because of this. With the extra cash you saved from the BMPCC4k compared to the A7riii, buy a nice evf connected with an HDMI cable. I mean, for sake of argument,you could probably afford a used arri evf-1 with the extra money you saved from buying a sony camera, lmao

Hey Dave, great video! Quick question, are you based out of Colorado? The brick building that said SDL on, I used to do software testing in there a long time ago, if that's the one in Louisville that is.

would be more accurate to use the cinema mode of the bmpcc and apply a conversion LUT to REC709

hi dave, at 8:50 you say you matched the tone curve of the bmpcc4k to look like a7r3, why not the other way around (matching a7r3 to bmpcc4k) ? thanks for sharing

Your one of the few who prefers Sony colors. Cool, I don't believe these two cameras belong on the same project. You definitely confirmed that belief

Thanks, Dave! God bless you!!! And Happy New Year!

Hi Dave, May I ask if you used the same lenses on both cameras? Is it possible the lenses are causing the shift? I'm not asking with an attitude by the way, I'm really interested in knowing if that played any part in the comparison. Thanks, Larry.. Also, in 4K on my monitor, the camera/lens you shot with looks gorgeous.

I am really interested in this camera but I’m on the fence. I have the Sony a7RIII and would love to see more comparison vids.

I actually prefer the color science of the BMPCC4K over the Sony.

You could get an external monitor and apply the luts in that. Or maybe just took the cameras up to your laptop and played the footage in OBS while recording. Not trying to be negative but its just a thought I had.

I Like the Black Magic Pocket better... looks more cinematic

I recognize that wind center!

The only thing that I think bmpcc4k is lacking compared to sony, canon and panasonic is the ( ibis ) image stabilization and the articulating screen to be the perfect camera for anybody that does not have a ton of money to spend on all the expensive gears that make any camera a full filmaking tool. Dave thank you very much for your honest videos as always and dont forget the green screen test since everybody forgot about it.

Was waiting for such a video. Thank you!

This is bit of an apples and oranges comparison.. But dig the anamorphic. :)

Very valuable feedback. Thanks Dave

What lenses would you recommend? People have suggested the 12-35, others the speed booster and the sigma 18-35, others have recommended primes.

I always like your fair and competent tests. Like anything, cameras are tools and you need the right tool for the job. If it doesn't fit your workflow, then move on. Thanks for all your hard work and tests!

Thanks for doing this Dave! I love love what Sony does as far as a feature set, and I hear you on the unexposed midtones, but I am in love with those Blackmagic colors. The way that the reds are handled are perfect in my opinion. And I felt that the Sony was a little too yellow in these tests compared to BM. I never was a huge fan of the Sony colors. The skies were too cyan, and like you said, it handled blues, especially bright blues, strangely. Anyway, thanks for the side by the side! I can't wait to get my unit in and get some tests done myself.

Are you sure you didn't have it labeled backwards @ 8:00 on? The BM has a distinct soft bloomy look and your graphic says it's the sony. I feel like they are labeled incorrectly

Thank for the video Dave, I would like to ask You which picture profile on the Sony a7RIII has the most dynamic range and best colours.

Nice video! May I ask, what lighting do you use on your moderation? =)

If the midpoint of exposure for the bmpcc is lower than the Sony (when you’re exposing for highlights), that means that the dynamic range is wider!! Both of these cameras have a different dynamic range, so you should always expose for... exposure! That way you can see what’s lost in clip, what’s lost in crush, and get a truly accurate representation of their comparison. Also, if the image is darker there’s less saturation, especially if exposure is raised afterwards, so that may have had an affect on the lower saturation (although the bmpcc4k does have a less saturated image naturally)

Nobody shoots in “video” on the bmpcc4k... No way to get around the “work” Come on big Dave! Lol. Nice job!

Interesting comparison. Thank you. But my biggest question is, what are your timeline video dimensions to get 2.35:1 playback? lol.

Hey Dave! Can you elaborate on the picture profiles you were using? I know you weren't using "film" on the BM, but were you in video, or extended video? Also for the A7III, which profile were you using? Or were you using profile off? Sony's always have 15-20 different gamma/color options to choose from..

The biggest take away for me when it comes to these two cameras is the price. The Sony is way more expensive and with the BMPCC it can look anyway you want it to with a little extra work. If you make films the BMPCC 4K is a no brainer but for corporates and maybe even weddings get the Sony. The Sony will give a faster turn around and still looks great with all the other benefits such as AF and IBIS. S-Log might not be as good as BRAW but it's not really a fair fight in that regard. It depends how stylistic you plan on getting with the look. So what it comes down to for me is, am I up for all the extra effort in post and the learning curve needed to grade BRAW or do I want a camera that does all the work and forego the extra latitude in post.

You know you can get external monitors, even a viewfinder eyepiece that fits over the screen, or even just a hood for the screen to shade it from the sunlight. All things that still cost way less combined than the A7Riii

Hi Dave, I see at 8:14, that the clarity on the BMCC is super while the Sony combo is not so sharp.

Have you considered using one of those HDMI goggles drone operators use as an EVF for a camera like this?

Great as always. KZfaq should use you as an example that you don't need a huge articulate arm holding a mic close to your mouth to capture clear sound, or to look professional.

Every single time my brain still expected you to say, "Learning Digital Video Dot Com" :S

I love my BPCCC 4K

BM still can not make good official LUTs for years till now. They have all the information about response tone curves, gamuts of their sensors, but is it too complicated to make relative/perceptual colorimetric lut with film-like tone curve?

Do you recommend getting a native lens or a viltrox speedbooster + sigma 18-35? They would both be around the same price for me.

Please compare the BMPCC6k vs Sony A7S III :-)

the Sony images shown above knda leans towards the 'photography (stills)' look or color, something like what smartphones are trying to achieve. BM looks exactly what it's for, filmmaking/RAW workflow.

From a Sony and a BMPCC6k owner, this comparison is pointless. First of all. Neither camera can replace the other. Both are exceptional in their own space. Sony being an amazing compact, very stable, easy focus, versatile camera and an incredible tool for hand held broll style filming and an easy overall out of the box experience. And on the other hand, the blackmagic in my opinion is the best cinema camera in its price bracket with the best dynamic range and superior picture quality. It offers so much more for how much it is worth. The exception of getting the black magic with or over the Sony is the coloring freedom and dynamic range. Forget battery life, build quality, stabilization etc. But color!!! Color is black magic's territory. Of course, this should be done in the film mode. So it does not make any sense to take away black magics most strongest feature and comparing it to any other camera.

Interesting. The fanboyism in these comments is equally interesting. I’ve found myself hypothesizing about whether the BlackMagic is a one-trick pony, which this video seems to confirm. It’s not a bad camera, but it’s shortcomings aren’t often discussed, and when these shortcomings are brought to light all hell seems to break loose. The BlackMagic support forums further illustrate this problem whereby any objective criticism is swiftly met with backlash. Would love to see how some other budget cameras stack up against the more recent releases from BM. I have a feeling that the differences aren’t as striking at the end of the day.

Blackmagic 10,000 times better than any sony

There is an 5 inch Lcd viewfinder that does the trick on Ebay Australia for the BMPCC4K. Its on my camera in my profile pic. liked seeing the comparison but I do prefer the Black magic look.

hello excellent video, greetings from Colombia ... I know it has nothing to do with the subject mentioned here that is the color but I wanted to ask you if the black magic BMPCC 4k works with the DEC aputure lens regain I would appreciate your help since I have not seen reviews of that tool in this excellent camera ... Greetings I would appreciate your help

Need to take it easy on that digital sharpening and magenta slider

You can always add an external EVF, a Zacuto Gratical Eye or something. But yeah I think this camera is not for rec709 use, if you want to deliver in video-like rec709 this is not the right camera. This is for independent films that have scripts and require unique visual style.

I found out performing some testing that Pocket 4k has some real issues regarding white balance. I shot under controled studio lighting situation, both tungsten and daylight and in both cases white balance was way of on the Pocket. I managed to make it usable in Resolve but straight out of camera it wasn’t looking great at all.

Thanks for your perspective Dave!

Nobody buys BMPCC 4K to shoot in "Video mode." NOBODY. You definitely shot yourself in the foot with this decision and I'm sure you've lost credibility with your well-informed audience. These two cameras are NOT in the same lane. Sorry. Moving forward, I'll take whatever you say with a grain of salt. You can't "handicap" a camera and then throw judgments, due to your lack of confidence in using it proffessionally.

SONY A7RIII lenses are compatible with Black magic pocket 4k ?? or is necessary some adapter?

Gracias, en verdad me sirvió, desde Colombia un saludo Dave.

at 8:37 you and max yurev are the only ones pointing out that bmpcc4k has moire problems, it is a big deal because it cannot be fixed in post - colors are really nice on bmpcc4k, the a7III skin is too yellow but i guess it can be fixed in post

Does anyone know if the P4k struggles with the so called 'red push' where there's a bit of a bump in the red channel and it's slightly pinkish? I'm seeing a lot about IR pollution, but in some of these shots I wouldn't expect IR to be the culprit, yet, there is a red push present.

Color separation on the Pocket is so superior.

El Dorado Springs!

pocket 4k power not in prore with video profile :D Try it out better settings to try catch the quality with A7RIII.

Is it just me or is the BMPCC 4K sharper than the Sony?

Aww, darn. Looks like you won't be able to test the raw dynamic range vs. S-Log 2 from the a7S II. :( Would have loved to have seen that and know which is better. Because I'm still deciding on buying it or staying with the a7S II.

can u tell me what format you are shooting, therefore we can compare it side by side.

Long time subscriber, i can say its the place to be for understading or learning camera color science and comparison

colours??? in sony???? good one:):):)

did he just use camera specific profiles?.. He talks about color which are produced and pushed in the camera itself!!! Why he doesn't shot raw and compare it that way. The colors of the sony are way to saturated for post work. But its just because he technically told the camera to do that. WHY???? Its like you compare audio devices with two different EQ Settings applied. Wtf dude.

Whats going on with those shelves in the background lmao. Can't stop staring at it.

Thanks! Sony, sony.. i am a a7R3 shooter but seems i like more the colors of the BMPCC4k

Awesome 👍👍👍👍👍

The name of the camera is Cinema Camera, :D please man I don't like disliking videos but thinking to replace a6500 with BMPCC :) what a laugh. good luck with youtube.

can't you create a LUT to match your BMPCC4K to A7Riii then install it onto the camera so you don't have to match in post?

Great one!

Wow, I really like the left (pocket cam) in the ending shot of you. Really nice colors! But man, it’s 3 times less the money than the 7rs3! Lol

a regular guy attempting to make tutorial videos lol

I know some people have custom luts they bake into the recording for blackmagic so they don't have to make it look rec 709

Finally

I'm glad I invested in sony, even if I later down the line choose to buy different cameras like the blackmagic or canon, I'll still use my sony a7sii and a7siii for night shoots. I want to thank you Dave for creating that color course. Even though I pretty much knew most of it already (I do a lot of research), I still found it fun and entertaining, and it got me motivated to make better camera profiles and colors! Check out my latest content and let me know what you think? Its pretty much all in camera with correction luts. They have saved me so much for when I had quick turn around deadlines.

APPLES AND ORANGES The pocket blows the sony out of the water hands down even if you look at the mountain shot before you adjusted it it has way more dept ..................................if your a beginner or looking to stay in a blog and interview world no problem sony all day ........if you are real film maker the choice is clear ............................. There's no such thing as simple.Simple is hard. (Martin Scorsese)