This tactic works when you shoot at a higher resolution than you plan to export. For example, I shoot my videos in 4K but distribute them in 1080p so I can get this flexibility. However, with my D7500 – and many cameras that were not originally designed for video – there is no substitute for shooting at a higher resolution than 4K. If I wanted to distribute video in 4K, I wouldn't be able to use these same editing techniques.
Blackmagic's camera, on the other hand, has recording options ranging from 2.8K — which is slightly higher than 1080p and gives you plenty of space to crop or stabilize without having to deal with 4K file sizes — up to 6K. Provides the same flexibility even if you plan to distribute 4K video. Until technology reaches a point where 8K video delivery becomes more normal, you're more likely to get more than you need in the long run.
More control makes it easier to get that cinematic look
What defines a “cinematic” look is a matter of debate, but whatever your definition, you need control over your image to get it. For example, if you want your project to be in anamorphic widescreen format in some movies, you can either add a black bar above your project in the post, or shoot natively on an anamorphic widescreen (although you'll need a few different lenses).
Fortunately, there are some things your movie camera can do that don't require a special lens. For example, slow-motion footage is easier to find when your camera is capable of recording up to 240 frames per second, such as the BMPCC I tested. Most traditional photography cameras are not designed to handle such high frame rates. We mentioned earlier that the extra resolution makes it easy to create smooth tracking shots, even if you only have low budget tracks or home-made stabilizers.
There is also something to be said for the camera interface designed specifically for video. The camera is like my D7500 To be able to Can be used for video, some features that are more important for video than photos can be difficult to bury or use. For example, although my D7500 has a white balance button on its body, it only rotates between a few basic presets. To set the color temperature manually you have to dig into the menu. In BMPCC, settings like White Balance, Frame Rate 6 and 6K Pro, and even three levels of built-in ND filter are all accessible via touchscreen or with easily accessible buttons.
The bad side of upgrading
No matter how beautiful the hardware you upgrade to, there is always a trade-off and some changes to the movie camera are worth considering. The biggest change you can notice from the cameras you are used to is that your storage needs will be different. While cameras like the BMPCC can record up to 6K, that doesn't mean your old SD card will be enabled. It's not just video files that are big, not many consumer-grade SD cards Fast Enough to capture RAW 6K footage.
You can find a list of supported SD cards and CFast cards — or whatever your camera manufacturer recommends — but a BlackMagic representative told me that sometimes your best bet would be to attach an external hard drive (if it's modern and fast enough). We will be). Whichever option you go with, keep in mind that fast storage can be a bit more expensive than you used to, if you're recording on ordinary SD cards.
