We were very impressed with the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (opens in new tab), which is well worth considering if you're looking at the best 4K cameras for filmmaking (opens in new tab). The latest firmware release addresses a couple of sticking points, particularly the battery life issue.
A number of users have run into the problem where the camera would suddenly shut down, despite indicating a remaining battery life of 20% or even 30% – obviously a big drawback, if you're in the middle of filming something.
Another commonly reported issue is that of dead pixels, which turn out not to be dead but rather 'stuck' to a single colour and in need of remapping.
Thankfully the firmware update included in Blackmagic Camera Setup 6.1 (opens in new tab) address these and a number of other issues, including improved autofocus – particularly with the popular Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 lens.
The key updates include:
• Added support for pixel remapping in camera
• Improved power efficiency for improved battery life
• Fixed an issue where some batteries might shut off earlier than expected
• Fixed an issue where low battery indicator is not displayed appropriately
• Improved auto focus performance
• Fixed an auto focusing issue with Lumix 20mm f/1.7 lens
Read more:
The 12 best cameras for vlogging in 2019 (opens in new tab)
The Blackmagic URSA Broadcast can be had for "less than the cost of a DSLR" (opens in new tab)
