Filmmaking / Directing : Student Cameras by Karen Stark

Have a look at the Panasonic 4K HC-X1000E Karen. After years of ENG then DSLR's we went for a couple of these. News / Docs they are ideal with a good quality tripod and remote mics. We also use a cine-rig. Paid for themselves in 3 weeks. Hope that helps. Good luck.

buy used and your son will need a whole camera package - lenses, filters, tripod, extra batteries, memory cards. But if your son is serious about cinematography as a job, he will outgrow "consumer" cameras and move on to "pro-style” digital cameras like Arri, RED.

I have the original BMPCC and it's still a great camera. I used it for a 48 hour project last month and it still holds up projected in a theater. The real cost is going to be good lenses. I spent more than the camera for a Metabones adapter for my EF lenses. But at this point, the camera is replaceable. Just like with dSLRs, though, you want to buy something that will allow you to swap out the sensor without needing a new lens kit. So you might want to go backwards and figure out what lens he needs, then get a camera to attach to that.

As a note, the lower level BMPCCs come with micro-4/3rds mounts while the new 6K comes with an EF mount. If your son has or has access to EF lenses then it might be worth the cost of the 6K over the 4K.

Do not go for the 6k at this point in his career. This has been made primarily for reframing in the edit suite, get him to learn how to compose the image he wants to see on the screen in his camera.

Teach him about lenses over the camera - "You marry lenses, you only date the body"... for starting out I'd go for the Rokinon cine bundle from B&H... then he can rent different bodies and see what works for him. Good luck.

Hi Karen - I actually have the original BMPCC in pristine condition with a quality Olympus M. Zuiko lens. If you like, I can send you a pic when I return home from travels on Sunday. As long as your son know a little about color correction, he can make a top quality film. I’ve got several cameras but typically shoot on my Canons. I used the BMPCC for one music video and it’s been in my camera bag since.

Thank you guys for your kind replies. Ok, So bare with me because my head hurts researching this. I haven't picked up a DLSR since and was Sixteen, and as far as understanding film, I have little understanding of what is needed. So if I get stuff wrong please let me know. Life's a learning curve right?

Dean- I see what you mean. I had initially thought get him something that he doesn't have to think about too much. The reframing in the edit is a good thing to have for a student, but like you say what does it teach. Sadly we don't have B & H in the UK. I will take a look though and see what can be purchased over here.

Jimmy and Dan - Great advice and kit I will certainly take a look.

Mathew and Craig - If it was for me, I would get the original BMPCC because it's cheap and offers a good learning platform. However, his assignments are within strict time slots with short production deadlines. So I question if a learning curve on an old model is right for this course. Over protective maternal instinct taking over here I think! I'm concerned with a few aspects though. Predominantly the battery life, which seems to suck. However all the Black Magic's seem to have the same issues. So again it's the added cost over a cheaper unit. Also storage seems to be a big issue with the BM's.

I wouldn't worry about 'learning curve'. The cameras work basically the same way, just buttons moving around and slightly different interface, but nothing you can't pick up by going through the manual. The basics are the same (ISO, shutter angle, iris).

Battery life is always going to suck with anything this small, you just can't get a big battery inside. I bought an external battery for my BMPCC (Juicebox) to get past that. The camera also comes with an AC adapter, so if you shoot close to an outlet you can power up that way.

Storage has gotten better since SD card capacities have gone up since I bought mine. It's worth noting that HD footage will need less space than 4K or 6K, so the original BMPCC will shoot longer with the same card.

Mathew, What lenses would you recommend for the BMPCC, given it's crop factor?

Someone wrote up an incredibly long article about lenses for this camera, so I'll just post it. https://wolfcrow.com/the-best-lenses-for-the-blackmagic-pocket-cinema-camera-4k/

Without knowing what your son needs to do now and what he'll need in the future, it's kind of hard to say. The cheapest way to go is a BMPCC and a 4/3rds lens, but then you may not be able to take the lens on to the next camera. Just like with a dSLR, lenses are an investment you hope to carry on. It's far more common to find EF mounts (Canon's lens mount) on cameras than the 4/3rds. It's interesting that the 6K doesn't offer a 4/3rds mount which makes me wonder if the 4/3rds lenses aren't able to resolve enough for 6K work (Canon does make great lenses, optically speaking).

You mentioned not being able to afford the 6K camera, but you didn't say whether you've priced lenses at all. A good zoom lens that will give you some flexibility costs nearly as much as the original BMPCC, assuming you're buying new. So an original BMPCC and a panasonic lumix gx vario 12-35mm together are more expensive than the BMPCC 4K body alone. You can buy used lenses, but you don't save a ton (good lenses will hold value, so there's that).

You can buy a good prime lens (non-zoom) for less, but if your son needs more flexibility then he's needing to buy or rent or other lenses later. Plus he's investing in more lenses for the mount which he may or may not be able to take to a new camera in the future, if that matters.

Have any of his instructors given him any guidance as to what he might need for class? And does his college have any equipment available for the students (in particular lenses)?

Hi Mathew, Thank you for the link. Yep I am fast learning how much the good lenses cost. Obviously lenses are an investment and it's good they hold their value. He seems to like the BMCC which he has used. His other camera has been from the college. A Canon T1i, which he hates and pretty awful lens choice. So pretty poor there. His 1st choice Uni has much better equipment though as it's tied to the BFI. I will look at your suggestions and see what I find. Thanks again, much appreciated.

I think I am sorted guys. After much discussion I am going to get either the BMCC 4 k or the BMPCC 4 k. I think!

Karen Stark you'll need lenses, tripod, cases...it adds up quickly unfortunately.

Just buy him an I phone. People make really good films now a days on a simple smart phone. Digitial camera allows you to get more angles and more invasive locations. The old classic film cameras are too cumbersome. Get him an I phone or smart phone that have cinematic filter, and watch him win an oscar.

Thank you David. I will take a look at the Sony. Bo I see what your saying but it won't teach him much about proper camera usage.

Hi! I can´t recommened the GH5 enough. It shoots in 4k, Slowmotion - I used it for my short films, but also music videos, weddings, .. The price should be below 2000$ by now. And it´s the perfect allrounder. And the battery lasts longer than on the Black Magic. I hope this post didn´t confuse you even more. Cheers!

No Tobias, not at all. I have not yet made a decision. I had thought so but there's a lot to get right. The GH5 has been recommended to me and I agree it's a nice camera.

You can choose one from the Sony Mirrorless camera range too!