Blackmagic Approved Media List

[Olowookere Devost]

Withthe BMPCC 4K now shipping, Blackmagic has updated the list of approved media that is recommended for use with the camera. Recommended media lists are created for a reason. They are more than just a suggestion and give users a reassurance that the media that is recommended has been thoroughly tested by the manufacturer for reliability and usability.

Matthew Allard is a multi-award-winning, ACS accredited freelance Director of Photography with over 30 years' of experience working in more than 50 countries around the world.

He is the Editor of Newsshooter.com and has been writing on the site since 2010.

Matthew has won 50 ACS Awards, including six prestigious Golden Tripods. In 2016 he won the Award for Best Cinematography at the 21st Asian Television Awards.

Matthew is available to hire as a DP in Japan or for work anywhere else in the world.

Now that the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K, a new handheld digital film camera with a full Super 35 size 6K HDR image sensor, 13 stops of dynamic range, an EF lens mount and dual native ISO up to 25,600 for incredible low light performance is shipping from Blackmagic Design it is time for buyers to know exactly what media type is best for their new purchase. This is easy if you do not follow this extensive list of approved media complied by Blackmagic Design and your camera skips frames that is on you.

This new 6K model of the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K builds on the popularity of the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K but has a larger Super 35 sensor size with 6K resolution, allowing higher image quality. The EF lens mount model works with a wide range of lenses from companies such as Canon, Zeiss, Sigma and Schneider to name a few. Bigger sensor. Higher Resolution. Canon EF Lens Mount. Those are the big differences. I also bet, if I were a betting man, that the approved media list for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K may be a slightly shorter list than approved media for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. Do not immediately expect what works in the 4K to work exactly the same in the 6K version. Just be smart and follow the approved list.

Now, BMD has updated the list of supported SSD and SD cards for their URSA Mini Pro 12K video camera. The list outlines the best performing USB-C, SD, SSD, and CFast media options for capturing video using the 12K URSA line.

With a Super35mm 12K image sensor capable of imaging 14 stops of dynamic range, the URSA 12K records up to 80MP per frame in Blackmagic Raw and offers flexible recording options that include dual CFast 2.0 cards, SD media, and high-speed USB Type-C output.

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I just purchased used sound devices 664 and was wondering if a SanDisk extreme pro 64 GB is worth the extra money compared the SanDisk extreme, the speed writing is almost the same, what else requirement (in addition the commercial) is really important to consider?

SD Cards: If you're brand loyal to SanDisk (like me), go for the Extreme Pros, they have the same write speed as the Sound Devices, I've noticed the Extremes can struggle a bit on days with higher track counts, as I think they have less than half the write speed (40MB/s???) of the Pros, but if you do primarily interview or corporate and really (I mean REALLY) need to save money then the Extreme are probably fine, but I prefer to stock Pros. Both are on the approved media list. -media/6-series-approved-media-list

We understand that limited use of non-approved cameras may be necessary in certain situations. Netflix is available to navigate those specific image capture decisions. Please reach out to your Netflix point of contact with any questions or concerns specific to your production. For information on using Non-Approved Cameras see: Non-Approved Cameras: Recommended Settings & Best Practices.

Note: Not all cameras that meet these capture requirements are approved. These requirements are the minimum specifications necessary for a camera system to be considered for approval. Other attributes must be taken into account such as dynamic range, form factor, stability, workflow compatibility, and more.

Cameras that have been approved for Netflix productions are listed below. We will continue to maintain and update this list as new camera systems become available and are evaluated by our technologists.

While not required for Netflix productions, the following best practices will help productions avoid common pitfalls and workflow errors that can lead to added costs, lost time, or creative compromises.

To ensure on-set framing meets the creative and technical needs of your production, a framing chart should be shot before principal photography begins and processed through the dailies, editorial, and VFX pipelines.

When using anamorphic lenses, extra resolution may be required for capture. Camera selection should take this additional need into account. Cameras that meet this resolution requirement and are approved for anamorphic capture are designated in the list above. If you are unsure if your desired camera system has the necessary resolution or have questions about anamorphic capture, Netflix is here to help. Please contact your Netflix project lead to discuss implications or concerns.

In some instances, productions may require the use of approved cameras with external recorders. The recording format should be in line with minimum requirements outlined at the head of this document, and should be discussed with your Netflix point of contact.

Hi everyone, so I'll be purchasing the new Black Magic Ursa Mini Pro G2 and I was wondering if you purchase CF Cards, will they be able to manage and record BRaw at the highest quality (4.6K @ 12bit)? Or is this only do-able with the SSD Cards and attachment?

I'm concerned if I go with CF Cards I would be limited to certain recordings. I wouldn't be going that high in quality, but I would like to have the option if necessary. Does anyone know an answer to this?

There is a list of approved CFast cards on the BlackMagic support site. I have been using SanDisk Extreme Pro 256Gb and Komputer Bay Professional 3700 and have been very happy with the results. I can shoot at 4.6K @ 24fps in BRAW Q0 and at 4K DCI @ 120fps in BRAW 3:1 on my URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 without any drop frames or issues.

Bit late to the party here but while there is technically no limit to options if recording BRaw on UMP G1/G2 via CFast card, depending on what you're shooting you may experience frequent dropped frames at the higher end.

The PCC 6K G2 (Figure 1, below) looks like a very large DSLR. It has a 5" touchscreen on the back and an EF lens mount on the front. Along the left side, under covers there are two mini-XLR audio inputs, HDMI out, headphone out jack, and a 3.5mm mini stereo mic input. Along the right side there is a door through which you can access the CFast 2.0 and SD UHS-II slots. The top has no hot or cold shoes for accessories. There is a 1/4"-20 Female threaded hole for screwing accessories on top. On the bottom there are 2x1/4"-20 Female tripod mounting threads and a battery compartment door for the Sony NP-F570 type batteries.

I also looked at two optional accessories, the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Pro EVF (viewfinder) and the Blackmagic Pocket Camera Battery Pro Grip (extra battery compartment). The viewfinder which is $495, is something you may need if you will be shooting in very bright sunlight. It attaches to the camera after removing a plastic cover on top of the view screen.

The more important accessory, especially when shooting 6K, is the Battery Pro Grip (Figure 2, below), which allows you to use two NP-F570s in addition to the single internal battery. In order to attach it, you need to remove a screwed-in plastic cover that allow the external battery compartment's contacts to interface with the camera. You can run the external batteries down and change them while running on the internal. If you do need to change the internal battery also, you need to remove the compartment to access the internal battery. This accessory is an additional $149.

Hand-holding the PCC 6K G2 with all the accessories, just like with DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, can be awkward. I understand why video-capable cameras designed for photography have this form factor. But why anyone would design a camera meant primarily for video/film production with this form factor leaves me with many questions.

Another thing to be aware of is that the PCC 6K G2 uses mini-XLR connectors for pro audio. For use it with professional audio gear, you will need to get a pair of mini-XLR male-to-XLR female adapter cables.

The still function produces raw Cinema DNG files that you can put into Adobe's Lightroom and go to town on. The way it cycles I don't think you'd want to use it primarily as a still camera. The still function is much slower than a camera designed for photography.

While the Tamron is a great lens for medium-to-long shots, I really needed a wider 10-to-22mm lens for close shots in smaller rooms. This hampered my flexibility of my shots. For much of my trip, I switched to my Canon XC10 for smaller rooms and spaces, as well as its still function. Although the XC10 doesn't shoot RAW, it acts just like a fast still camera in photo mode.

I loaded the camera's slots with a 128GB Wise CFast card and a 256GB Kingston SDXC card. (The Kingston card is not on Blackmagic's list of approved cards, but I have had great luck with Kingston media for high-bitrate recording). I set it to record to the CFast. When I brought the card into the edit bay, I saw a couple takes on the CFast, but the majority of what I thought I recorded wasn't there. Did I forget to hit record? On a lark, I checked the SDXC. Sure enough, it was there. Somehow, the PCC 6K G2 seems to have switched cards without me telling it to. When I alerted Blackmagic Design support, they suggested that I load only the slot I am going to use, not both.

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