Blackmagic camera may cast a spell on budget filmmakers

Blackmagic Design is an upstart camera company worth keeping an eye on. The Australian firm has become a major player in the pro video market seemingly overnight. From hardware to software, recorders to color grading, you can almost build an entire workflow of professional-grade video production on the backs of Blackmagic-branded equipment.

With the growing proliferation of UHD/4K-capable cameras, the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K is yet another face in a quickly growing crowd. Not only is it capable of recording RAW UHD footage to an SSD without the need for an external recorder, but it also has something no others offer at this price point: a global shutter, which is a godsend for on-the-move shooting.

If you aren't familiar with previous Blackmagic cameras, the Production Camera 4K might seem like a bit of an odd duck. It was built to be as compact as possible, using interchangeable lenses and tossing out conventional camcorder design along the way.

As a result, it looks like a brick with a giant screen and an array of controls stuck on the back, a lens mount on front, and mounting points all over the outside. It's everything you need to shoot video, and nothing that you don't.

Unfortunately, the Production Camera is best used on a tripod or with a rigging solution— not handheld. Don't let Blackmagic's promo photos fool you: It's too weighty to use freehand, unless you've attached some kind of stabilizing accessory. And the ergonomics? Well, they were clearly a secondary concern.

When we reviewed the Production Camera's predecessor, the Cinema Camera, we had to put up with an irksome interface and a dearth of even basic features. Good news: It seems Blackmagic has been listening to reviewers' gripes. The refined user interface is laudable, and makes a real difference in use.

Another big perk is the included full license for DaVinci Resolve's post-production suite. For some basic projects, that can save a significant amount of time. And considering it's usually around $1,000 for just a single-user Resolve license, it's a great value for budget filmmakers.

The Production Camera's UHD image quality is right in line with what we've seen from other 4K-capable cameras like the Sony A7S and Panasonic GH4. One advantage the Production Camera has over those models, however, is a lack of rolling shutter (distortion while panning side-to-side). Especially if you're shooting video while on the move, rolling shutter is a deal-breaking issue that can destroy otherwise fantastic footage.

Blackmagic nipped this problem in the bud by implementing a global shutter, which captures the entire image in one swoop rather than reading it out line-by-line from the sensor.