Product Review: Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera
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Product Review: Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera
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Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera
Blackmagic
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The Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera is far from your run-of-the-mill action camera. This lightweight gadget is heavily favored by filmmakers looking for a portable solution with the highest image quality.
Learn about this pro-grade action cam or mini digital camera, including the specs, description, pros, and cons. I’ll wrap up the Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera review with the final verdict and seal of recommendation.
Interested in more gear? Read about the best camera equipment for your purpose and skill level.
4.9
Based upon3 reviews from Wedio members
Effectiveness
4.8
Usability
4.5
Value for money
4.9
Overall rating
4.9
See all reviews
Is it worth it?
Yes
If you’re shooting a lot with a drone, you may consider upgrading your regular action cam with this.
No
it’s clear that this gear is not designed to be a general use camera
Pros
Small Design
Wide range of third-party lenses
Customizable
Long-lasting battery life
Cons
Requires memory card to record 60fps
Doesn’t include a screen
Small buttons
Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera vs. Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Weight
311.8 g
680.38 g
Lens Mount
Micro Four Thirds
Micro Four Thirds
Battery type
Canon LP-E6
Canon LP-E6
Dimensions
3.25 x 2.74 x 2.57" / 8.26 x 6.96 x 6.53 cm
11.3 x 10.8 x 5.8
Operating tempature
32 to 104°F / 0 to 40°C
32 to 104°F / 0 to 40°C
Dynamic Range
F2.5
F2.8
sensor size
12.48 x 7.02 mm (Super16)
18.96mm x 10mm
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Complete Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera Review
Camera body & design
The build and camera body are impressive as we came to expect from Blackmagic Design. The Micro has a fantastic build with a high-quality magnesium alloy chassis with solid lens- and battery mounts. It’s extremely lightweight at 300 grams, fitting into any spot. Be mindful that the lens of your choice will add to the size and weight!
The camera body is simple and only features the essentials. It has six straightforward control buttons on the front of the equipment. It also houses cooling vents, an HDMI socket, and a 15-pin expansion port.
The Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera offers four mounting options for tripods or other accessories and a separate mic and SD card slot.
Image quality
In terms of image quality, the BMMCC delivers the stunning color and excellent noise performance we’re used to from other Blackmagic cameras.
The Micro records in 1080P and lacks 4K capabilities. It comes with a rolling and a global shutter which allows 1080p at 60fps and 30fps, respectively.
Recording in 60P is excellent for fast-moving or active settings like adventure sports or movie stunts. The image quality exceeds expectations and blows the competition out of the water.
Performance
The Micro is equipped with the same Super 16 sensor as the BMPCC. This means an effective sensor size of 12.48mm x 7.02 mm with improved tech compared to the brand’s other versions.
The camera comes with a good feature set. ISO settings are somewhat limited to 200, 400, 800, and 1600 ISO, but this is no issue in the majority of shooting conditions.
RAW files
The Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera is probably the smallest on the market with RAW capabilities. The RAW video output offers 13-stops of dynamic range similar to other Blackmagic cameras. This allows for excellent editing options and shooting in almost every condition.
With 800 ISO working perfectly for generic lighting conditions, the footage comes out clean and fixed pattern noise-free.
Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera: Pros and cons
Like every camera, the BMMCC also comes with its own strengths and limitations. Keep the following pros and cons in mind when debating whether this is the camera for you.
Advantages:
Small Design
The portable, convenient design and size are certainly some of the most considerable advantages of this pro-action camera.
It allows for superb maneuverability and excellent mounting options. The Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera is easy to attach to a drone or vehicle and can be used as a bodycam as well.
Wide range of third-party lenses
The Micro is super versatile, largely due to its compatibility with a range of third-party lenses.
Super 16mm PL lenses, Canon L lenses, SLR Magic, and even vintage glass fit the camera easily.
If you already have a collection of lenses, you may not need to invest in acquiring more specifically for the BMMCC.
Customizable
With the four ¼ -inch screw mounting points, you can customize your BMMCC with a range of mounts, mics, monitors, and other camera accessories.
If you utilize the remote control feature, you’ll find that this lightweight camera can and will do anything you dream of it.
Long-lasting battery life
Sought after in an action cam, the BMMCC features a long-lasting battery life. It’s able to record up to 90 minutes of footage on a single charge. That’s a big improvement from the BMPCC!
Rather than including a monitor, the camera's back features an LP-E6 battery mount. With this, the camera can last up to even two hours!
Disadvantages:
Requires memory card to record 60fps
If you wish to use the Micro to its full potential, you need to invest in a fast SD card. Otherwise, you’ll suffer from skipped frames!
The camera notifies filmmakers when this issue occurs. Look out for a flashing exclamation point at the top of the screen to know when frames are being dropped.
Doesn’t include a screen
The BMMCC lacks a screen but can be rigged up with a monitor. If you want to use it as a small handheld camera, you need to mount an external screen to avoid the struggle.
Otherwise, you’ll have to work with no feedback beyond the color LED indicator over the lens mount.
The lack of a screen certainly contributes to the steeper-than-usual learning curve compared to other cameras.
Small buttons
The six on-camera buttons can prove to be challenging to handle. Not only are they generally small, but they’re also unhandy.
You might find it difficult to manually control settings and hit the right buttons on the first try.
The BMMCC is clearly meant to be remotely controlled using the DB-HD15 expansion port with a wireless video transmitter or remote control.
The front-facing buttons will only be an issue if you’re recording without a remote.
Final verdict: Who should get the Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera?
Based on everything discussed in this Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera review, it’s clear that this gear is not designed to be a general use camera.
While it features excellent imaging capabilities and records up to 60fps, it’s too complex to learn and set up beyond specific purposes.
It is an outstanding option for creators looking for a pro-grade action camera willing to sacrifice the usual sturdiness for better image quality. It can be the perfect choice for action shots or as a hidden- or stunt camera.
If you’re shooting a lot with a drone, you may consider upgrading your regular action cam with this.
Looking to explore more? Learn about more camera equipment to find the gear of your dreams.
Happy filming!
What creators like
Absolutely as small and as light as it’s possible for a camera to be, great for drones, model aeroplanes, POV shots
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What creators don't like
Requires rigging with cage and HDMI monitor to be usable for normal shooting
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are Blackmagic cameras good?
Blackmagic creates one of the best portable cinema-quality cameras on the market today. They’re renowned in the industry for strong dynamic range and low light performance.
Is Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera Netflix approved?
Netflix only approves full-frame cameras, and therefore the Micro doesn’t make the cut.
Is Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera full-frame
The Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera isn’t full-frame. It features a Super 16 sensor and a Micro Four Thirds system.
Can you use Canon lenses on Blackmagic Micro Cinema Cameras?
Blackmagic Micro Cinema Cameras are compatible with Canon L-mount lenses.
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Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera Alternatives
Z-Cam E2-M4
Chinese cinema camera manufacturer Z-Cam has revealed it's releasing a lower-cost version of its E2 camera that seems to lack only multi-cam synchronization from the previous model but which will allow live-streaming without a computer and will cost about $500 less. Buy at Wedio Rent from $225/day
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro
The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro is an advanced technology, handheld 6K digital film camera with 6144 x 3456 Super 35 high resolution HDR sensor, dual native ISO, EF lens mount and direct recording to USB‑C disks. Buy at Wedio Rent from $52/day
Panasonic Lumix BGH1
For serious video shooters, the Panasonic Lumix BGH1 boxcam can make a lot of sense as it can be rigged up for a multitude of different uses. It’s definitely not a walk-around hybrid camera for people who like to shoot stills and video. Buy at Wedio Rent from $74/day
Show more
The research
Why you should trust us
At Wedio, we are on a mission to keep great stories alive. We achieve this by facilitating the sharing of knowledge, tools, and services that help you as a creator craft better stories. Today we help 100,000+ monthly creators become better — together. We believe in the power of the community. Instead of gathering product reviews from one creator, we involve hundreds of creators, and create both video- and written reviews. In that way, we present the essence of the collective rather than one opinion.
How we tested this product
We used a mixed-method design. Our qualitative video reviews, were created by hand-picked Wedio members. We shipped the product to them, they tried it for at least 30 days in real-life projects, and then they did an honest video review. Our quantitative written reviews, were collected from Wedio Renters and Lenders. When renters have rented the product, they have the option to leave a product review. When lenders create a product listing, they have the option to share their thoughts on the product itself.
How we fund this review
In order to keep delivering the best possible reviews for creatives, we have four different revenue streams. This includes (1) commissions from our short-term rentals (10 % from renters 20% from lenders whenever a rental is happening through Wedio), (2) commissions from our subscriptions (we get paid by our retail partners to deliver an order), (3) commissions from brands delivering products, and (4) commissions from affiliate links to other partners (such as retail partners, software, and other creative tools).
Limitations
Even though we try to be as unbiased as possible, we still want to address two limitations of this review. First, our lenders can be affected by the “Endowment effect” when reviewing their gear. They would potentially rate their product higher than they would have done if they rented the product — just because they own the product themself. Second, there is the potential of instructors experiencing “Confirmation bias” when reviewing a product. If they received the product from us, they might have a tendency to look for all the advantages and good things about the product because they want to please Wedio and the product brand. To overcome this limitation, we strictly guide our instructors to be as objective as possible — a low rating is as valuable to us as a high rating. The review aims to guide other creators in the choice of gear.
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