How to Get the Perfect Exposure with the Pocket 6k Pro - False Colour & More

Today, we're looking at how to nail exposure every time, quickly and easily, using the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6k Pro. We go over how to expose using False Colour, Waveforms, Zebras, as well as the basics of the Exposure Triangle, ND Filters, and how the Blackmagic Pocket 6k Pro's Dynamic Range changes as you adjust the ISO in the camera. Want to know exactly how to get perfect exposure with the Blackmagic Pocket 6k Pro? This video's for you!
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Gear I Use to Make ALL My Videos!
Cameras:
amzn.to/3w3IIGs (Cinema Camera)
Lenses:
amzn.to/31qXPfa (Best for Pocket 6k Pro)
amzn.to/2Pc5mMi (Best for Pocket 6k Pro for KZbin)
Lighting:
amzn.to/2NXiuUQ (Budget)
amzn.to/3u4HJnN (Expensive)
Softbox:
amzn.to/3svUWW2 (Budget)
amzn.to/3ctrb2Q (Expensive)
Some of the links above are affiliate links.
MUSIC:
All Music used for this video was found through Soundstripe.
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WEBSITE: www.danieljamesbird.co.uk/
INSTAGRAM: / danieljamesbird
00:00 Intro
01:45 Video Timeline
02:36 The Exposure Triangle
03:10 Shutter Speed/Angle & Frames Per Second
05:00 Aperture
07:34 ISO & Dynamic Range
12:38 ND Filters
14:07 Waveforms & Zebras
15:40 False Colour
18:22 Use Your Monitor!
18:50 Outro

[@bahbah52]

This is the most value I have ever gotten watching an exposer video. Didn’t just sound like gibberish or random specs layered over those color boards . 😂

[@MrRayinsf]

One of the most informative and clearest videos I have seen on the Black Magic cameras. Excellent.

[@EdgetoneStudios]

Thank you. Just learning to use a BMPCC 4K and this took me from blah footage to great looking footage.

[@canberraproperties2539]

I was so disappointed with my shots of G2. This is the best tutorial of how to use black magic so far I can find on KZbin. Thank you,

[@LaureninGermany]

This video is absolute gold. Thank you so much. I‘m watching - again- after using the camera a bit, now I‘m back again and understanding things a bit better. You probably saved a big (for us) shoot tomorrow. We‘re making music videos to promote our own productions. I‘m really overwhelmed dealing with camera settings, and you explain so much, so well.

[@NoxorionZ]

Thank you a lot! I just got a filming job after a long time of not shooting anything, and this video helped me tons! :D Great tool false color, always wanted to learn about it :)

[@lawrencemcfarling533]

Your refresher class here provided me with over a page of notes to remind me of the details I need to learn and remember! After more than a year of using my BM6KPro on various shoots I know I can always improve my results when I go back to the basics and delve into the underlying principles and concepts! Thanks a bunch for sharing your knowledge in such a useful and well defined way!

[@DanielJamesBird]

Thanks for the kind comment Lawrence! Glad it could help you.

[@sitebstudios]

Thanks for this video! I'm going to start shooting in ISO 800 on bright sunny days. I usually stick to 400.

[@GianniTaylor]

This was the best video I've seen so far for this, thanks man! huge help

[@DerSchaddan]

Great video! Honestly I already know a lot about exposure, and Dynamic range (I got the 4k...) but your way of explaining it helped me with some bits that were unclear until now :)

[@bosscontent]

genius. you explained the ISO so well. thanks!

[@trilliamnellis]

GREAT video for understanding latitude and ISO. ive been using the 6K for 6 months now and I finally understand latitude. Never thought to focus more on the highlight/shadow range than the noise (depending).

[@markchristopher4165]

So helpful, thanks!

[@turbophat]

This was super helpful, thank you!!

[@JOEFilmstube]

Very informative video Dan! Great tool for a beginner who doesn’t know what all the jargon means haha. 👏🏼

[@RaymondRitzau]

Best video on this topic. Thank you!

[@MoBeezyVevo]

This here sir, is a very informative piece. As a blackmagic pocket 4k owner, i assure you this will improve my exposure iq in future projects.

[@alex_jd]

Great video bro. I loved what you said about having more range in the highlights at ISO 800. I tried it yesterday and was so surprised I didn't know this sooner lol.

[@mitchellvandehoef3792]

I really enjoyed the way you described everything in this video man!

[@samueljhand]

Suuuper helpful. Running second camera next week on a P6k Pro and haven’t used one before, so this info is extremely useful as I’m prepping the rig this weekend. Thank you!

[@fatar9075]

Great video! Well done!

[@HOPEincLONDON.]

Best video I have come across yet!

[@user-zo6yr1sr1u]

Very useful video, especially the advice on using ISO wisely and taking the photos you want!

[@chrisriggi1885]

So helpful!

[@BantuTegemeo]

Good video and informative. Thanks

[@beeindruckend]

Thank you! Just the right refresher after renting the cam after a long time. You really helped me out!

[@DanielJamesBird]

Appreciate the kind words! Thank you :)

[@BenCaesar]

Hands down best pickup and go video for the bmpcc but cameras in general and I’ve watched a ton. Legend

[@DanielJamesBird]

Appreciate that! Glad it could be of help.

[@Sniickerz_CH]

Sorry, you are mentioning at 7:53 that ISO is a setting that changes the amount of light that the sensor receives which is wrong. ISO does not intervene between the light and the sensor, but AFTER the sensor, if you will. Basically it is like boosting the brightness of a video clip in post production and that is why on certain cinema cameras ISO is also called “Gain”, as it is a digital boost of the brightness of the clip that is captured by the sensor. It is unfortunately often misunderstood. But you are absolutely right by saying ISO is contributing to the amount of noise the image gets. To clarify: 1. The camera sensor’s physical sensitivity to light is determined by its hardware (aperture & shutter > of course physical light as well) and cannot be altered by ISO settings. 2. ISO settings are applied during the image processing stage after the sensor has captured the light. Otherwise, thanks for this video which will surely make people more understand light in this regard of this camera and others! Great job summarising all that! Regards S.

[@briancooperwildlife]

great video ... watched until the end.

[@lickdrinksuckstore8094]

Best explanation I have heard so far. Thank you.

[@DanielJamesBird]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the comment!

[@cyrohan21]

ISO chart part is a little bit shocking lol Thanks. Learned a lot

[@SouthPhilly28th]

Thank you for creating this tutorial, it is highly informative. I appreciate your hard work. 👑👑👑

[@JohnnyAllen_]

THANK YOU. Incredible video, so helpful. Definitely need to watch the iso part back several times to really grasp the logic so I know what to do in different situations. False color info was helpful too

[@DanielJamesBird]

Appreciate the kind words Johnny thank you!

[@PhillGraaf]

Amazing video man, really helpful. Shooting on this camera today so this was crucial :-)

[@dawidschada8104]

Thank you

[@mrkumaran]

This was exceptionally helpful, i have been exposing my camera incorrectly, lol. Thank you for clarifying, i have subscribed good sir

[@bonz_bonalenna]

Thankyou very much bro

[@DanielJamesBird]

Thank you!

[@InnerCityProjections]

Thanks for this

[@DanielJamesBird]

No worries at all - thanks for watching!

[@LittleEchoes]

thanks buddy, I learned a lot from this...

[@DanielJamesBird]

Appreciate that! Glad it helped.

[@PatrickChondon]

Thanks!

[@DanielJamesBird]

Really appreciate that Patrick! Thank you :)

[@PatrickChondon]

Keep up the great work!

[@ikonane]

Beautiful text animations. How did you create those?

[@romanmclovin7601]

Harry Potter eventually grew a cool mustache and now teaches us black magic HAHA

[@CyprexTV]

I have had the very camera for about 2 months, I am yet to figure out how to use it. Thanks a lot for this video. Very very informative.

[@DanielJamesBird]

Glad it could be of help! Thank you for the comment :)

[@CCozart]

I need to watch video this about 5 more times...then I'll get it!

[@jeremiasschneider247]

Love the examples at 17:45 showing false color. I think the image when captured retained a lot more detail and the contrast was added in post. So when filming the false color would look different?

[@Lathrop_Media]

Great video. Get a boom mic and it would feel way chill 😎

[@quiztasiarocks]

Hi Dan, great video. Have you any advice for how to work with false colour but for outside shots, travel videos, architecture etc with no people in the shots. What colour ire values should I be looking for?

[@DanielJamesBird]

Appreciate the kind words! I tend to base it off of the sky generally - as long as that is yellow or below you're retaining all the information you need and you can adjust accordingly in post. Pink/green/grey's for the subjects of the video! And also - if it looks good on the monitor, it normally is in the right ball park! Hope that helps :)

[@LaureninGermany]

This was so helpful, thanks! I have a question, in case anyone can help. I bought this camera for filming concerts and shows, where in the past the faces were white blown-out ovals. The camera will be on a tripod and I‘ll set and leave it until the interval. After watching this video, I think I should use ISO 800, like for sunlight, as the highlights are the most important?

[@DanielJamesBird]

I would probably recommend ISO 400 for that - as I imagine concerts will have a lot of shadow and darker areas, 800 may make some of the areas too noisy! 400 probably is the best balance of retaining highlight info but clean shadows.

[@ericmilesmusic]

Amazing job breaking down the seemingly backwards ISO strategy with the 6KP. I had not thought of going above 400 outdoors and using the ND to stop down to get more range in the highlights. You said you use NDs indoors as well. Have you ever found the lack of IR filtering on the NDs to be an issue? I had some horrible results in the past with black artificial fabrics

[@DanielJamesBird]

Personally I've never noticed any huge issues. But I've obviously seen plenty of examples online of where it's pretty bad.

[@robrever]

Great video and very informative! Wouild love it if you broke down each sub section into their own 10 minute breakdown of tips and tricks. Also, you didn't really cover how to use lights and ND filters to help achieve exposure goals, which is a major learning pain point for me at the moment.

[@kozwe3064]

Hi Daniel, Pease allow me to ask. So every time to get perfect exposure with log profiles using false color, why does applying Rec 709 matter? Thanks for your answer hopefully.

[@travisgrenke]

Hi. Is there a difference in adjusting for false color while looking at the monitor in braw, or do you expose with the LUT look on with false color?

[@DanielJamesBird]

Hi Travis! Toggling the LUT on or off shouldn’t affect things.

[@HariBonda]

nice video 2:04 How did you create that text reveal? 😍😍

[@bonz_bonalenna]

👏🏿👏🏼👏

[@gssg2010]

I use the false color almost exclusively and the NDs come in handy even when you shoot a scene lit by a single candle flame. I don't play around with the geometry nor the ISO. Moreover, Resolve fixes a lot of errors and problems in post.

[@DanielJamesBird]

Agreed! False Colour is basically what I swear by now! Thanks for the comment.

[@gssg2010]

@@DanielJamesBird Personally, I swear at the other methods! Cheers!

[@simontravel]

Incredible informativ! Thank you🫶🏼

[@fourplay614]

I have a question about dual ISOs. I shoot mostly ISO3200 at night, and I understand that even when there is more light, I shoot ISO3200 because of the noise reduction. Is it better to shoot at ISO3200 than ISO 1250 if noise reduction is a priority over gaining dynamic range, and what ISO criteria would you recommend for dual ISO? Finally, thank you so much for the great video!

[@Andresvideo]

yes, 1250 will have less noise than 3200ISO. I always use the lower ISO I can in the second ISO (1250 and above, always try to use as low as you can)

[@sonerarslan4686]

Great video! How would you compare the 6K FF and Pro against the 6K G2? I'm considering the 6K G2 over the other two, because the difference of the 6K Pro pretty much only is the built-in ND filter. I have a matte box with ND filters already. The 6K FF is full-frame, which can be worth it, but not sure if that's a big leap worth the money (€1k). Currently have a rigged out BMPCC 4k (with ext battery, matte box and nd filters, ext monitor etc.) and I am also not sure if it is worth the upgrade to the 6k G2. The 6k G2 has a crazy deal of €1500 and if I sell the BMPCC 4k, it is only €400 extra for me to upgrade from the 4k. Thank you!

[@DanielJamesBird]

Thanks for the comment! Unfortunately I haven't used either of those so I can't really compare. I definitely find the built in ND to be helpful, and you'd also have to factor in the change of lens mount if going for the FF! The Full-Frame definitely has some incredible footage out there, but the G2 will also create amazing imagery, and you can spend the rest of the money on lighting and or more education. The camera certainly doesn't do it all!

[@sonerarslan4686]

@@DanielJamesBird Thanks for your reply! So I already have a BMPCC 4k + speedbooster. And I already use EF lenses. I'm considering an upgrade to 6k G2, because of the 6k resolution and I'm looking for a leap in quality, sharpness, colors, overall "look" and perhaps a more future proof camera. But would it actually be a leap? I am not sure if BMPCC4k to 6K G2 will make that much of a difference and is worth the upgrade. As for other features: because I already have a BMPCC 4k rig with a speedbooster, and ext. monitor, and a v-mount, some of the improvements of the 6k G2 (like better battery life, flippable monitor, EF mount) aren't THAT important. For me, I want to make short narrative films (relatively small crew), documentary stuff and make my clients happy with all kinds of videocontent.

[@Andresvideo]

@@sonerarslan4686 I own a P4K and when the 6K Pro came out, went for it right away. I love the P4K, but the main differences are (besides 6K, obviously): - Tilting screen, super bright - Internal ND filters The 6K G2 doesn't have internal NDs, which for me is a no-go. I got tired of screwing-in filters with the P4K. BMPCC 6K Pro is the best camera I could have purchased. It's amazing and for me, ticks all the boxes (battery could be better, but I have 4 of them and with an external power bank you can charge 2 while you are shooting with other 2.)

[@RafalGendarz]

if I set exposure to pink it gives me around 512 IRE, isn't that to low? more popular would be around 640

[@DanielJamesBird]

I definitely for light skin tones tend to er on the side of pink/grey. So the higher end of that band as opposed to closer to the green.

[@torsrive8920]

Why BMD claims that BMPCC6K Pro has 400 and 3200 native ISO? When it's more like 400 (100-400) and 1250?

[@rajeshchoubey435]

Can I make best quality feature film for theater of this camera ? Please tell me best budget lens for making feature film of this camera sir .

[@DanielJamesBird]

Absolutely - plenty of recommendations out there on the web. Sigma 18-35 is always a great option, as is the Canon 17-55 f2.8

[@rhodeislandconnect]

I have both lenses just because canon has image ibis and sigma don’t but I still feel I haven’t utilised the purpose of both lenses.