Original BMPCC - Best ISO for Noise & Dynamic Range? | ISO Test

The Original Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera isn't really known for its low light performance. But what do the noise levels look like at each ISO? And how does the relationship between ISO and dynamic range look? In this video we test the original BMPCC and it's different ISO's in two different ISO tests.
Both tests were shot with a Canon FD 35mm F2 (modded to EF) and a Zhongyi Lens Turbo II
Gear I Use:
Camera (A) - Panasonic GH5
Amazon: amzn.to/2KTJT59
Ebay: ebay.us/GcDK7M
V-log Upgrade for the Panasonic GH5
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Camera (B) - Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera (Original)
Amazon: amzn.to/39uRRMI
Ebay: ebay.us/etiuzm
MPB US: prf.hn/l/NdyL5Xq
MPB EU: prf.hn/l/2MLeLQy
Lens Adapter/Speedbooster - Viltrox EF-M2 Speedbooster
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Ebay: ebay.us/nDtPwy
Lighting - Godox SL60W
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Microphone - Rode VideoMicro
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Ebay: ebay.us/BUtEYW
Monitor - Feelworld F6
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Ebay: ebay.us/w5X3kW
(Some of the links in my video descriptions are affiliate links, which means at no extra cost to you, I will make a small commission if you click them and make a qualifying purchase.)

[@jadoon702]

Thanks for your bmpcc videos , I’ve really been learning a lot 🤩

[@carlscinema7086]

Glad i could help :)

[@mochajohnson4780]

"Iso invariant" cameras are somewhat counter-intuitive. You raise the iso setting when you want to protect highlights and lower it if you're trying to protect shadows. It's really just another way of using the ETTR or ETTL principles. Personally, I just leave it at 800 and shift my overall exposure as needed. And speaking of exposure, I'd recommend raising yours, especially for your studio vlogging shots. People are going to have a hard time seeing you unless they are watching the video in a dark room or at night ;)

[@carlscinema7086]

Yeah for sure, but I do actually like cameras that has iso that operates in this way (like the Arri Alexa for example), feel like I get better control over the dynamic range. Thanks, will take into consideration in the future. I really like the dark and moody look, but have to find a level that also works for people watching on their phones in a bright environment haha.

[@bassbeats92]

@@carlscinema7086 Give it a try :)

[@LitNews]

On the original BMPCC when shooting in RAW, does changing the ISO actually change the resulting captured image? Or does it simply give you a preview on the camera screen of what grading at that ISO might deliver?

[@lovefirst6157]

A very nice breakdown 👍 of the iso. 800 is the best and lower iso's for better shadow recovery. Gotcha.

[@carlscinema7086]

The native iso of 800 really has a good balance, but what's considered the "best" really depends on the scene.

[@lovefirst6157]

@@carlscinema7086 That is very true.

[@zakgs]

Glad people are still using the original Pocket! Please make more content with it. I'd love to see something with a Ronin SC or a Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 if you have one. I'm looking to get one of each!

[@carlscinema7086]

Will do! Don't have either unfortunately. Have had the Sigma in the past and will probably end up getting it again at some point haha.

[@juliancantillo97]

Works great with the ronin sc with external power

[@kentjensen4504]

Your channel is great and deserves many more subscribers. Would be cool if you become the go to guy for the Original BMPCC, as that wonderful little camera is not going away. Och, God Jul från Norge!

[@carlscinema7086]

Thanks man! God jul

[@bestboy007]

i hate how bad the cam is in low light.. unuseable indoor with normal light usage... biggest aperture and still fucking DIM LIKE FUCK

[@williambrowne]

Super interesting and shed some light on a concept I didn't knew even existed

[@carlscinema7086]

Glad i could help :)

[@KekeLauda]

A bit late to the party, but the Pocket 1st gen is iso invariant, the gain is applied digitally AFTER the ADC... Thus there is no change in the dynamic range distribution as you change iso... Look up Tom Marjeski's comment on the Blackmagic forums for a clearer explainer... But if you had fixed the exposure and set the brightest part of your scene to just about clip, and then lowered the iso, you should find that it still clips, just being grey rather than white... The information would still be lost however... Hope this helps...

[@carlscinema7086]

07:15

[@KekeLauda]

@@carlscinema7086 0:40 - 0:55... You changed the shutter to compensate for the iso change, thus it is not a like-for-like comparison... You're changing the signal-to-noise ratio thus, as you said, the lower iso's will give a cleaner image... This is not due to the iso change, but rather, a change in the produced signal-to-noise ratio as a result of the shutter change, NOT the iso change... Do the test again but ONLY change the iso, get the highlights to just about clip at the highest ISO, then drop the iso WITHOUT changing anything else... You'll find that you have no additional highlight detail as the analog voltage gain of the sensor is not changing... It is well documented that the physical BMPCC sensor is iso-invariant... Whist you approach may be somewhat relevant in practical use cases, the conclusion reached is demonstrably false...

[@carlscinema7086]

What you are arguing doesnt contradict the video at all. I suggest you rewatch it. Changing the ISO doesn't change the signal, but using a different ISO may get you to expose differently, which in turn will change the signal, essentially over or underexposing the sensor. But simply changing the ISO setting does not affect the dynamic range.

[@KekeLauda]

@@carlscinema7086 the way the video is presented suggests that different iso’s produce different images, but as long as you understand that changing the iso has no material effect, that is fine…

[@sikh_films]

Loving the vibes pal , keep making these videos 🙏🏼

[@carlscinema7086]

👍👍

[@graaf666]

Really big thanks to you! Your lessons help me so much with my bmpcc og.

[@fodsonmedia]

I really like your videos, Carl! As a GH5/BMPCC4K user (professionally) who just ordered my first OG BMPCC (for fun, kind of) this is really interesting stuff so thanks for sharing! Also, go team Sollentuna! ;) /Fredrik

[@waldemarsoop1381]

Tack! Står mellan en original och en 4K för filmiska musikvideor och familjefoto. Diggar verkligen det filmiska hos BMPCC men low-light-förmågan hos den nya kameran är ju otrolig.

[@carlscinema7086]

Den nyare 4k har ju betydligt fler funktioner och är även mer användarvänlig. Ett välja original istället skulle enligt isåfall vara pga att man föredrar looken den ger, men det är en väldigt subjektiv sak. När det kommer till foton är ingen av dom en stillbildskamera dock utan gjorda specifikt för video/film

[@waldemarsoop1381]

@@carlscinema7086 Tack för ditt svar! Har en gammal 7d för foto, var lite otydligt. Utan att vara kunnig på området så känns den gamla mer "fångande", typ som att kolla på en gammal 35mm film. Den nya känns lite skarpare och känns som att allt på youtube är filmat med bmpc4k, lagt några timmar på att nörda jämförelsevideos nu.

[@TingleBombs]

Thanks Carl!

[@carlscinema7086]

You're welcome :)

[@rinusworldzm]

Your videos are always awesome man.

[@carlscinema7086]

Thanks, awesome to hear! :)

[@rinusworldzm]

@@carlscinema7086 I'm learning how to use my camera before it gets to me. The only thing I think might be beneficial from reopening of the u.s is my camera finally being shipped.

[@danielleinad6019]

Is there anyone who uses this camera with a JuicedLink BMC388?

[@johnteaguefilm]

I use a juicedLink Riggy

[@GeorgijusPavlovas]

Thank you sir for sharing some very valuable illustration material.

[@karlmichelson]

Jag brukar filma mig själv när jag spelar gitarr med min BMPCC, och sliter lite med att få en precis fokus. Utmaningen är att ställa in allt när jag själv står bakom kameran. Har du några tips på det? Har tyvärr ingen speedbooster. En video om hur man bäst använder BMPCC under mörka ljusförhållanden hade också varit fantastiskt.

[@carlscinema7086]

Ett smidigt sätt att lösa det på är att ställa/placera något där du kommer att sitta och där du vill att fokus ligger. Om du har en mikrofon tex kan du placera den där du ska sitta, ställa fokus på den och sedan flytta tillbaka den och sätta dig där istället.

[@karlmichelson]

@@carlscinema7086 Det är så jag har löst det hittills, men tänkte kanske det fanns ett smidigare alternativ. 👍

[@carlscinema7086]

Skulle nog säga att det är det bästa sättet om du är själv. Kanske testa att spela in några sekunder och sen dubbelkolla också innan du kör igång, ifall det är så att det ofta blir lite ur fokus.

[@giuseppe_campo]

Thanks!

[@ThePVBLO]

Could you let me know what SD card you are currently using?

[@carlscinema7086]

To record RAW I've been using the Sandisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s cards. These have to be the older discontinued version of the card and not the newer v30 rated cards. Alot of people have reported success with Kingston Canvas React cards though, check out the comment section of my BMPCC in 2020 video 👍

[@GearZenChannel]

@@carlscinema7086 I can confirm - Kingston Canvas React work great. It is VERY hard finding the original cards now. Lots of sellers list them incorrectly. I found a legit used Sandisk 95mb/s on Adorama. All of the rest of my SD cards are Kingston Canvas React, but now even those are discontinued. Angelbird SD cards will work also. They are more expensive, but will work. I contacted them and they told me the cheaper V60 cards are fine for the OG BMPCC.

[@cecens98]

what kind of sd card do you use to shoot raw with bmpcc og?

[@carlscinema7086]

I use the blackmagic recommended Sandisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s, but those are the older discountinued versions. The newer v30 cards don't work. I see alot of people say they have success with Kingston Canvas React cards in the comment sections though.

[@ivamagnolia8719]

Hi Carl! Please help me if you can :) Do you know how to import dng raw files from BMPCC in to Davinci Resolve to make a video file? There is some tutorials on how to do it in Premiere Pro, but i can’t find the tutorials about Davinci.

[@carlscinema7086]

Its really simple actually. Every raw clip is a folder with a bunch of raw frames in it. All you have to do is drag and drop the folders (the whole folders, not just the frames within it) and resolve will do the rest.

[@EstudioAndante]

Open your folders in windows file explorer and drop them in media pool in da vinci. Each clip is a folder with lots of dng files.

[@luisvizaguirre]

I know it's an old topic but, since I've got the same trouble last week, I think it worths the mention: Try to import the files just from the Media tab inside Davinci (that tab at the bottom, right before the Cut one), browse the folders with the DNGs there and then drag them (the folders) into the Media pool. Took me two hours to figure it out. Importing files is so simple that you can think it could be done in any way- but, at least in my case, this is the only one which seems to work. Hope it helps.

[@johanneseckestrom6566]

Does this camera take pictures?

[@carlscinema7086]

Nope, purely for video/filmmaking

[@johanneseckestrom6566]

@@carlscinema7086 not even a screenshot mode or something?😅

[@LitNews]

@@johanneseckestrom6566 In RAW mode on this camera, film is just a sequence of 2.1MP (1080p) photographs. So yes, it can take pictures. In fact it can take up to 30 every second.

[@johanneseckestrom6566]

@@LitNews hahaha very interesting. I bought this camera and I haven't filmed anything cool yet ;)

[@LitNews]

@@johanneseckestrom6566 Highly recommend getting a speedbooster for it to use bigger glass and get a wider FOV and shallower depth of field.

[@SjukPanda]

good vid

[@carlscinema7086]

Ty man

[@lucapellizzaro80]

Hi. Thanks for this. I’ve got a BMPCC original with an SLR Magic 12mm and I want to give it a last “try”. How would you apply luts in DaVinci on a ProRes Hd clip? A standard one or a kind of “de-log” one? Here’s my first attempt: kzbin.info/www/bejne/raPOYop7msaDna8

[@carlscinema7086]

Looks good! Well if you shoot in log and want to apply a lut meant for rec709 footage (normalized) you would have to convert it to rec709 first. You could do that either with a conversion lut, manually or with the Color Space Transform plugin. Or if you have a lut designed for blackmagic film then just apply it normally.

[@lucapellizzaro80]

Carl's Cinema thanks for this. I have the Bounce luts pack (www.bouncecolor.com) and don’t know which lut to apply on the ProRes. Support says: “Does the BMPCC Original have BMDFilm LOG? We haven’t used the old Blackmagic cameras” and I don’t really know if log is meant for raw in black magic world...

[@carlscinema7086]

The bmpcc does have BMD film. Raw or prores doesnt matter for that, you can record in BMD film (which is log) in either.

[@pasyensyatv9092]

Im on the verge of selling my BMPCC, help me make my mind hehe

[@carlscinema7086]

Haha I can't tell you what to do, but why do you want to sell? Maybe you have good reasons to, maybe you dont?

[@pasyensyatv9092]

@@carlscinema7086 its the battery life and it heats up after long use. that annoys me.

[@seanmeese5850]

@@pasyensyatv9092 If you haven't sold it already but are still thinking about it, I would gladly take it off your hands.

[@GearZenChannel]

@@pasyensyatv9092 I power my BMPCC from the 5 inch Feelworld monitor. I think that is the best solution for a compact rig.

[@bestboy007]

nobody uses raw with bmpcc. its not made for real life usage, just demo. this shitty dng takes too much space. bmpcc4k takes much less space in raw

[@Seafox0011]

A comment of our times. Nonsense of course.