10Feb BlackMagic 4k Camera price drop to $2995
It looks like BlackMagic is dropping the price of it’s 4k production camera to $2995, coming down $1000 from earlier pricing. There has been a lot of speculation about the possible price of the new Panasonic GH4 (which will also be 4k capable) settling in at around the $2000 price point. While the BlackMagic 4k production camera offers up a raw video workflow alongside Blackmagic’s colorista color grading software, the SSD recording method, poor low light performance, form factor, and design make the BlackMagic 4k production camera a bit cumbersome to use.
On the other hand the very sexy Panasonic GH4 fits into a DSLR form factor while offering up a massive amount of features. It’s as though Panasonic actually listened to it’s customers, then built a camera that checks off almost everything on the list.
- 4k recording at both Cinema 4K: 4096×2160 / 24 fps, and QFHD 4K: 3840×2160 / 30 fps
- Wi-Fi remote photo and video monitoring and camera controls
- Focus peaking
- 40 FPS RAW burst mode
- Multiple video codecs MOV, MP4, and AVCHD
- 200 Mbps data rates
- Improved low light performance
- In camera 4k playback
- 8 bit or 10 bit Clean 4:2:2 hdmi output
The list of features is actually much longer than that and you can find a whole run down on Amazon’s pre-order page. Although the GH4 doesn’t record raw, it still looks to be a much more attractive option than the BlackMagic 4k production camera. If the speculated $2000 price tag is correct, the GH4 is going to be a very popular camera.
I’ve looked at other Micro 4/3 cameras in the past, but the GH4 is the first one I would consider buying. For the price this camera looks amazing. Hopefully Panasonic will have a demo model out on the floor at NAB, i would love to get my hands on this thing.
February 10th, 2014 at 8:48 pm
if its as good as it look there will be lots of 5d mark 3 on ebay when it comes out:)
February 10th, 2014 at 9:56 pm
I’ll probably keep at least 1 mark III for stills, but my c100 might hit the auction blocks for something like this. Still pretty disappointed in it.
February 11th, 2014 at 7:18 pm
When do you think a price will be announced? And is that $2000 prediction for just the camera, or the camera and the attachment? I think the camera itself will cost $1500, same as the GH1-3 when they first were released, but the attachement will cost $2000.
February 11th, 2014 at 7:52 pm
I’ve sent a few emails out and the prediction is $2000 for the body and $2000 for the attachment. We’ll know for sure in about 30 days when the camera goes up for pre-order. I’ll be ordering one, though i’ll be holding off on the attachment.
February 16th, 2014 at 2:11 am
Latest rumors seems to be $1700 for the GH4 and $2200 for the YAGH “grip”, but looks like the YAGH is only if you need 10bit 422 4K or UHD since the GH4 on it’s own seems capable of 10bit 422 HD from its micro HDMI port. If you need 10bit 422 4k you will also need an external recorder capable of that, like the $2300 Odyssey Q7, it also needs separate battery system and fast SSDs so the $3000 BmPC 4k looks to be a better buy with not only a far lower price but also 12bit Raw cDNG and a Super 35 global shutter sensor. Interesting points to note is that the GH4’s internal 8bit 420 4k 100mbps recordings can be easily downscaled to 8bit 444 HD in post but it’s only 100mbps and the GH4 can record the wider “Cinema 4k” resolution (4096×2160) while the BmPC is stuck at quadHD/UltraHD (3840×2160) only.