At SHOOTLAB as a Video Production Agency we love our video cameras, so we thought that we would share our experiences of using two great cameras, the Canon eos c70 vs Blackmagic 6k Pro. The Canon EOS C70 and BMPCC 6K Pro are both professional-grade video cameras and are very popular among videographers and filmmakers for good reason. Both video cameras have their own unique features and capabilities, and choosing between them will ultimately depend on your specific needs and preferences. In this blog post I am going to discuss the two cameras (Canon c70 vs Blackmagic 6k pro) from a first-hand user's perspective, hopefully, this will help you to make your own decision.
Typically our filming days are long and we really depend on our camera equipment for reliability and versatility. We have used both cameras extensively over the last two years for our Video Production and really put them through their paces, so now have a pretty good understanding of each camera's strengths and weaknesses. Check out our videography showreel to see the cameras in action.
Using the Canon EOS C70: A Hands-On Review of Features, Performance, and Comparison
We will start with the Canon EOS C70, which is a professional-grade camera that is a really popular camera choice for videographers and filmmakers alike. The Canon C70 is the smallest and most affordable of the 4k EOS Cinema camera line. Its price point makes it well-positioned for corporate and smaller-budget video productions. The C70 shoots UHD footage(3840 x 2160) and 4K DCI (4096 x 2160) in Canon’s XF-AVC all-I codec in 4:2:2 10bit up to 25 fps. It also added 4k Raw light in a recent firmware, update adding additional shooting options. It has a Dual Gain sensor which gives it a pretty impressive low-light performance.
In terms of lenses, the Canon C70 comes with a Canon RF mount. This is good in terms of future-proofing any lens purchases you make, and also good if you own any of the Canon DLSR’s such as the R5 out R6. Many of the new RF lenses are super impressive in terms of sharpness and quality and the range of lenses coming out is expanding on a seemingly daily basis. However, RF lenses are expensive and there is a limited supply of used RF lenses on the second-hand market. Fortunately, the Canon EF to RF lens adaptors are really impressive and we use almost entirely EF lenses for our video shoots! We own the standard Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R, the Metabones Canon EF to RF T Speed Booster 0.71 and the Canon EF to RF Mount Adapter with Drop-In Variable ND Filter. All of these adaptors work like a dream and allow for full aperture control, image stabilisation (if featured on a lens) and fast Auto Focus.
Another key feature of the Canon EOS C70 is its Auto ISO and Auto Gain functionality. This feature allows for smooth transitions when moving from dark to bright areas, and vice versa, by automatically adjusting the sensitivity. Users can set the threshold by selecting the ISO limit, and the camera takes care of the rest. This eliminates the need to worry about adjusting ISO and gain while filming, allowing the user to focus on capturing the perfect shot.
Another notable feature of the Canon EOS C70 is its cooperative image stabilisation system with RF mount lenses. This system allows the camera and lens to work together for optimal image stabilization, making it easier to capture stable and smooth footage. This is the first Cinema EOS System camera to support this kind of system.
In terms of audio capabilities, the Canon C70 has
Two mini-XLR inputs with phantom power and manual control dials provide professional audio recording options for the EOS C70.
The EOS C70 supports up to 4-channel audio using dual mini-XLR ports, an internal stereo mic, and a 3.5mm mic input.
No complaints about the Canon C70's audio recording options, clean pick-ups and the 4 tracks are useful. The built-in mic is also useful for recording scratch or ambient sound.
Canon EOS C70 camera pros and cons:
Pros:
Accepts RF lenses
Fantastic ergonomics
Great touch controls
Accurate autofocus
Good low-light performance
8.85MP Super 35 CMOS sensor
Dual gain output technology
16+ stops of dynamic range
Cheap Memory card storage
Cons:
More expensive than the Blackmagic 6k pro
Limited Raw recording options
Small screen, best to work with external monitor
Not good for shoulder mounting
We bought the Blackmagic 6k Pro for our videography work before the Canon C70 and were blown away by the quality of the image. We were also totally impressed with the menu system and its simple navigation. At last, a camera manufacturer had made a camera with an intuitive menu system and where things could be found easily, especially important when on a job and you need to find a menu item urgently, this can be very stressful! It has a large tilt-able HDR screen with a Screen Brightness of 1500nits, this means you don't need a separate monitor for gauging focus or checking info.
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 6k Pro specs, let's start with the basics, the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro features a Super 35mm size sensor, with a resolution of 6144 x 3456, which is capable of capturing stunningly detailed and cinematic footage with 13 Stops of Dynamic Range. So why do you need to shoot in 6k? (you may ask yourself). Well the BRaw (Blackmagic's raw codec) is a really efficient codec and offers you loads of options in terms of Raw quality settings. Shooting in 6K doesn't present any playback problems for us on our M1 chip macs, so why not have the extra resolution? After all It gives you more reframing options in post.
In terms of recording media, we use both external SSD drives and cfast cards. People often ask about Blackmagic 6k pro SSD compatibility and we can say that we have not any problems writing to SSD drives. We have always used the Samsung T5 SSD - 1TB dives and they are excellent and good value. In terms of attaching the Samsung T5 drives to the BMPCC 6K Pro, we use a Smallrig cage on the camera, with an additional Smallrig SSD drive holder. The CFast 2.0 cards are good too because they are less hassle you just pop them into the camera slot and record, but they are expensive. We have always used the CINEDISKPRO CFAST 2.0 Memory Card RAW 256GB relatively good value and reliable.
What is like working with the Blackmagic 6k Pro in the field?
So what is it like working with the Blackmagic 6k as a video producer? The Blackmagic produces amazing footage, is robust and the large screen is great, but battery life and data storage can become a problem. Despite having a really efficient Raw codec, BRAW does start to take up a lot of space if you are shooting for hours on end or if you are shooting for several days in a row. We found ourselves getting stressed about having enough storage on several shoots! In terms of powering the camera, there are lots of good external battery options which will allow you to shoot all day without changing batteries, but these make the camera less portable. Read our blog article on the best battery option for BMPCC 6K Pro (The internal batteries only last around 30 minutes)
What is the difference between the Blackmagic 6k vs 6k pro? The biggest difference between the two cameras is that Blackmagic 6k pro has built in vari ND filters, which offer four-positions, clear, 2‑stop, 4‑stop and 6‑stop IR ND filtering. These are super handy for having greater control over aperture settings and also when working in bright sunlight.
The BMPCC 6K Pro also has better battery life.
The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro is a powerful and versatile camera that features a high-resolution sensor, dual native ISO, built-in ND filters, and the ability to record directly to external hard drives. These features, combined with its compact design and price point , make the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro an excellent choice for filmmakers. However it is essential that you get a good workflow in place that includes decent powering options and plenty of storage.
Pros:
HDR touchscreen 5” 1920 x 1080 with Screen Brightness 1500nits
EF lens mount-extensive lens options available
Amazing value for such a powerful camera
Accurate autofocus [2]
Good low-light performance [2]
6K Raw recording and multiple raw recording options
Cons:
Battery life (read our blog on the best battery solutions)
Memory card storage
Screen only tilts up
Camera ergonomics not so good for attaching to a gimbal
Auto focus not very responsive
Conclusion: So which video camera is best Blackmagic Pocket 6K Pro vs Canon EOS C70? (or Canon c70 vs Blackmagic 6k pro)
The BMPCC 6K Pro is an amazing camera for the price and for the image quality you get out of it. It is also amazing for Cinematography and resembles a real movie camera in its recoding options. The Raw shooting options, are outstanding and if you are looking to do a lot of grading in post, or adding a stylised look then the choices with Raw are endless. However purchasing the Canon C70 has greatly improved our video production workflow at Shootlab. The Canon C70 is an enormously versatile videographers camera, with an amazing image quality. It has delivered high quality, consistent footage for us, time and time again. The auto focus is super fast and this is good for run and gun filming, as well as for shooting moving objects.
The ergonomics of the camera allow it to easily mount on a gimbal (Dji RS2 in our case) and combined with the fast auto focus, will give you amazing shots. The battery life and media card options are outstanding. So which camera is right for you, well that really depends on your budget and also the type of film projects you get to work on. If you are a largely working in video production, then you cant really go wrong with the C70, but if you are more of a filmmaker/movie maker then the BMPCC 6K could be your camera! I hope that this has been helpful, send us a message if you have any questions?
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Shootlab About us:
Shootlab are a Content Creation company based in the UK. Specialising in Video Production, Photography, Videography, and Social Media Content Creation. We have experience working with businesses of all sizes creating high-quality content for websites, blogs and social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Twitter.
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