Today.
I'm going to be doing a low light comparison
between the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and the Sony FX3.
So I shot pretty extensively with both of these cameras.
And I honestly can say that they both perform really well in low light.
We know that about the FX3 already, but considering the fact that the BMPCC4K
is a third of the price and has a significantly
smaller sensor I think that this camera does punch well above its weight.
So this will be an interesting test.
Also, a quick note,
I did shoot at the exact same ISO, exact same f-stop, exact same shutter speed,
but the extra footage does look just a tad darker.
And I think the reason for that is just because
there are two completely different sensors and two completely different brands.
So I think that's why the ISO is matching up perfectly.
So I will leave it as is.
And with that noted, here is the lowlight test.
All right.
So that was the lowlight comparison.
So now here are my final thoughts.
So ISO 1000.
I did notice that there was a bit of noise in the BMPCC4K
along with a loss of contrast and vibrance in the colors.
Then when you switched to ISO 1250, it still is a bit noisy
but you get the vibrance and the colors back,
but you do lose a good amount
of information in the highlights at ISO 1250 on the black magic.
So that's just something to note in after ISO 1250.
I think both cameras look very similar in terms of noise and color
all the way up until ISO
5000.
After ISO 5000, the FX3 definitely starts to take the lead
and it does start to become a little bit more noticeable in terms of noise.
But one thing I will say is when looking at the footage,
the black magic noise does seem to feel a little bit more filmic
and even though the FX3 has less noise, it seems a little bit more digital.
So maybe there's a little bit more noise reduction going on in the FX3
than in the Black Magic.
ISO 10,000. Both cameras are somewhat noisy.
The FX3 is noticeably cleaner though, and once you get to ISO 12,800,
that is when the noise floor resets on the FX3 because it's second based ISO.
So that's when it does start to make a huge difference.
But again, I think if you're shooting at ISO 12,800
and more, you're probably shooting because you're in a pinch.
But it definitely is cool.
And I have found myself shooting at 12,800 in some situations
and it is nice to know that
the noise is pretty much gone on the FX3 and very minimal and the Black Magic's Max
ISO is at 25,600 and it is significantly noisier than the FX3.
All right.
And with the sun setting, I just switched the ISO on the FX3 to 12,800.
So you can see it's handling really well.
Now we get to the max ISO of the Sony FX3 of 409,600, which is completely insane.
And I can confidently say I will never shoot at an ISO that high.
So in conclusion, I think both cameras do incredibly well.
The FX3's lowlight capabilities are insane and so awesome.
But they are I would say they're more of a luxury than a necessity.
If you are getting into filmmaking, the black magic really does hold its own,
considering its significantly lower price point and its smaller sensor.
But I will be honest, I have found myself in a pinch where I am shooting the light
and being able to push past like ISO 25,600 has been really cool.
If you do plan on shooting mini documentaries
and find yourself in situations where you don't have time
or the resources to set up lights, that three would definitely be a solid option.
But if you do find yourself shooting for the most part in daylight
lighting, your sets the black magic will be more than enough.
And I will be doing a more detailed
and full on comparison between the BMPCC4K and FX3 later this month.
But for now, I'd love to hear your thoughts
in the comments
about how you thought
both cameras performed, which camera you have,
and if you're planning on upgrading to the FX3.
So that's the end of this video.
I will see you in the next one.