Have you ever considered modifying your Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera by adding a tilting display and V-Lock battery mount? If yes, you might be considering this Kickstarter project titled BMPCC 4K/6K Mod Kit by Pod Tech.

Make the Pocket friendlier

Every Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera (BMPCC) shooter knows that the main downsides of the camera are its ergonomics and battery power. The screen is located at a problematic spot, which can impair the shooting experience and usability. For instance, last week we wrote about the Nexus G1 project which ‘transforms’ the Pocket into a boxy form factor cinema camera to allow more professional features compared to the original design (better connectivity, improved usability, and more). The ability and eagerness to change/modify the BMPCC cameras are high, and independent industrial designers and engineers try to find a way to make them more functional and adaptable to real-world shooting. A Kickstarter project called BMPCC 4K/6K Mod Kit addresses this by offering an interesting solution.

The BMPCC 4K/6K Mod Kit

Basically, this Kickstarter project allows you to add a tilting display and integrated V-Lock battery mount to your BMPCC 4K/6K, by a dedicated DIY kit. Thus, improving these two annoying factors on this great camera, which are the display and battery life. Yes, you can rig your BMPCC to V-mount batterie without this kit. However, that solution requires a cumbersome and expensive setup, The Mod Kit keeps it compact and straightforward as you just need to move the screen and attach a V-mount plate. Of course, it’s not as simple as it sounds, but the Mod Kit is combined with step-by-step instructions to make the assembly easier (no soldering is required). According to the project page, the screen is firmly attached to the camera and so is the V-mount. However, it’s important to mention that this modification terminates the Blackmagic warranty, as you must disassemble a few camera parts. Hence, it’s recommended to do so after the warranty is over. Nevertheless, you are getting a 1-year warranty for the modification kit parts by Pod Tech. The price of the kit is 500 NZ (around $300 USD). For more info, head over to the project page on Kickstarter. Here are some pictures and videos about this intriguing project: 

For me, there’s always been something special about Blackmagic’s camera lineup. They’re well-known for their colour science, rich feature set and competitive pricing, and have become an incredibly popular choice for many creators. Somehow though, they still feel underrated – their innovative interface, speed and reliability has made them my favourite cameras to work with by far… and there’s always been unrealised potential in the Pocket Cinema Camera platform. Their shortcomings lie, of course, in their battery life and their displays. While more recent models in the lineup have added slightly larger batteries, they still only offer 1 hour of runtime, and an inconsistent battery level display that leave you guessing when it may quit on you. These cameras pack some of the most powerful modern technology, and they need the industry standard V-Mount power solution.

Ollie from Pod Tech

An inspiration to Blackmagic

Blackmagic Design Founder and CEO, Grant Petty, should take these projects as a solid reference to what filmmakers actually want. Indeed, shifting the screen and moving it on top, plus implementing a V-mount for better power consumption, might be easy engineering tasks for a company like Blackmagic. If users can do it, so is Blackmagic. These independent projects demonstrate easy solutions for valid problems regarding the usability of BMPCC. There’s a chance that Blackmagic is working on this as we speak, and thus there’s a chance we’ll be getting a new Pocket with a top screen, V-mount, better connectors, etc. That would elevate the popularity of the Pockets. Let us know your insights about it. Do you think Blackmagic should be listening to these independent inventors?