Blackmagic Cinema Camera: Compatible Lenses For Your Setup

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera is a popular camera for filmmakers due to its compact size, affordable price, and ability to shoot in ProRes HQ and CinemaDNG RAW. The camera has a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens mount, which offers a wide range of native and adaptable lenses. Native MFT lenses are made by Olympus, Panasonic, and Sigma and cover a range of focal lengths, including fast primes and telephoto lenses. Additionally, the camera can be adapted to work with other lens mounts such as Canon FD, Leica M, Leica R, Minolta MD, M42, Olympus OM, Pentax K, Sony Alpha, and Contax/Yashica. For vintage lenses, popular options include the Fujian 25mm f/1.4 and the Rokinon 12mm T2.2.

For those looking to use Nikon or Canon lenses, the Metabones SpeedBooster adapter is a popular choice as it makes the lenses faster and wider on the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. Another option is the Novoflex adapter, which allows Nikon lenses to be mounted to the camera, although all control functions must be handled manually.

When choosing lenses for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, it is important to consider the crop factor, which will affect the effective focal length of the lenses. The camera uses a Super 16mm 2.88x crop sensor, which is smaller than those found in DSLRs, resulting in greater depth of field. This means that lenses will need to be wider to achieve the same field of view as on a full-frame sensor. For example, a 50mm full-frame lens would be equivalent to a 144mm lens on the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera.

Canon wide-angle lenses

Canon offers a wide range of wide-angle lenses for its EOS DSLRs, EOS M, and EOS R cameras. Here are some of the best options available:

Canon RF 10-20mm F4L IS STM

The RF 10-20mm F4L IS STM is a rectilinear wide-angle lens, delivering clear and straight images even at ultra-wide angles. It is lightweight, stabilised, and offers a wide field of view, making it perfect for landscape and architecture photography.

Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM

The RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM is an affordable yet impressive wide-angle lens. It offers a wide field of view, a close focusing distance of 0.2m, and a 5-stop optical stabiliser, making it ideal for handheld shooting.

Canon RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM

The RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is a great choice for Canon's APS-C EOS R cameras. It is affordable, portable, and delivers consistently good image quality with fast focusing and effective stabilisation.

Tokina atx-i 11-16mm f/2.8 CF

The Tokina atx-i 11-16mm f/2.8 CF is a great wide-angle lens for Canon's APS-C DSLRs. It has a constant f/2.8 aperture, excellent optical and mechanical build quality, and a fast autofocus system.

Sigma 12-24mm f/4 DG HSM | A

The Sigma 12-24mm f/4 DG HSM | A is a fantastic wide-angle lens for full-frame Canon DSLRs. It offers a wide viewing angle, excellent sharpness and contrast, and a constant aperture, all at a more affordable price than similar Canon lenses.

Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

The Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM is a compact and lightweight wide-angle lens for Canon's EOS M mirrorless cameras. With a close-focus distance of just 0.15m, it's perfect for capturing exaggerated perspectives and wide-angle shots.

These lenses offer a range of features and are compatible with different Canon camera systems, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.

Canon walkaround lenses

Canon's EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens is a popular choice for Canon walkaround lenses. It's known for its exceptional optical performance, with sharpness, colour rendition, and minimal distortion. The lens has a robust build and is weather-sealed, making it ideal for outdoor shoots. It also has a fast autofocus and a versatile focal length range, making it suitable for various photography styles.

Another option is the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens, which is designed for APS-C sensor cameras and offers a versatile focal length range. It has decent image sharpness and reliable autofocus, along with image stabilisation for handheld shooting.

The Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM, also known as the "pancake lens," is a slim and lightweight option. It delivers sharp and contrasty images and performs well in low-light scenarios.

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM, often referred to as the "Nifty Fifty," is an affordable lens that offers excellent optical performance. It has a fast maximum aperture of f/1.8, making it ideal for low-light situations and creating a shallow depth of field.

For those with Canon's RF mount system, the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is a standard zoom lens with a constant f/4 aperture, delivering sharp and colour-accurate images. It also has a 5-stop optical image stabiliser and fast autofocus, making it a reliable choice for professionals.

Lastly, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is designed for Canon APS-C DSLRs and offers a versatile focal length range. It has a large f/2.8 constant aperture, quick and accurate autofocus, and effective image stabilisation, making it a flexible imaging solution.

Telephoto lenses for Canon

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera uses a Micro Four Thirds lens mount, which means that it is compatible with a wide range of lenses from manufacturers such as Olympus, Panasonic, and Sigma.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Optical Telephoto Zoom Lens

This lens offers a versatile zoom range, excellent low-light performance, and fast, quiet autofocus. It is a popular choice for Canon DSLR cameras and can be adapted for use with the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera.

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens

This lens is designed for Canon's EOS R-series cameras and offers excellent optics, fast and quiet autofocus, and a configurable control ring. It is a compact and lightweight option, making it ideal for handheld shooting.

Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Lens

This super-telephoto zoom lens is compatible with Canon's EOS R-series mirrorless cameras. It offers a versatile zoom range, excellent image quality, and a configurable control ring. It is a popular choice for wildlife and sports photography.

Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Lens

Another option for Canon's EOS R-series cameras, this lens offers a versatile zoom range, great autofocus and image stabilization, and a lightweight design. It is an excellent choice for those on a budget, offering good performance at a sub-$1,000 price point.

Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens

This third-party lens is compatible with Canon EF mount cameras and offers excellent image quality, fast and accurate autofocus, and robust build quality. It is a heavy lens, weighing over six pounds, but it delivers superb performance for sports and wildlife photography.

Voigtlander Nokton 17.5mm f/0.95

The Voigtlander Nokton 17.5mm f/0.95 is a dream lens for filmmakers and photographers using the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera (BMPCC). With its fast f/0.95 maximum aperture, this lens is perfect for low-light cinematography, allowing unparalleled creative freedom. The lens's exceptional build quality includes a solid metal construction and a smooth manual focus ring, providing a tactile and precise focusing experience.

The image quality delivered by the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5mm f/0.95 is sharp, with minimal distortion, making it ideal for wide-angle shots that require clarity and detail. The lens's ultra-wide angle of view, combined with its fast aperture, gives filmmakers a cinematic look with a shallow depth of field and beautiful bokeh. This lens truly excels in both low-light and wide-angle scenarios, making it a top-tier choice for BMPCC users.

The Voigtlander Nokton 17.5mm f/0.95 is a great option for those seeking a versatile lens that can handle a variety of shooting situations. With its ability to produce sharp images, smooth bokeh, and excellent low-light performance, this lens is a favourite among filmmakers and photographers alike. The manual focus ring provides precise control over the image, ensuring that creative visions are captured perfectly.

Overall, the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5mm f/0.95 is an exceptional lens for BMPCC users looking for a fast, versatile, and high-quality lens. Its ability to produce sharp images, smooth bokeh, and excellent low-light performance makes it a popular choice for filmmakers and photographers seeking to capture their creative visions.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is a versatile and high-performing lens that is a staple in the kit of many professional photographers and filmmakers. It is compatible with the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera via an adapter, which opens up a world of possibilities in terms of image quality and versatility.

The 24-70mm zoom range covers a broad spectrum of shooting scenarios, from wide landscapes to intimate portraits. The constant f/2.8 aperture provides excellent low-light performance and depth-of-field control. The lens is renowned for its sharpness and clarity, delivering crisp images with beautiful colour rendition. Its ultrasonic motor (USM) ensures fast and silent autofocus, which is essential for video work.

The build quality of the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is rugged and durable, capable of withstanding the rigours of professional use. It is made of metal and plastic, featuring a metal lens mount that adds longevity to the lens. The zoom and focus rings are thicker compared to its predecessor, making it smoother to operate for both still and video work. The lens is also equipped with a circular 9-blade diaphragm for smooth bokeh.

One notable downside of the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is the lack of Image Stabilization (IS), which is surprising given its price point. Additionally, the lens has a larger filter size of 82mm, which may require an additional investment in new filters. Despite these shortcomings, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is an exceptional choice for BMPCC users who need a reliable, versatile lens for a wide range of video and photography applications.

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