In this article, you will discover the key differences between two very popular cameras with video shooters, the Sony a7S III and the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro. Check out the article to decide which one of these video workhorses is the right one for you.
Let’s start with the size and build quality if you are looking for a full frame 4K camera that shoots up to 120 frames per second with a smaller and lighter body style. You will be impressed with how compact the Sony a7S III is. It comes in at only 1.35 pounds, and it is only 5.07 inches wide, 3.81 inches high, and 2.74 inches deep.
The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro on the other hand has a 6K super 35mm sensor with a 1.55x crop factor in relation to full frame lenses. This means a 50mm prime lens would look more like a 77.5mm field of view. The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro is also larger and heavier, it weighs 2.73 pounds and it measures 7.08 wide, 4.41 inches high, and 4.84 inches deep. It is definitely not designed for the small pockets in your skinny jeans.
Size aside, let’s get into some of the features in each camera. The Sony a7S III has very reliable continuous and eye autofocus when shooting 4K video. The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro only has touch to autofocus on supported lenses and no continuous autofocus.
The Sony a7S III also has built-in sensor-shift five-axis image stabilization that the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro lacks. Not to mention the Sony camera also does a better job of handling rolling shutters and has a flip-out LCD screen.
For some video shooters, features are more important than image quality, and if image quality is your prime consideration, then I would give the slight edge to the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Pro 6K. It is hard to beat the ability to record 6K Blackmagic RAW internally.
Now I know some people will disagree with me, so I have provided some video samples in the video above from both cameras in 4K shot with the same lenses. The lenses I used were the Zeiss 50mm F1.4 ZE for Canon EF Mount and the Zeiss 35mm F1.4 ZE, which are both full frame lenses.
In order to use the same lenses on the Sony a7S III, I used the Sigma MC 11 Canon EF to Sony E-mount adapter and manually focused each lens. I also used B+W neutral density filters on both lenses instead of using the built-in ND filters on the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro.
In conclusion, both cameras are able to shoot very high-quality video, although they are aimed at different users. If you need continuous eye autofocus and built-in image stabilization with a flip-out screen, then the Sony a7S III may be the better choice for you.
If you consider yourself more of a filmmaker and have no issue with not having continuous autofocus and built-in image stabilization, then the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro may be more suited to your style.
As I mentioned previously, I would argue that the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro has a slightly better quality image, and I have found myself wanting to purchase more EF mount lenses.
Check out the video above and let me know in the comment section which camera you preferred.
Nice comparison...we are living in blazing times with the tools available to small filmmakers at a sub 5k Pricepoint...4k120 10bit LOG with around 12-13 Stops of dynamic range with perfect continuous AF-Eye-Tracking and internal stabilisation in a pocket sized format....or 6k60RAW continuous recording onto a simple external SSD and internal ND at under 3000€...the tools are there for everybody now...now we just have to learn to create our best work...gone are the times where you had to choose between big size, big prize or 10bit vs. Full-Frame look...its amazing. Truly amazing times.
Based on the samples, I pegged Camera B as the Sony because of the wider field of view and framing and/or thinner DOF. Quality wise, I couldn't tell the difference. Granted I didn't pixel peep. I just watched each sample normally.