Is the HYPE Justified? - PYXIS Hands-On First Impressions REVIEW

Summary

The video provides an in-depth first impression of the Blackmagic Pixis, highlighting its exciting features, form factor, and practicality for filmmakers. With the same sensor as the Cinema Camera 6K, the Pixis offers high-quality 6K resolution in a compact box-shaped design, appealing to creators seeking versatility. The video emphasizes Blackmagic’s focus on user feedback, essential specs like resolution, bit depth, and usability, and compares the Pixis with other cameras. It concludes with plans for real-world tests and encourages viewers to engage with questions and explore products through the channel’s sponsor, Audio.

Takeaways

• 📸 The Blackmagic Pixis has generated excitement due to its form factor and user-focused design, making it appealing to professionals.
• 🎥 The Pixis uses the same sensor as the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K but is offered at a higher price, mainly because of its distinct body design and additional features.
• 🧰 The box-shaped form factor allows for customizable rigs, a trend among professional camera manufacturers like RED, Sony, and Canon.
• 🎛️ Blackmagic listened to user feedback, designing the Pixis with more mounting points, better input/output options like SDI and Ethernet, and other professional-grade enhancements.
• 🔧 The camera offers a good balance of essential features without overloading on nice-to-have extras, prioritizing practical usability over flashy specs.
• 🎨 With a 3x2 full-frame sensor, the Pixis offers flexibility for shooting in various aspect ratios, making it suitable for anamorphic and vertical shooting.
• 🌈 The camera supports 12-bit Blackmagic RAW, providing four times more color detail than 10-bit codecs, and offers efficient file sizes for better workflow.
• 💡 Usability is emphasized, with a simple and clean user interface, physical power switches, and modular design options for professional setups.
• 💸 Despite high-end features, the Pixis is priced competitively compared to other cameras like the RED Komodo and Sony FX6, which have their own trade-offs.
• 🚀 While it doesn't offer high-speed frame rates (up to 48 fps in 17:9 and 120 fps in HD), the Pixis strikes a balance between rolling shutter performance and usability in most professional settings.

Q & A

Why has the Blackmagic Pixis camera generated so much excitement?

The Blackmagic Pixis has generated excitement because it combines a professional-grade 6K sensor, the same used in the Cinema Camera 6K, with a new compact and modular form factor. It strikes a balance between high-end features, usability, and an affordable price point, making it attractive to filmmakers.

What is unique about the Pixis compared to the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K?

The Pixis shares the same sensor as the Cinema Camera 6K but offers significant improvements, including a box-shaped form factor, better input/output options like SDI outputs and Ethernet, a metal exterior for durability, more mounting points, and replaceable threads, making it more versatile and rugged for professional use.

Why is the form factor of the Pixis so important?

The form factor is important because it allows for modularity and customization. Filmmakers can build the camera into the setup they need for different projects. Its compact box shape also offers more mounting points and better durability, making it suitable for a wide range of shooting environments.

What features make the Pixis stand out in terms of image quality?

The Pixis stands out for its 6K resolution, a full-frame 3x2 sensor that is ideal for anamorphic and vertical shooting, and 12-bit Blackmagic RAW, which captures four times more color detail than a 10-bit codec, offering exceptional image quality.

How does the Blackmagic Pixis handle high-speed shooting?

In full 6K resolution, the Pixis can shoot up to 36 frames per second. When the sensor is cropped to a 17x9 aspect ratio, it can shoot at 48 frames per second, with higher frame rates available at lower resolutions, like 120 fps in HD.

What are the Pixis camera's main advantages for professionals working on demanding projects?

The Pixis offers improved I/O with SDI outputs, Ethernet connectivity, the ability to mount phones or SSDs, and support for larger batteries. It also has a proven user interface, multiple mounting points, and a well-thought-out design, making it an efficient tool for professional workflows.

What limitations might users find with the Blackmagic Pixis?

Some limitations include its rolling shutter of 18 milliseconds, which is acceptable but not top-of-the-line, and the lack of built-in autofocus, which may require third-party solutions for users who need that feature.

How does the Pixis compare to other cameras like the RED Komodo X or Sony FX6?

The RED Komodo X offers better high-speed options and faster sensor readout but costs significantly more. The Sony FX6, while cheaper, only offers UHD resolution and 10-bit color depth with 4:2:2 chroma subsampling, making the Pixis a more attractive option for those needing 6K and 12-bit RAW at a lower cost.

What is the significance of the Pixis having a full-frame 3x2 sensor?

The 3x2 full-frame sensor is significant because it offers more height in the image, making it ideal for vertical or anamorphic shooting. It also allows for more flexibility when reframing or cropping in post-production, which is a valuable tool for filmmakers.

Why is Blackmagic RAW an important feature in the Pixis?

Blackmagic RAW is important because it provides high image quality with efficient file sizes, making it more manageable in post-production. The 12-bit depth captures more color detail than a 10-bit codec, which is essential for professional color grading and high-end workflows.