Portable compact digital cinema camera offering RAW video recording for location and documentary production.
Technical Details
The camera uses a 1/2.3-inch Super 16mm CMOS sensor with native ISO 1600 and a dynamic range of 13 stops. It records 12-bit CinemaDNG RAW as well as Apple ProRes and Avid DNxHD onto CFast 2.0 memory cards. The system supports 6G-SDI output, 4K HDMI, and features LP-E6 battery compatibility. Internal image stabilization is completely absent – the camera is exclusively designed for stationary or gimbal mounting.
History & Development
Blackmagic Design introduced the Micro Cinema Camera in April 2015 in response to the growing demand for tiny cameras for drones and action shots. It is based on Pocket Cinema Camera technology but omits the LCD monitor and internal controls in favor of extreme compactness. In 2017, it was succeeded by the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, but remains relevant in specialized applications due to its unique form factor.
Practical Use in Film
The camera is used as crash cameras in action sequences, hidden cameras for documentaries, and as a B-camera in tight spaces. Due to its SDI output, it is suitable for multi-camera setups with external control via LANC protocol. The workflow absolutely requires external monitoring and recording devices. RAW recording provides maximum post-production flexibility with DaVinci Resolve.
Comparison & Alternatives
Unlike the larger Pocket Cinema Camera, the Micro lacks any internal controls and is only suitable for remote-controlled applications. Modern alternatives like the DJI Action 2 or Insta360 offer similar compactness but without professional codec support and SDI output. The Micro remains unparalleled for applications requiring extreme miniaturization and broadcast-ready signal output.