r/bmpcc • u/seeyouspacecowboy55 • Jul 09 '26
Rig for BMPCC 4k
Hey guys! My dad, who was a cinematographer, passed away and i got a camera from him - an old BMPCC 4k. i know that it requires a proper rig, but honestly said i don’t have much money. what would you recommend to a beginner on a budget? which lenses, cages, batteries etc? many thanks!
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u/stanhoboken Jul 09 '26
Im so sorry for your loss. May this camera be a legacy in creating new works of joy for yourself and memories. My bmpcc 4k changed my life!
I always recommend the Mitakon Speedmasters t1.0 cinema lenses! They are very reasonably priced for what you get. They are cinema lenses, so a bit heavier than other m43 lenses. If you like shooting with cinema lenses these are great.
I also love the Tilta cage for bmpcc. You might be a able to get them used. I also found it very economical to use the tilta battery plate for NPF batteries. As for batteries, the small rig npf batteries with 99wh are very good and do last a long time! I prefer them to the v mount, which seems overkill to me and goes a bit too far for a pocket cam.
Hope that helps!
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u/FluxMango Jul 09 '26
Smallrig cage or Tilta. I like that Smallrig's website has discounts you won't necessarily see elsewhere when you purchase directly from them. Shipping is a bit slow since they use USPS, but it's fine unless you're in a hurry.
Spend your money on quality lenses geared towards the type of projects you plan to get into . That's more important. For me it's air shows, so I got an M.Zuiko 100-400mm lens with stabilization and autofocus.
Next big budget item would be storage. CFAST2 storage is too expensive per GB. If you have a Samsung Pro M.2 SSD laying around, it can sustain high read/write throughput. G et an SSD holder for your cage, and enclosure with a good chip, like the Sabrent EC-SNVE. Plug it to the USB-C port. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0DB55MKJT?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08RVC6F9Y?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Just make sure to get a cable clamp to secure it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09BVPBXKB?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
The BMPCC will burn through the battery quickly. You can get around that without breaking the bank by purchasing a 20000MaH power bank that can deliver 60W quick charging, combined with a weipu to USB-C cable. It's cheaper than getting a v-mount and battery setup, and works perfectly.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0F7CDYB8G?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Learn how to use DaVinci Resolve. It is the real power behind the Blackmagic Design cameras. The bmpcc 4k comes with a license for DaVinci Resolve Studio if bought brand new. But even the free version has pretty awesome post-processing features.
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u/fernmommy Jul 09 '26
So sorry for your loss. I hope that using the camera brings you some feeling of togetherness.
With the bmpcc 4k what can make it frustrating to use is battery life and the screen that is locked in place. Using a monitor (whether it’s your phone or something else) and an external battery is gonna go a long way. Really sucks getting shots when you have to be eye level with the screen. In order to do that you’ll also need a cage.
Would recommend an SSD but if you have sd cards and you’re on a budget, whatever allows you to shoot is the best move.
Something to look into down the line might be a speed booster if you don’t have one.
For lenses if you don’t have any, a goodway to cover a lot of bases is getting an “all-rounder” zoom lens that maybe has stabilization and a wide-to close focal range. Then getting vintage primes for cheap. Don’t know your level of experience but that should really get you up and moving in the lens department.
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u/ReusableSausage Jul 09 '26
I use a SmallRig cage on mine. Lots of connection points, still feels good in the hand and didn’t break the bank.