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Menu Settings
Setting Date and Time
To set date and time on your Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, select the + or - buttons to change
the year, month and day settings.
Time is set to 24 hour format on Blackmagic Cameras. To set the time, select the + and - keys to
make adjustments to the time. If traveling with your Blackmagic Camera, remember to change the
date and time to local time zones.
If you have your Blackmagic Camera stored for long periods, the time may need to be reset. It is
always a good idea to check the time and date prior to recording. When connecting your camera
to your computer via USB and launching Blackmagic Camera Setup, your computer's time is synced
to your camera.
ISO
ISO settings are helpful when you are shooting in a variety of light conditions. The optimum ISO
setting for the Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera, Pocket Cinema Camera and Cinema Camera is
800ASA with a maximum ISO of 1600ASA. For Production Camera 4K the optimum setting is 400ASA
with a maximum ISO of 800ASA.
Depending on your situation, however, you may choose a lower or higher ISO setting. For example,
in low light conditions 1600ASA would be suitable, or 800ASA for Production Camera 4K, but may
introduce some visible noise. In bright conditions 400ASA, or 200ASA on Production Camera 4K,
would be best to record richer colors.
Adjust the ISO settings using the arrow icons in the menu.
White Balance
Blackmagic Cameras include white balance presets for a variety of color temperature conditions.
Each light source emits a warm or cool color. Warm appears red and cool appears blue, so the white
balance setting adds opposing red or blue to compensate. This makes sure white stays white in
your image. Color temperature also changes depending on the position of the sun and the cloud
conditions. For example, light is warm at sunrise, cools down until midday, then warms up again as
the sun sets. Shady areas in your picture, including overcast conditions, will generally appear blue.
Use the following guide to set your white balance to compensate for the changing light conditions:
2500, 2800, 3000, 3200, 3400, 3600, 4000, 4500 and 4800K for various conditions under
tungsten, incandescent or fluorescent light, or under dull natural light including candle
light, sunrise/sunset, morning, and after noon light.
5000, 5200, 5400 and 5600K for outdoors on a clear, sunny day.
6000, 6500, 7000, 7500 and 8000K for a variety of daylight conditions.
The 'camera' settings screen.
