Pocket 6K vs Arri Alexa Mini/ RED Raven / URSA Mini Pro – Cinema Camera Tests

It’s that time of the year again when I test out various cameras next to each other to see how they perform.

These camera tests that I do every year are not so much to see which camera is the best. I say that because there is no perfect camera. Instead each camera has it’s strengths and weaknesses. For certain types of work a bigger camera might be better while for another job the camera that maybe has slight loss in image quality but one that is a lot smaller and lighter might be a better tool. That is why there is no camera that has it all. Still it is always good to test out different cameras next to each other to see how they perform visually and if the image can be matched between these different cameras in a single project.

Like in previous years, I am once again testing not necessarily the latest and hottest cameras to each other but rather cameras that I am interested in using. This year I chose the new Pocket 6K camera because it seems like a great B-Cam to my URSA Mini Pro. I also chose two other cameras that I use often on different projects. Those two are the Arri Alexa Mini and the RED Raven cameras.

Before I show you guys all the tests I did I will first just show the different shots I got on each of the cameras and let you guys decide which you think looks best. Please let me know in the comments section before your pick and which camera you think it is. In the following days I will update this post and put the other test as well as release the audience favorite camera from these tests.

Here are the cameras I used in this test:
➡Blackmagic Pocket 6K
Amazon https://amzn.to/2H3KijP
B&H https://bhpho.to/2KuPWh4
Adorama https://adorama.rfvk.net/055E3
eBay https://ebay.to/2N3AREL

➡Arri Alexa Mini
B&H https://bhpho.to/2JCedBd
eBay https://ebay.to/2KFeGmR

➡URSA Mini Pro G2
B&H https://bhpho.to/2IUQpdJ
Amazon https://amzn.to/2Z73QKp
Adorama https://adorama.rfvk.net/rqZER
eBay https://ebay.to/2MpO1fQ

➡RED Raven
B&H https://bhpho.to/30eIaND
Amazon https://amzn.to/2HeMm8y
eBay https://ebay.to/31VCQ2n

You can download RAW video files from the Pocket 6K HERE.

Below are the test shots. Click on each image to see it in high resolution.

37 thoughts on “Pocket 6K vs Arri Alexa Mini/ RED Raven / URSA Mini Pro – Cinema Camera Tests”

  1. Great comparison. Can you share log image of these screenshots (in .exr) after revealing the cameras that was taken? Because i would like to match P6K with the others with custom luts.

    1. yes I will provide the raw clips for people to download and play with but right now while I am asking people’s opinion I can’t or it will make it obvious as to which camera is which.

      1. I would LOVE to get access to some footage from both the Alexa and the Pocket 6K (comparison shots of both cameras).

  2. argg. with all examples of low dynamic range, low contrast, you might as well throw the iphone 10s+ in here.

  3. For the window test A and C were my favourites. B had a weird green cast and D was yellow and smeary and just yuck.

    For the test with the charts C and A were my favourites again though B was looking OK as well. D was still poor.

    Thanks for doing this test! Looking forward to the results.

  4. I’d say A&B are Blackmagic (very similar response, although B’s green black are really worrying), C is RED and D is Arri.
    They all do the job, THANKS for such insight!

  5. I like C best. In the first shot (window), I preferred B and C. In the second (two women), I preferred C and D. Since I preferred C in both tests, it’s my favorite. Now, what is it?

    1. Thanks Thomas for your vote. I will reveal the cameras and overall final score on what people voted for in my next post here on my website which will be Wednesday.

  6. Watching the video: the test stage setup and the shooting angles of the double skin colour portrait (most probably) reveal the cameras…

    C=BMPCC6K (wow!!)
    B=UMP
    A=ARRI
    D=RED

    1. my bad – correct order:

      C=UMPG2 (high res – neutral colour)
      B=ALEXA (best DR -cinematic – best skin tones – saturated?)
      A=BMPC6K (best res – neutral colour, wow for the price)
      D=RED (lower res in the test – interesting colours – DR)

      All have their own appeal…

      Good to imagine these in an actual film shooting and what they could deliver.

      Thanks for the test!

  7. Did you use the exact same physical lens at the exact same stop and focus mark for each camera set to the same ISO? It’s kinda hard to judge otherwise.

  8. FOr me, the order in preference is D B A C
    WHAT I THINK:
    D – ARRI
    B – UMP
    A – P4k
    C – RED
    But im still kinda unsure about it.

  9. A query. With P6K is there any practical way to use the anamorphic mode with its EF mount right now? i couldn’t find any high quality EF to PL mounts.

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