Blackmagic
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Revolutionary affordable MFT cinema camera that democratized BRAW filmmaking.
$1,295
Released Sep 2018
Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Z9 is 3.1 years newer.
Wins
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Wins
Z9
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BZ9 has lower AF low-light limit (-8.5 EV vs 0 EV)
- BZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 0)
- APocket Cinema Camera 4K has higher Burst (mechanical) (6 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 60 frames)
- BZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 15 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
134 × 91 × 72 mm
580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz)
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is 15mm narrower, 59mm shorter, and 19mm thinner than Z9.
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is 760 g lighter than Z9.
Depth (front-to-back): 72mm Pocket Cinema Camera 4K · 91mm Z9
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
134 × 91 mm
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
134 × 72 mm
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds
225 mm² area
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
3.8× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
✓ more lensesMicro Four Thirds
130+
native lenses available
Z9
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Burst (mechanical)
6 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264, ProRes
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 91, 72
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
Weight
580 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
AA filter
Only Pocket Cinema Camera 4K supports it
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs 0 EV — lower is better
AF points / zones
493 vs 0 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 25,600
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Pros
- ✓Affordable BRAW
- ✓Great value
- ✓MFT lens options
Cons
- –No stills AF
- –Crop sensor
- –Screen not tilting
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, Pocket Cinema Camera 4K or Z9?
Z9 scores 9.5/10 versus 3.5/10 for Pocket Cinema Camera 4K — 45.7MP — excellent for prints up to 24×36".
What's the resolution difference between the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and Z9?
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is 18.96 MP and Z9 is 45.7 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and Z9 have in-body image stabilization?
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K or the Z9?
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K reaches 15 fps electronic. Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and Z9?
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K weighs 580 g and Z9 weighs 1340 g, so the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is 760 g lighter.
Do the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and Z9 record 4K video?
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K: 4K up to 60p. Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and Z9 weather sealed?
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K: Yes. Z9: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and 740 shots for the Z9, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K launched at $1,295 and Z9 at $5,899. The Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is $4,604 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Blackmagic and Nikon press materials.