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Blackmagic

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

Revolutionary affordable MFT cinema camera that democratized BRAW filmmaking.

$1,295

Launch price

Released Sep 2018

vs
ZR

Nikon

ZR

Compact Nikon RED full-frame 6K cinema camera with R3D NE RAW, 32-bit float audio, 7.5-stop VR, and Z mount.

$2,199

Launch price

Released Sep 2025

ZR is 7 years newer.

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Wins

2categories

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

WildlifeVideo & Hybrid

Wins

5categories

ZR

Sports & ActionVideo & Hybrid

2 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K wins 1 categories·ZR wins 4 categories
  • APocket Cinema Camera 4K has higher Burst (mechanical) (6 fps vs 0 fps)
  • BZR has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 15 fps)
  • BZR has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
  • BZR has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
  • BZR has higher Resolution (24.5 MP vs 18.96 MP)

Key specs at a glance

Pocket Cinema Camera 4KZR
Resolution18.96 MP24.5 MP
SensorMFTFull Frame
ISO max25,60051,200
Burst15 fps120 fps
4K60 fps120 fps
IBIS6-stop7.5-stop
Weight580 g630 g
Battery640 shots

Size and weight, to scale

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

134 × 91 × 72 mm

580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

ZR front view

ZR

134 × 81 × 49 mm

630 g (1.39 lb / 22.22 oz)

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is 11mm taller and 23mm thicker than ZR.

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is 50 g lighter than ZR.

Depth (front-to-back): 72mm Pocket Cinema Camera 4K · 49mm ZR

Back view, to scale

Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

134 × 91 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

ZR back view

ZR

134 × 81 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

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

ZR top view

ZR

134 × 49 mm

Sensor size, to scale

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds

225 mm² area

ZR

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 lenses

Micro Four Thirds

130+

native lenses available

60 first-party70 third-party

ZR

Nikon Z

90+

native lenses available

40 first-party50 third-party

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

Use casePocket Cinema Camera 4KZR
Portrait
4.0Fair
7.5Good✓ wins
Sports & Action
6.5Good
10.0Excellent✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
7.5Good
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Landscape
3.5Limited
7.0Good✓ wins
Travel
7.5Good✓ wins
6.5Good
Wildlife
8.0Excellent✓ wins
6.5Good
Vlogging
7.0Good
7.0Good

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

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-II

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 91, 72

  • Codecs

    Adds ProRes

  • Weight

    580 g vs 630 g — lower is better

Reasons to choose

ZR

  • Subject recognition

    Adds People, Birds, Dogs…

  • Card types

    Adds CFexpress Type B, XQD, MicroSD UHS-I

  • Burst (electronic)

    120 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds R3D NE, N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ…

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 80.5, 49

  • ISO max (native)

    51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better

  • 4K max frame rate

    120 fps vs 60 fps — higher is better

  • Resolution

    24.5 MP vs 18.96 MP — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • Pre-Capture / Pre-ReleaseBoth support pre-capture / pre-release
  • Internal RAW videoBoth support internal raw video

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

ZR

Pros

  • 6K/60p R3D NE RAW
  • 32-bit float audio
  • 7.5-stop stabilization
  • Compact 535g cinema body

Cons

  • No built-in EVF
  • Cinema-first ergonomics
  • Single CFexpress plus MicroSD workflow

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and ZR at major authorized retailers.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
ZR
Resolution
18.96 MP
24.5 MP+29%
Sensor type
Four Thirds Live MOS
Full Frame CMOS
Sensor size
17.3 × 13.0 mm
35.9 × 23.9 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
ZR
Processor
Image processor
EXPEED 7 / RED imaging pipeline
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
ZR
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
25,600
51,200+1 stop
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
204,800
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
ZR
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
N/A
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/16000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for portraits, Pocket Cinema Camera 4K or ZR?

ZR scores 7.5/10 versus 4.0/10 for Pocket Cinema Camera 4K — 24.5MP — solid resolution.

What's the resolution difference between the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and ZR?

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is 18.96 MP and ZR is 24.5 MP, so the ZR captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and ZR have in-body image stabilization?

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while ZR has 7.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K or the ZR?

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K reaches 15 fps electronic. ZR reaches 120 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and ZR?

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K weighs 580 g and ZR weighs 630 g, so the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is 50 g lighter.

Do the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and ZR record 4K video?

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K: 4K up to 60p. ZR: 6K (max), 4K up to 120p.

Are the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and ZR weather sealed?

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K: Yes. ZR: Yes.

How much does each cost?

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K launched at $1,295 and ZR at $2,199. The Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is $904 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way Pocket Cinema Camera 4K vs ZR vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.

Product images courtesy of Blackmagic and Nikon press materials.