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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

Panasonic

HC-X2

1-inch 15MP pro camcorder with 20x 24.5–490mm zoom, 4K60p 10-bit, 13-stop V-Log/HLG, triple manual rings, and RTMP streaming.

$3,399

Launch price

Released Oct 2022

HC-X2 is 4 years newer.

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Wins

1categories

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

WildlifeVideo & Hybrid

Wins

8categories

HC-X2

WildlifeSports & Action

9 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K wins 0 categories·HC-X2 wins 5 categories
  • BHC-X2 has lower AF low-light limit (-4 EV vs 0 EV)
  • BHC-X2 has higher AF points / zones (225 vs 0)
  • BHC-X2 has higher AF frame coverage (90 % vs 0 %)
  • BHC-X2 has higher RAW buffer depth (120 frames vs 60 frames)
  • BHC-X2 has higher EVF resolution (3,690,000 vs 2,360,000)

Key specs at a glance

Pocket Cinema Camera 4KHC-X2
Resolution18.96 MP15 MP
SensorMFTMFT
ISO max25,60025,600
Burst15 fps20 fps
4K60 fps60 fps
IBIS6-stop7-stop
Weight580 g580 g
Battery640 shots640 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

HC-X2

134 × 91 × 72 mm

580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz)

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and HC-X2 share virtually identical body dimensions.

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and HC-X2 weigh the same.

Depth (front-to-back): 72mm Pocket Cinema Camera 4K · 72mm HC-X2

Sensor size, to scale

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds

225 mm² area

HC-X2

17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds

225 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

✓ more lenses

Micro Four Thirds

130+

native lenses available

60 first-party70 third-party

HC-X2: mount data unavailable

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 4KHC-X2
Portrait
4.0Fair
4.0Fair
Sports & Action
6.5Good
7.5Good✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
7.5Good
7.5Good
Landscape
3.5Limited
3.5Limited
Travel
7.5Good
7.5Good
Wildlife
8.0Excellent
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
7.0Good
7.0Good

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

  • Resolution

    18.96 MP vs 15 MP — higher is better

Reasons to choose

HC-X2

  • AF low-light limit

    -4 EV vs 0 EV — lower is better

  • AF points / zones

    225 vs 0 — higher is better

  • AF frame coverage

    90 % vs 0 % — higher is better

  • RAW buffer depth

    120 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better

  • EVF resolution

    3,690,000 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better

  • Burst (mechanical)

    8 fps vs 6 fps — higher is better

  • Burst (electronic)

    20 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better

  • IBIS effectiveness

    7 stops vs 6 stops — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • ISO max (native)Both 25,600
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • Pre-Capture / Pre-ReleaseBoth support pre-capture / pre-release

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

HC-X2

Pros

  • 1-inch 15MP MOS sensor
  • 4K60p 10-bit HEVC/LongG
  • 13-stop V-Log + HLG HDR
  • Triple manual focus/zoom/iris rings
  • Ethernet RTMP + dual XLR handle

Cons

  • No SDI (HDMI only)
  • Premium over HC-X1600
  • Fixed lens only
  • Heavier than HC-X1200 series

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and HC-X2 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
HC-X2
Resolution
18.96 MP+26%
15 MP
Sensor type
Four Thirds Live MOS
Four Thirds Live MOS
Sensor size
17.3 × 13.0 mm
17.3 × 13.0 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
HC-X2
Processor
Image processor
Venus Engine
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
HC-X2
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
25,600
25,600
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
102,400
Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
HC-X2
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/16000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for sports, Pocket Cinema Camera 4K or HC-X2?

HC-X2 scores 7.5/10 versus 6.5/10 for Pocket Cinema Camera 4K — 20fps burst — fast action ready.

What's the resolution difference between the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and HC-X2?

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is 18.96 MP and HC-X2 is 15 MP, so the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and HC-X2 have in-body image stabilization?

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while HC-X2 has 7-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K or the HC-X2?

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K reaches 15 fps electronic. HC-X2 reaches 20 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and HC-X2?

Both bodies weigh roughly 580 g.

Do the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and HC-X2 record 4K video?

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K: 4K up to 60p. HC-X2: 4K up to 60p.

Are the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and HC-X2 weather sealed?

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K: Yes. HC-X2: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and 640 shots for the HC-X2, giving the HC-X2 the edge.

How much does each cost?

Pocket Cinema Camera 4K launched at $1,295 and HC-X2 at $3,399. The Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is $2,104 less.

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

Add any camera to get a three-way Pocket Cinema Camera 4K vs HC-X2 vs X comparison.

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