For years, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K owners relied on internal Blackmagic RAW or ProRes 422 recording. These formats offered strong performance, but the new Blackmagic Camera 9.8 update introduces Apple ProRes RAW, giving filmmakers greater flexibility and efficiency in postproduction. This means creators can now capture directly in ProRes RAW and enjoy immediate native playback and editing in DaVinci Resolve 20.2, updated earlier this week with full ProRes RAW support.
The Pocket Cinema Camera 4K has long been seen as an affordable entry into professional digital filmmaking. With its Micro Four Thirds mount, wide dynamic range, and compact body, it has become a favorite for indie filmmakers, documentary shooters, and educators. Now, with Camera 9.8, the camera enters workflows once limited to advanced systems. Blackmagic Design CEO Grant Petty emphasized that this is more than a new codec. Customers moving from ProRes 422 to ProRes RAW now gain higher fidelity and direct integration with Resolve’s RAW pipeline.
Seamless Workflow with Resolve and Blackmagic Camera 9.8
DaVinci Resolve 20.2 laid the groundwork for today’s announcement, adding immersive EXR workflows and ProRes RAW playback. With Blackmagic Camera 9.8, Resolve and Pocket Cinema Camera 4K form a unified ecosystem. Users can record ProRes RAW, import files natively, and avoid conversion steps in post.
This tight integration underlines Blackmagic’s strategy of bridging acquisition and postproduction. By releasing free updates, they ensure filmmakers can extend the life of existing hardware and explore professional workflows without upgrading to more expensive systems. The addition of ProRes RAW revives the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, keeping it relevant years after launch.
Availability of Blackmagic Camera 9.8 Update
The Blackmagic Camera 9.8 update is available now as a free public beta on the Blackmagic Design support site. DaVinci Resolve 20.2 can also be downloaded as a free update for existing Resolve and Resolve Studio users.
This firmware update ensures that the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K continues to evolve. Its combination of affordability, ProRes RAW recording, and native Resolve support makes it a practical choice for a wide range of productions. Whether you plan to use Blackmagic RAW or ProRes RAW, the new update gives you the freedom to choose the workflow that best fits your project.
Do you see yourself adopting ProRes RAW on the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K with Blackmagic Camera 9.8, or will you stick with Blackmagic RAW?
