Best Memory Cards Blackmagic Pocket 6k G2

Not to be confused with the Full Frame Black Magic Cinema 6k, The Blackmagic Pocket 6k has one CFast slot and one SD UHS-II card slot.

You can also plug a USB-C flash disk into the USB-C port for more storage.

For high-res and high-fps recording, Blackmagic suggests using CFast cards as they have faster write speeds than UHS-II V90 cards.

However, for lower res, fps, and bitrates, UHS-II v90 or V60 cards will work fine and save you money, or you can use a USB-C drive.

Blackmagic has an official list of recommended memory cards, but here are some of the best cards off that list.

Recommended Memory Cards Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 6k G2

The best CFast memory cards for the Black Magic Pocket 6k G2 will allow you to record up 2.8K Blackmagic RAW 3:1 with 120 fps, or up to 6K 2.4:1 Blackmagic RAW 5:1 with 60 fps. You’ll also want CFast memory cards for 4k ProRes 422LT, as that codec runs at around 110-117.88 MB/s, depending on the settings you use.

Recommended SD Cards

These are the UHS-II V90 SD Memory Cards that Blackmagic recommends. They can record up to 6K Blackmagic RAW 5:1 at 30 fps.

You can also use v60 UHS-II cards for lower bitrates, but you must check the speed class and the bitrate compatibility.

Blackmagic Pocket 6k G2 Memory Card Capacity

You can use any size CFast or SDXC SD cards for the Blackmagic Pocket 6K, but keep in mind that Cinema Raw files take up a lot of space so it would be good to get fairly large cards for Cinema Raw, or ProRes recording.

Blackmagic has two different recording settings, a Constant Bitrate and Constant Quality. Here are the different bitrates you can expect from each setting. Keep in mind that Blackmagic lists their numbers in MB/s not Mbps like all other camera brands.

Below, you can see the expected record time for each setting.

Blackmagic Pocket 6k G2 Record Times – Memory Card Capacity

This table provides a general overview of some of the recording times for the different Constant Bitrate and Constant Quality settings for Cinema Raw recording

I will list the maximum potential number for the constant quality setting since the bitrate will change depending on the complexity of the scene. I pull these numbers from my – camera bitrate calculator.

You’ll likely want a 512GB or 1TB card for these higher bitrates. Also, the only format supported by a V90 UHS-II card here is the 12:1 Constant Bitrate setting.

Pocket 6k Record Times	128GB	256GB	512GB	1TB
Constant Bitrate
3:1 – 2,584Mbps | 323MB/s	7min	13min	26min	53min
5:1 – 1,552Mbps | 194MB/s	11min	22min	44min	88min
8:1 – 968Mbps | 121MB/s	18min	35min	71min	141min
12:1 – 648Mbps | 81MB/s	26min	53min	105min	211min
Constant Quality
Q0 – 3864Mbps | 483MB/s	4min	9min	18min	35min
Q1 – 3096Mbps | 387MB/s	6min	11min	22min	44min
Q3 – 2216Mbps | 277MB/s	8min	15min	31min	62min
Q5 – 1296Mbps | 162MB/s	13min	26min	512min	105min

Memory Cards For Blackmagic Pocket 6k G2 | Conclusions

The Blackmagic Pocket 6K G2, a nimble powerhouse with a Super 35mm sensor, captures stunning visuals in various formats, including bitrate-hungry Cinema Raw and the ProRes codecs. But with such flexibility comes a crucial decision: choosing the right memory card.

Unlike cameras with fixed codec options, the Pocket 6K G2 demands tailoring your memory card to your shooting format with the option to record with a constant bitrate or quality setting that varies the bitrate.

Remember: The “perfect” memory card hinges on your format. Shooting Cinema Raw for an hour-long documentary? A 1TB UHS-II card is the best option.