Blackmagic brings PDAF to the PYXIS 6K in new firmware test build

A new test firmware build from Blackmagic Design extends phase-detection autofocus to the PYXIS 6K, following its introduction on the Cinema Camera 6K last year.

The latest beta version of Blackmagic Camera 10.0.3 (actually Release Candidate 1) has just been posted to the Blackmagic forum and is available now for testing and covers both the PYXIS 6K and Cinema Camera 6K. PYXIS 6K EF mount owners are also supported, though the company notes testing on that variant has been limited so far.

PDAF is understandably the headline here. But beyond that the build adds the ability to resize the focus box in continuous and object tracking modes, and introduces linear focus support on the PYXIS 6K for compatible L-Mount lenses. Early testers report that this allows follow focus end-stops to be used with consistent results at any racking speed. Face detection has also been updated to automatically focus on a detected face once a region is first tapped.

The build also fixes a bug that caused the camera to hang on startup when a headphones jack was connected.

Early reaction 

The PYXIS 6K has been a popular seller for Blackmagic since it was introduced at NAB 2024

The new build has only just dropped, but early community reaction has been positive. One user who has been running previous PDAF builds on the Cinema Camera 6K reported preferring Blackmagic's implementation over Lumix's equivalent, describing it as faster and less complicated to operate.

A couple of small wrinkles have emerged. Linear focus as it stands is an L-Mount-specific feature, and at least one EF mount user found the relevant menu option greyed out. Blackmagic has confirmed this is expected behaviour and said the UI will be updated to default to Off on EF cameras in a future release.

Blackmagic is asking testers to report lens compatibility issues via a dedicated Google Form linked in the forum thread.

Questions are understandably circulating about whether the PDAF rollout will continue to other Blackmagic cameras, the PYXIS 12K in particular. Dan May, President of Blackmagic Design USA, hinted in an interview last April that autofocus was coming to the URSA Cine 12K LF. However, that is yet to appear and is a different camera with a sensor readout reportedly twice as fast as the PYXIS 12K's.