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Blackmagic Design unveils the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K

11 Aug

Blackmagic Design has unveiled the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K (BMPCC6K), an EF-mount cinema camera with a 6K Super 35 (S35) sensor, a step up from the Four Thirds sensor found inside Blackmagic Design’s Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (BMPCC4K).

At the core of the camera is a 23.10 x 12.99mm Super 35 sensor with Dual Native ISO (400 and 3200), 6144 x 3456 pixel resolution and 13 stops of dynamic range. It can shoot in 10-bit ProRes or 12-bit Blackmagic RAW formats.

The S35 sensor will shoot up to 50 fps at 6144 x 3456 16:9 or 60 fps at 6144 x 2560 2.4:1 and 60 fps at 5744 x 3024 1.9:1. There is also a high frame rate option that shoots 120 fps at 2.8K 2868 x 1512 1.9:1 as well as a true anamorphic 6:5 mode that shoots in 3.7K 60 fps (3728 x 3104).

A comparison from the BMPCC6K product page highlighting the difference in the depth of field between the Four Thirds sensor inside the BMPCC4K and the roughly APS-C ‘Super 35’ sensor inside the BMPCC6K.

The EF mount on the BMPCC6K will feature full electronics so Canon’s EF lens lineup can communicate with the camera for focus and aperture control, as well as Image Stabilization support. In addition to using Canon’s EF mount, the BMPCC6K also uses the same Canon-style LP-E6 battery as its predecessor. Blackmagic rates this for 45 minutes of runtime and can be charged via external battery packs through the onboard USB-C connection.

Recordings can be captured as 10-bit Apple ProRes files in all formats up to 4K or 12-bit Blackmagic RAW in all formats up to 6K. The BMPCC6K features both a CFast and SD UHS-II slots, as well as a USB-C port for storing to external media. Blackmagic Design says ‘Customers can use regular SD cards for HD or higher performance UHS-II and CFast cards for native 4K or 6K when using Blackmagic RAW. Imagine capturing over an hour of full resolution 6K images on a single 256GB SD UHS-II card.’

Notably, though, the manual recommends CFast or USB-C-connected SSD storage for the camera’s high res, high frame rate output, as most of the compression options exceed the 90MB/s guaranteed speeds of the latest V90 UHS-II cards.

A full-size HDMI connection is included for monitoring footage and outputting 10-bit video, including HDR. Other connections include a mini XLR connection with 48 volt phantom power, a 3.5mm microphone input, a 3.5mm headphone output and a locking DC power connection.

On the rear of the BMPCC6K is the same five-inch touchscreen found on the BMPCC4K, which displays the Blackmagic OS, a proprietary operating system designed specifically for Blackmagic Design’s cameras.

The BMPCC6K utilizes Blackmagic Design’s Generation 4 Color Science, first introduced on the URSA Mini Pro G2. In Blackmagic Design’s own words, ‘Blackmagic Generation 4 Color Science uses a complex dynamic 12-bit gamma curve designed to capture more color data in the highlights and shadows, so they get better looking images.’

Other features include still frame capture up to 21.2-megapixels, remote camera control via Bluetooth, localization for 11 languages and a built-in timecode generator for synced multi-camera shoots.

The BMPCC6K is available now for $ 2,495 from resellers around the globe.

Press release:

Blackmagic Design Announces New Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K

Fremont, CA, USA – Thursday, 8 August 2019 – Blackmagic Design today announced the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K, a new handheld digital film camera with a full Super 35 size 6K HDR image sensor, 13 stops of dynamic range, an EF lens mount and dual native ISO up to 25,600 for incredible low light performance. This new model builds on the popularity of the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K but has a larger Super 35 sensor size with 6K resolution, allowing higher image quality. The EF lens mount model works with a wide range of lenses from companies such as Canon, Zeiss, Sigma and Schneider.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K is available immediately from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide for US$ 2,495.

The elegant design of the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera packs an incredible number of high end digital film features into a miniaturized, handheld design. Made from lightweight carbon fiber polycarbonate composite, the camera features a multifunction handgrip with all controls for recording, ISO, WB and shutter angle right at their fingertips. Because it’s an advanced digital film camera, the sensor is designed to reduce thermal noise allowing cleaner shadows and higher ISO. Plus the large 5 inch LCD makes it possible to get perfect focus at 4K and 6K resolutions.

Featuring a larger 6144 x 3456 Super 35 sensor and EF lens mount, the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K lets customers use larger EF photographic lenses to create cinematic images with shallower depth of field, allowing creative defocussed backgrounds and gorgeous bokeh effects. This means that customers can shoot in 6K and then in post production zoom and re-frame to allow wide shots and close ups to be created, all from a single camera and without losing image quality.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and 6K both have an incredible 13 stops of dynamic range which means they preserve more detail in the lightest and darkest areas of an image than simple video cameras can. This allows customers to set exposure for an indoor scene such as a cafe and still retain the details of bright outdoor light coming through a window. Customers even get more colors than the standard DCI-P3 colorspace used for feature films.

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera features dual gain ISO up to 25,600, which means both the 4K and 6K models are optimized to minimize grain or noise in images, while maintaining the full dynamic range of the sensor. The native ISO of 400 is ideal for scenes with on-set lighting. The gain is set automatically as they adjust the ISO setting on the camera, so it’s easy to capture great images when they don’t have time to set up lights.

The new 6K model will shoot up to 50 fps at 6144 x 3456 16:9 or 60 fps at 6144 x 2560 2.4:1 and 60 fps at 5744 x 3024 17:9. For higher frame rates they can window the sensor and shoot up to 120 fps at 2.8K 2868 x 1512 17:9. Customers can even work in true anamorphic 6:5 using anamorphic lenses in 3.7K 60 fps at 3728 x 3104.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera records using standard open file formats so customers don’t have to waste time transcoding media. Recording works in industry standard 10-bit Apple ProRes files in all formats up to 4K or 12-bit Blackmagic RAW in all formats up to 6K. Best of all media files work on all operating systems plus customers can format media cards and disks in HFS+ for Mac and ExFAT for Windows.

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera features built in CFast and SD UHS-II card recorders, and a USB-C expansion port for recording direct to an external media disk. Customers can use regular SD cards for HD or higher performance UHS-II and CFast cards for native 4K or 6K when using Blackmagic RAW. Imagine capturing over an hour of full resolution 6K images on a single 256GB SD UHS-II card.

Blackmagic RAW is a revolutionary new format designed to capture and preserve the quality of the sensor data from their camera. Video formats such as H.264 are highly compressed, plus add noise and weird artifacts, causing original sensor detail to be lost forever. Blackmagic RAW eliminates this problem and gives them stunning images with incredible detail and color throughout the production pipeline from camera to edit, color and mastering. It also saves camera settings as metadata so customers can set ISO, white balance and exposure in camera or override them later while editing, all without any loss of quality. Blackmagic RAW files are also small and fast to use making them easy to work with.

The rear of the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera features a large, bright 5 inch touchscreen that makes it easy for customers to frame shots and accurately focus. It’s like getting a built in Blackmagic Video Assist with their camera. The touchscreen displays critical information while shooting, as well as menus for setting up the camera and intuitive touch to focus controls. On screen overlays show status, a histogram, focus and peaking indicators, levels, frame guides, playback controls and more.

With the advanced Blackmagic OS, customers get an intuitive and user friendly camera operating system based on the latest technology. The interface uses simple tap and swipe gestures to adjust settings, add metadata and view recording status. Customers also get full control over advanced camera features such as on screen focus and exposure tools, 3D LUTs, HDR, metadata entry, timecode, Blackmagic RAW settings and more.

Featuring the same Generation 4 Color Science as the high end URSA Mini Pro G2, the Pocket Cinema Camera delivers stunning, accurate skin tones and faithful color in every shot. Blackmagic Generation 4 Color Science uses a complex dynamic 12-bit gamma curve designed to capture more color data in the highlights and shadows, so they get better looking images. The color science also handles some of the complex Blackmagic RAW image processing, so color and dynamic range data from the sensor is preserved via metadata which customers can use in post production.

The camera includes a full size HDMI connector for monitoring with support for HDR and clean 10-bit output. There’s also a mini XLR connection with 48 volt phantom power for attaching professional microphones, a 3.5 mm video camera style microphone input, headphone connection and a professional locking DC power connector.

Digital film cameras shoot logarithmic colorspace to preserve the dynamic range, which is great for later post production, however when these files are viewed on a monitor they can look flat and washed out. 3D LUTs solve this problem because they allow customers to apply a “look” to the monitor so customers get an idea of how the finished images will look like when editing. The Pocket Cinema Camera works with industry standard 17 and 33 point 3D LUT files, or customers can work with the built in LUTs such as Extended Video, Film to Video, Film to Rec.2020 and more.

Professional cameras include professional features and customers also get a built in timecode generator, allowing shooting with more than one camera while keeping perfect sync. Simply plug in an external timecode generator such as Tentacle Sync into the 3.5 mm audio jack and the camera will automatically detect timecode and lock the internal generator. Now each camera can start and stop recording and all the shots from all cameras will have the same matched timecode. Imagine shooting a music festival with multiple roving cameras. Best of all the new DaVinci Resolve 16.1 will automatically find and sync the shots from all cameras so they don’t need to waste time sorting through thousands of shots.

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera uses standard removable LP-E6 type batteries and also features a locking DC power connector so they never have to worry about losing power in the middle of a shoot. The included AC plug pack can power the camera and charge the battery at the same time. The USB-C expansion port can also be used to charge the battery from portable battery packs, mobile phone chargers or a laptop computer. Customers can even add an optional Blackmagic Pocket Battery Grip that lets customers use 2 batteries to dramatically extend the power of the camera.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and 6K models include a full version of DaVinci Resolve Studio, which is the same software used in Hollywood for creating high end feature films, episodic television shows, commercials and more. DaVinci Resolve features a revolutionary new cut page with intelligent editing tools and innovative new features designed to help customers quickly find the footage customers want, edit it together and output it fast. In addition to the new cut page, customers also get DaVinci’s legendary professional editing, advanced color correction, audio post and visual effects tools, all in a single software application.

“The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K features incredible new 6K imaging and EF lens support that customers have asked for,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “It has all of the great features customers love from the 4K model, but now adds an EF lens, increased 6K resolution for even higher quality images and more. Plus, with the built in Video Assist features, customers don’t have to purchase and carry around extra equipment. DaVinci Resolve Studio is also included, making it an incredible all in one solution that enables anyone to be creative and tell a story.”

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Features

  • Use for independent films, documentaries, blogs and more.
  • Designed from carbon fiber polycarbonate composite.
  • Multifunction grip allows single hand operation.
  • 2 models with 6K at 6144 x 3456 and 4K at 4096 x 2160.
  • Compatible with MFT or EF lens mounts.
  • Wide 13 stops of dynamic range for film looks.
  • Up to 25600 ISO for incredible low light performance.
  • Records full resolution up to 60 fps or 120 fps windowed.
  • Standard open file formats compatible with popular software.
  • Built in SD, UHS-II and CFast card recorders.
  • Features incredible quality Blackmagic RAW recording.
  • Built in 5″ touchscreen allows accurate focus when shooting 6K.
  • Blackmagic OS as used in URSA Mini and URSA Broadcast cameras.
  • Includes Blackmagic Generation 4 Color Science.
  • Features full size HDMI for monitoring with status overlay.
  • Professional mini XLR input with 48 volt phantom power.
  • 3D LUTs can be applied for both monitoring and recording.
  • USB-C port allows recording directly to external disk.
  • Built in timecode generator for sync muli-camera shoots.
  • Supports still frame capture up to 21.2 megapixel.
  • Localized for 11 popular languages.
  • Supports remote camera control via Bluetooth.
  • Powers via 12V DC input and can recharge via USB-C.
  • Includes full DaVinci Resolve Studio for post production.

Availability and Price

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K is available now for US$ 2,495, excluding duties, from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Blackmagic Design will livestream tomorrow’s camera, post-production event

08 Aug

Blackmagic Design has sent out an email announcing that tomorrow, August 8, at 12PM PDT, it will be holding a livestream related to its post production and camera products.

Blackmagic Design CEO and co-founder Grant Petty will be leading the livestream, which will be available to watch on Blackmagic Design’s website, YouTube channel and Facebook page. Below is a list of when the event will go live in various cities around the globe.

No hints were given as to what will be announced, but if past livestreams are anything to go by, it should be fairly straightforward, with Petty discussing current and upcoming products and updates. Any guesses?

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Metabones introduces Speed Booster series for Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera

06 Aug

Lens mount adapter specialist Metabones has launched a new series of Speed Booster lens adapters especially designed for the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (BMPCC4K). The new adapters allow users to mount Nikon G, Canon EF, Canon EF Cine and Arri PL lenses onto the Micro Four Thirds camera.

The company says it has redesigned the adapters to take account of the filter stack construction that Blackmagic uses on the sensor of this camera to ensure users get the same performance as other MFT users. Blackmagic uses a thinner layer of filters over the sensor of the BMPCC4K, compared to other MFT cameras, that can alter the effectiveness of the standard MFT adapter at wide apertures, the company claims. This means the new models aren’t compatible with other Micro Four Thirds cameras.

The adapters come in Ultra 0.71x and XL 0.64x versions, which reduce the crop factor in 4096 x 2160 4K video to 1.35x and 1.22x respectively. The Arri PL version will only be available as an Ultra 0.71x, but the other mounts can accept either adapter, with the company claiming that many EF-S and DX lenses from Canon and Nikon can also be used.
The Metabones Ultra 0.71x and XL 0.64x adapters are available now. For more information see the Metabones website.

Ultra 0.71x

  • Canon EF – $ 649
  • Canon EF Cine – $ 699
  • Nikon G – $ 489
  • Arri PL – $ 719

XL 0.64x

  • Canon EF – $ 649
  • Canon EF Cine – $ 699
  • Nikon G – $ 489

Press release:

Metabones Introduces a New Series of Speed Booster® for BMPCC 4K Camera

Caldwell Photographic Inc. and Metabones are pleased to announce a new series of Speed Booster for Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (BMPCC4K).

The BMPCC4K Speed Booster ULTRA 0.71x and XL 0.64x are similar to the standard m43 Speed Booster adapters, but the optics have been re-designed to optimize for the filter stack thickness of the Blackmagic cameras, which is substantially thinner than that of standard m43 cameras.

The thickness of the camera’s filter stack is an important component of the overall optical design, and the re-designed optics ensure that both versions can achieve the same high performance as the Speed Booster versions for standard m43. This is especially critical at the extremely large apertures made possible by Speed Booster technology.

In addition to the new optical designs, the new series of Speed Boosters also features a longer tripod mount to perfectly match the height of the BMPCC4K camera body. This way the camera and the Speed Booster can be mounted firmly on the same quick release plate.

Both versions – the Speed Booster ULTRA 0.71x and XL 0.64x – are available with Nikon G lens mount, with Canon EF lens mount and with Canon EF CINE lens mount. The ARRI PL lens mount is available in ULTRA 0.71x version only. The Canon EF CINE lens mount creates a positive lock for a secure electronic connection, and together with the matching length of new the tripod mount, allows for a rock-solid mechanical setup, which is important when using follow focus attachments.

This new series of Metabones Speed Booster adapters is designed exclusively for Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (BMPCC4K). They cannot be attached to any other m43 cameras such as JVC, Olympus or Panasonic cameras.

Metabones Speed Booster ULTRA 0.71x for BMPCC4K:
The new Speed Booster ULTRA 0.71x for BMPCC4K uses an advanced 6-element 4-group optical design incorporating ultra-high index tantalum-based optical glass. The new design is specifically optimized to bring the same level of astonishing performance as the ULTRA Speed Boosters for Micro Four Thirds to users of the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K.

In particular, the Speed Booster ULTRA 0.71x is optimized to correctly account for the BMPCC4K camera’s specific filter stack located near the sensor surface. This is especially critical at the extremely large apertures made possible by Speed Booster technology. As a result of this careful optimization, an enormous range of full-frame optics, ranging from vintage film lenses to the latest digital designs, will function flawlessly when adapted to BMPCC4K bodies.

The Speed Booster ULTRA 0.71x reduces the crop factor of the BMPCC4K camera as shown in the above table. The new design for BMPCC4K makes very effective use of exotic materials at the furthest limit of glassmaking technology, and as a result is almost perfectly corrected for use with all full-frame SLR lenses regardless of aperture or exit pupil distance. The Speed Booster ULTRA 0.71x will also work extremely well with many DX and APS-C format lenses, provided the image circle provided by the lens is large enough.

Optical performance of the new Speed Boosters is so good that the MTF of any lens attached to it will be improved. Even the latest generation of ultra-high performance SLR lenses such as the Zeiss Otus series can be improved by adding a Speed Booster ULTRA 0.71x.

MTF at 10, 20, and 40 lp/mm as a function of image height for output apertures of f/0.9, f/1.0, and f/2.0, respectively1. At the maximum aperture of f/0.90 (i.e., with an f/1.2 master lens) the sharpness and contrast are extraordinary across the entire image circle. At just one-third stop down to f/1.0 the performance is equal to or better than the best photographic lenses used at their optimum apertures. An additional stop down to f/2.0 yields performance that is rarely encountered in photographic optics. In practice, what all of this means is that the new Speed Boosters will always enhance and never degrade the performance of the attached master lens.

And other aspects of optical performance haven’t been sacrificed in order to obtain high MTF, either. There is less than 1 stop of corner illumination falloff even wide-open at f/0.9. There is no vignetting at all after the output aperture reaches f/2.82. Rectilinear distortion added by the Speed Booster ULTRA is negligible at less than 0.7%.

Metabones Speed Booster XL 0.64x for BMPCC4K:
Also this Speed Booster XL 0.64x adapter has been designed exclusively for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, with a magnification of 0.64x. The Speed Booster XL 0.64x uses an advanced 7-element optical design to achieve extraordinary optical performance at apertures up to an incredible f/0.80.

The new Speed Booster XL 0.64x reduces the full-frame crop factor of the BMPCC4K as shown in the table further above. In addition, the speed of any attached lens is increased by 11/3 stops, with a maximum output aperture of f/0.80 when an f/1.2 lens is used. For example, a 50mm f/1.2 becomes a 32mm f/0.80, which is the fastest aperture available for Blackmagic cameras.

Perhaps most exciting of all, in addition to increasing lens speed and field of view, the Speed Booster XL 0.64x offers amazingly high image quality even at extremely large apertures. Figures 1 through 3 below show MTF at 10, 20, and 40 lp/mm as a function of image height for output apertures of f/0.8, f/1.1, and f/1.81. At f/0.80 (i.e., with an f/1.2 master lens) the sharpness and contrast are extraordinary out to an image height of 5.1 mm, which is the limiting image height of the BMPCC4K camera’s FHD video mode. Beyond 5.1 mm the performance drops gracefully, but remains very good even in the extreme corner of the full Blackmagic sensor. Note that as the master lens aperture is reduced to f/1.8 and then f/2.8 (corresponding to output apertures of f/1.1 and f/1.8, respectively) the performance improves everywhere, especially in the extreme corners.

And other aspects of optical performance haven’t been sacrificed in order to obtain high MTF, either. There is only about 1 stop of corner illumination falloff even at f/0.8. There is no vignetting at all after the output aperture reaches f/3.42. Rectilinear distortion added by the Speed Booster XL 0.64x is negligible at less than 0.8%.

Just like the Metabones Speed Booster ULTRA 0.71x for BMPCC4K, the Speed Booster XL 0.64x is optimized to correctly account for the BMPCC4K camera’s specific filter stack located near the sensor surface. This is especially critical at the extremely large apertures made possible by Speed Booster technology. As a result of this careful optimization, an enormous range of full-frame optics, ranging from vintage film lenses to the latest digital designs, will function flawlessly when adapted to BMPCC4K bodies. In fact, most lenses will have significantly improved MTF when used with the Speed Booster, compared to using them with a plain (i.e. “glassless”) adapter on Blackmagic cameras.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Blackmagic Design unveils the DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard for easier video post-processing

13 Apr

Blackmagic has announced the DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard, a new console-inspired keyboard designed specifically to improve video editing workflows inside DaVinci Resolve.

The keyboard is constructed of a metal frame with a revised QWERTY layout that’s pre-programmed to speed up the most-used tools and features inside DaVinci Resolve. The keys are tiered and set on top of mechanical switches for a more tactile feel and although the keys and switches are rated for millions of clicks, each switch and key is user-replaceable in the event something breaks over time.

A single USB-C port on the back of the board is used to connect it to its accompanying hardware, but Blackmagic Design has also included two additional USB 3.0 ports on the rear of the keyboard for additional accessories.

The DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard also includes a search control dial that accurately scrubs through footage. When paired with the oversized in/out and source/timeline keys, the control dial makes it easy to cull through footage and get it its place faster than ever. Blackmagic has also included a dedicated numpad section for direct timecode entry.

Blackmagic Design says the DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard is set to ship in August for $ 995 USD through authorized retailers. B&H currently has it available for pre-order, but it’s priced at $ 1,025.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Blackmagic announces a new battery grip for its Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

10 Apr

Blackmagic Design has announced the impending arrival of the Pocket Camera Battery Grip, a new battery adapter for its Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (BMPCC4K) that dramatically increases the battery life and adds a bit of extra grip for when handholding the 4K camera.

The Pocket Camera Battery Grip features a carbon fiber design with non-slip hand grips and a slide out tray that trades the BMPCC4K’s usual LP-e6 battery for two L-series batteries, increasing the battery life to up to two hours of continuous shooting on a single charge. When a charge is needed, users can charge the batteries inside the grip using the camera’s 12V DC connection.

As with other battery grips, the Pocket Camera Battery Grip attaches to the bottom of the BMPCC4K and screws into the integrated tripod mount using a tightening dial. The LP-E6 battery door on the BMPCC4K even gets a cozy place to hide in the grip so it doesn’t get misplaced for when you need to switch back.

The Blackmagic Pocket Camera Battery Grip will be available in August 2019 and is currently available to pre-order at B&H for $ 245 USD.

Blackmagic Design Announces New Blackmagic Pocket Camera Battery Grip

New camera grip attaches to any Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and holds 2 L-Series batteries for over 2 hours of non-stop shooting

NAB 2019, Las Vegas, USA – Monday, April 8, 2019 – Blackmagic Design today announced Blackmagic Pocket Battery Grip, a new battery adapter that features a slide out tray designed to hold two L-series batteries. This allows customers to power external flash disks or run the camera for over 2 hours of record time before charging. Blackmagic Pocket Camera Battery Grip will be available in August from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide for US$ 245.

The Blackmagic Pocket Camera Battery Grip will be demonstrated on the Blackmagic Design NAB 2019 booth #SL216.

Designed for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, the new Pocket Camera Battery Grip lets customers replace the camera’s standard LP-E6 battery with two L-series batteries so they can shoot for over 2 hours on a single charge. It’s perfect for anyone that needs to shoot for extended periods of time. Featuring a unique carbon fiber design, non-slip hand grips, and a slide out tray that holds 2 L-series batteries, the Pocket Camera Battery Grip also makes it easier to hold the camera on longer shoots. L-Series batteries are standard batteries used for a variety of professional lighting equipment, so they’re readily available. Customers can even charge the batteries in the grip via the camera’s 12V DC connection in between takes.

Unlike traditional external battery packs that hang off the side of the camera, the Pocket Camera Battery Grip has a unique design that makes it part of the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. Simply remove the detachable LP-E6 battery door cover from the camera, slide the pocket grip in and lock it into place. There’s even a storage slot built into the grip for the battery door cover. Because the Pocket Camera Battery Grip becomes part of the camera, customers get larger non-slip hand grips that make holding the camera even easier. Best of all, there’s no extra gear hanging off the camera so customers still have a compact camera that can go anywhere.

“The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K has been received incredibly well by our customers because it’s not a dumbed down consumer product, but it is a true digital film camera with incredibly advanced features generally only found on the most expensive cameras available,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “The new Pocket Battery Grip is exciting because it lets you power external flash disks allowing customers to record to the disk used for editing. It will even power the camera for over 2 hours on a single charge. As it’s designed to integrate into the cameras design, it’s more comfortable to hold the camera on longer shoots. Unlike regular external battery packs that hang off the camera, the Pocket Camera Battery Grip is integrated into the cameras design itself, so it doesn’t add a lot of weight and it fits perfectly!”

Availability and Price

Blackmagic Pocket Camera Battery Grip will be available in August for US$ 245 excluding duties from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DPReview TV: ‘Wooden Niccolls’ with the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

30 Mar

A ‘Wooden Niccolls’ is an episode in which Chris and Jordan bring together a film crew to recreate a scene from a Hollywood movie, all while testing a piece of gear. In the first Wooden Niccolls for DPReview TV, their team used the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (BMPCC 4K) to recreate a scene from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

But wait – there’s more! You’ll go behind the scenes to see how the scene was shot, meet members of the crew, and learn a bit about rigging the BMPCC 4K. Will Chris win the Oscar for his portrayal of Kate Winslet in a dramatic role? Will Jordan’s touching performance bring you to tears? We look forward to critics’ reviews.

If there’s a movie episode you’d like to see our dynamic duo recreate, tell us in the comments!

Get new episodes of DPReview TV every week by subscribing to our YouTube channel!

  • Introduction
  • Blackmagic Raw
  • Interview with camera owner Phil Bowen
  • Meet Director Chris Dowsett
  • Location
  • Costumes
  • Shooting for post-production
  • Editing in DaVinci Resolve
  • The overhead shot
  • Disclaimer
  • The scene
  • Wrap-up

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K gets Raw and URSA Mini 4.6K gets 2nd-gen update

06 Mar

Blackmagic has announced its new Camera 6.2 update, adding Blackmagic RAW codec support for the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. Upon updating, BMPCC 4K owners will be able to use the camera to record in Blackmagic RAW with 3:1, 5:1, 8:1, and 12:1 constant bit-rate encoding and constant quality Q0 and Q5 recording options.

Blackmagic RAW was introduced in September 2018, but was only available for the URSA Mini Pro at that time. The format’s arrival on BMPCC 4K gives users the option to prioritize image quality or file size, depending on need, including recording at the highest settings while keeping file size to a relative minimum.

According to the company, users can record more than two hours of footage in 4K ‘full cinematic quality’ via Blackmagic RAW on a 256GB SD UHS-II card. These same inexpensive cards can now also be used when recording 4K DCI images using Blackmagic RAW 12:1. On the flip side, Blackmagic has removed the CinemaDNG formats.

Joining the Blackmagic Camera 6.2 update is the URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2, a second-generation update to the URSA Mini Pro. The new G2 model offers ‘dramatic enhancement’ over the original, according to Blackmagic, bringing a new Super 35mm 4.6K sensor with 15 stops of dynamic range and all-new electronics for faster processing.

The URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 captures 4.6K images at up to 120fps and 1080p video at up to 300fps. It’s also capable of recording Blackmagic Raw. As with the first-generation URSA Mini Pro 4.6K, the G2 model features interchangeable lens mounts and ships standard with Canon’s EF mount. Blackmagic has also added a USB-C expansion port for recording to external disks. Full details can be found on Blackmagic’s website.

The Blackmagic Camera 6.2 update is available to download for free. The URSA Mini Pro G2 camera is now available to purchase for $ 5,995 USD from the company’s global resellers.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K update adds pixel remapping, better battery life, more

06 Feb

Blackmagic Design has released Blackmagic Cameras 6.1, the latest firmware for its Pocket Cinema Camera 4K camera. The update includes better audio recording, improved battery performance, a new pixel remapping feature and other updates.

On the audio front, Blackmagic has implemented a new audio processor that ‘analyzes incoming audio from the dual microphones on each side of the camera to dramatically lower the noise floor, resulting in quieter recordings than possible before.’ Audio latency has also been reduced for more accurate syncing with video footage and improved real-time monitoring.

Screenshot of the menu area dedicated to the new pixel remapping feature.

A new in-camera calibration tool has also been added that lets users recalibrate pixels in the camera to fix brightness variations that can occur over time. ‘The new pixel calibration feature allows the camera to realign the light output of each pixel resulting in a smooth clean image under changing environmental conditions,’ says Blackmagic.

Other features and improvements include more accurate autofocus, a new media formatting interface designed to prevent accidental formats, 2:1 monitoring frame guides, and new power savings and efficiency fixes that Blackmagic claims improves battery life 10-15%.

Blackmagic Cameras 6.1 is available as a free download for existing Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K customers on Blackmagic Design’s website.

Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Cameras 6.1 Update

Major update adds new features for Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K including better audio recording and improved battery performance.

Fremont, California, USA – February 4, 2019 – Blackmagic Design today announced Blackmagic Cameras 6.1 which is a new update for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. This update adds quieter audio recording, a new pixel remapping feature, new 2:1 monitoring frame guides, improved battery performance and much more.

Blackmagic Camera 6.1 update is available now as a free download from the Blackmagic Design website.

The new Blackmagic Cameras 6.1 significantly improves audio recording when using the built in microphones on the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. The new processing now analyzes incoming audio from the dual microphones on each side of the camera to dramatically lower the noise floor, resulting in quieter recordings than possible before. In addition, latency has been reduced for audio monitoring, audio and video synchronization has been fine tuned, and the 3.5mm audio input selection interface is now more intuitive, making it faster to use.

Blackmagic Cameras 6.1 also improves auto focus performance. Auto focus now responds quicker and more accurately so that lens hunting is greatly reduced when the camera is locking on to the focal point. There’s also a new media formatting interface that helps prevent customers from accidentally formatting media cards. Once the camera is updated, customers will need to tap and hold the media format confirmation button for 3 seconds before a card will be erased and reformatted.

This update also includes a new in-camera calibration feature which allows customers to recalibrate pixels in the camera. Over time some pixels can change in brightness and create small variations across the sensor. The new pixel calibration feature allows the camera to realign the light output of each pixel resulting in a smooth clean image under changing environmental conditions. Blackmagic Camera 6.1 update also features 2:1 monitoring frame guides, which is another creative composition tool for filmmakers to frame shots. In addition, new power savings and efficiency enhancements improve battery runtime by 10-15% and give customers a more accurate indication of remaining battery power.

“The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is an incredible success and it’s been very exciting watching the adoption of digital film workflows by a much wider range of people,” said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. “This update is exciting because it adds even more great new features to the camera and it’s an exciting way for us to say thank you to all the people who have purchased a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and who have taken the time to discuss ideas for the future with us. We can’t wait to see what customers will produce next!”

Blackmagic Cameras 6.1 Update Key Features

Adds support for pixel calibration in camera. Improves auto focus performance. Improves signal to noise ratio performance of the camera’s internal microphone. Improves power efficiency for improved battery life. Adds 2:1 monitoring frame guide. Improves media formatting user interface. Improves audio monitoring latency performance. Improves 3.5mm audio input selection interface. Improves AV sync performance.

Blackmagic Cameras 6.1 is available as a free download for all existing Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K customers from www.blackmagicdesign.com/support.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Blackmagic Design announces new Blackmagic RAW codec for video

15 Sep

Blackmagic Design has announced the public beta of its new Blackmagic RAW video codec. The company says the new format combines the benefits of shooting Raw video with the ease of use and smaller file sizes usually associated with compressed, gamma-encoded video files.

Raw video typically produces very large files and requires lots of processing power to edit when compared to compressed formats. Blackmagic says it has addressed this problem by moving part of the de-mosaic process into the camera, which is able to provide hardware-based acceleration. By performing this process in-camera, editing software like DaVinci Resolve won’t need to work nearly as hard to decode the files.

Blackmagic RAW supports two types of compression: constant quality or constant bit rate, allowing users to prioritize image quality or file size based on what they’re shooting. Images are encoded using a non-linear 12-bit space designed to provide both high quality color data and dynamic range. According to Blackmagic, its new Raw format will also provide more accurate skin tones and color thanks to its Generation 4 Color Science. (All of this processing does make us wonder whether these Raw files are completely comparable to the Raw files we’re used to in the still imaging world.)

The Blackmagic RAW public beta can be downloaded immediately for use on the URSA Mini Pro camera.

The company says the new Raw format will also simplify media management by creating single files rather than directories of still images, as is the case with CinemaDNG. When files are edited in software like DaVinci Resolve a sidecar file will be created, similar to a Raw photo in Adobe Camera Raw.

Speaking of DaVinci Resolve, Blackmagic has just released version 15.1, which includes full support for Blackmagic RAW. For users of Blackmagic cameras, this means it will be possible to shoot, edit, and color grade using the same files through the entire workflow.

Blackmagic has released DaVinci Resolve 15.1, which fully supports its new Blackmagic RAW codec, and is available for download immediately.

For users of other software platforms, Blackmagic has announced a Blackmagic RAW Developer SDK that will allow third party developers to add support for the new format in other applications.

Users can download the public beta of Blackmagic RAW for use with the URSA Mini Pro through the Blackmagic Camera 6.0 Beta update, with the final version shipping in several weeks once testing is complete. DaVinci Resolve 15.1 is available for download immediately from the Blackmagic website. If you happen to be attending IBC 2018 in Amsterdam, you can stop by the Blackmagic booth for a demonstration.

Press release:

Blackmagic Design Announces Advanced New Blackmagic RAW Codec

Revolutionary new and modern codec that’s easier to use and much better quality than popular video formats, but with all the benefits of RAW.

IBC 2018, Amsterdam, Netherlands – September 14, 2018 – Blackmagic Design today announced the public beta of Blackmagic RAW, a new and very modern codec that combines the quality and benefits of RAW with the ease of use, speed and file sizes of traditional video formats. Blackmagic RAW is a more intelligent format that gives customers stunning images, incredible performance, cross platform support and a free developer SDK.

The Blackmagic RAW public beta will be demonstrated on the Blackmagic Design IBC 2018 booth at #7.B45. Customers can download the public beta for use with URSA Mini Pro cameras via the Blackmagic Camera 6.0 Beta Update. In addition, DaVinci Resolve 15.1 Update, which includes support for Blackmagic RAW, is also available free of charge from the Blackmagic Design website.

Blackmagic RAW has been in development for years and is a next generation codec that features multiple new technologies such as an advanced de?mosaic algorithm, extensive metadata support, highly optimized GPU and CPU accelerated processing and more. It can be used from acquisition throughout post production for editing and color grading, all from a single file.

Traditional RAW codecs have large file sizes and are processor intensive, making them hard to work with. Video file formats are faster, but suffer quality problems due to the use of 4:2:2 video filters that reduce color resolution. Blackmagic RAW solves these problems with an intelligent design that moves part of the de-mosaic process into the camera where it can be hardware accelerated by the camera itself. This results in incredibly efficient encoding that gives customers the same quality, bit depth, dynamic range and controls as RAW, but with much better performance and smaller file sizes than most popular video codecs. Because the processor intensive partial de-mosaic is done by the camera hardware, software such as DaVinci Resolve doesn’t have to do as much work decoding the files. In addition, GPU and CPU acceleration make decoding of frames incredibly fast, so you get extremely smooth performance for editing and grading.

Blackmagic RAW is much more than a simple RAW container format. Its intelligent design actually understands the camera and the sensor. This means the image data, along with the unique characteristics of the image sensor, are encoded and saved into the Blackmagic RAW file, giving customers much better image quality, even at higher compression settings, as well as total control over features such as ISO, white balance, exposure, contrast, saturation and more.

In addition, Blackmagic RAW uses Blackmagic Design Generation 4 Color Science for superior imaging that results in reproducing extremely accurate skin tones and gorgeous, lifelike colors that rival those of cameras costing tens of thousands of dollars more. Images are encoded using a custom non-linear 12-bit space designed to provide the maximum amount of color data and dynamic range.

Blackmagic RAW also makes it easy for any software developer to access all this technology. The free developer SDK lets any third party software application add Blackmagic RAW support on Mac, Windows and Linux. The Blackmagic RAW developer SDK automatically handles the embedded sensor profile metadata, along with Blackmagic Design color science, for predictable and accurate image rendering that yields consistent color throughout the entire pipeline.

Blackmagic RAW features two types of file compression. Customers can choose either constant quality or constant bitrate encoding options, depending on the kind of work they are doing. This lets them prioritize image quality or file size. Constant quality uses variable bitrate encoding so complex frames are encoded at higher data rates to preserve detail and maintain the highest possible quality. Blackmagic RAW Q0 has minimum quantization and yields the highest quality, while Blackmagic RAW Q5 uses moderate quantization for more efficient encoding and a smaller file size. Blackmagic RAW 3:1, 5:1, 8:1 and 12:1 use constant bitrate encoding to give customers the best possible images with predictable and consistent file sizes. The ratios are based on the unprocessed file size of a single frame from the camera’s sensor, making it easy to understand the relative amount of compression being used.

The pristine camera native quality of Blackmagic RAW Q0 and 3:1 are perfect for effects heavy feature film and commercial work. Blackmagic RAW Q5 and 5:1 are extremely high quality making them great for episodic television and independent films. Blackmagic RAW 8:1 and 12:1 offer high quality and speed, making it suitable for productions that wouldn’t normally consider shooting RAW. Now, more customers than ever will be able to use high quality RAW images in an incredibly efficient way that was impossible before.

“Blackmagic RAW could entirely change the workflow going from camera through post production,” said Kees Van Oostrum, Director of Photography and President of the American Society of Cinematographers. “A superb image quality, fine detail and incredibly small file sizes could possibly make Blackmagic RAW the go to format for filmmakers. It will be an important change for post because the editorial team can work with the camera original files, which are fast enough to use for everyday editing. That means less confusion in regards to creative choices I make at the camera. The images can now travel throughout the entire workflow because we’re shooting, editing and grading with the same files! Blackmagic RAW could be a game changer in the way films, television shows and commercials are made.”

Blackmagic RAW dramatically simplifies and speeds up post production workflows. DaVinci Resolve 15.1, which was also released today, includes full support for Blackmagic RAW. The performance of Blackmagic RAW is much faster in DaVinci Resolve than any other RAW format. This makes editing, color correction and visual effects incredibly fast. In addition, working with single files instead of folders full of still image sequences greatly simplifies media management. When the RAW settings are changed in DaVinci Resolve, a .sidecar file can be generated or updated if one already exists. When opened in other software applications that support Blackmagic RAW, the .sidecar file, which contains the RAW settings made in DaVinci Resolve, will be automatically used to display the image. If the .sidecar file is removed then the file will be displayed using the embedded metadata instead. This innovative new workflow gives customers a non-destructive way to change RAW settings while working between different applications.

Featuring a fully scalable design and completely modern CPU and GPU acceleration, Blackmagic RAW is optimized for AVX, AVX2 and SSE4.1 enabled processors, multi-threaded, works across multiple CPU cores and is GPU accelerated with support for Apple Metal, CUDA and OpenCL. Frame decoding and image processing is extremely fast, making it super smooth for editing, color correction and visual effects in DaVinci Resolve. Another benefit of media being stored as single files, and not image sequences, is it makes media management easier and file copying much faster.

The free Blackmagic RAW Developer SDK is available on Mac OS, Windows and Linux. This SDK takes care of all the work for developers, so adding support for Blackmagic RAW to third party software applications is easy and fast. Developers get access to GPU and CPU accelerated algorithms for decoding files, along with unique information about the camera’s image sensor so their applications can accurately decode and display the files. The SDK features highly descriptive and flexible metadata options designed to support today’s modern workflows. Metadata is embedded directly in the .braw file or it can be stored in a .sidecar file. Metadata is important because it contains the RAW settings along with information for the slate, iris, focus, focal length, white balance and a lot more. The metadata in .sidecar files can be used on top of the embedded metadata without overwriting it. Blackmagic RAW also supports frame based metadata so customers can access values, such as focus distance, that often change on a frame by frame basis.

“Blackmagic RAW is the world’s only truly modern, high performance, professional RAW codec that is open, cross platform and free,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “It’s exciting because customers can get the visually lossless image quality of RAW with the speed of traditional video workflows. Best of all, there are no hidden licenses or ongoing fees. Blackmagic RAW has been designed to provide the industry with an open, elegant and standardized high quality image format that can be used across products and in customer workflows absolutely free!”

Availability and Price

Blackmagic RAW is available today as a public beta via the Blackmagic Camera 6.0 Beta Update for URSA Mini Pro. The final release of Blackmagic RAW is expected to ship in several weeks’ time once further testing is complete.

The DaVinci Resolve 15.1 Update, which features support for Blackmagic RAW, has also been released and can be downloaded today free of charge from the Blackmagic Design website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Blackmagic releases first Pocket Cinema Camera 4K footage

30 Aug

Blackmagic Design has released three videos demonstrating the performance of its upcoming Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. It updates the Pocket Cinema Camera introduced in 2013, was revealed at NAB 2018 in April and is expected to launch next month.

Ahead of that launch, Blackmagic Design has published the videos “Nature” by Mark Wyatt, “Models Walking at Night” by John Brawley, and “Models Walking in Daylight” also by John Brawley, each showcasing the upcoming camera’s capabilities. This is the first time footage from the camera has been published.

Both Wyatt’s and Brawley’s experiences with the camera are provided in each video description. In describing his time with the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, Wyatt said:

I had the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K for only a few days, but overall I was really impressed by it. The weight of the camera is very liberating, especially when you are used to using larger camera systems. The screen is big and bright enough to use in daylight, which I found great for judging focus and exposure. And, the colors too on the screen, were also nicely represented. In fact, I would argue it is Blackmagic’s best screen yet.

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K features a full size Four Thirds HDR sensor offering a native 4096 x 2160 resolution and 13 stops of dynamic range. The upgraded model also features dual native ISO, a USB-C expansion port with direct support for external storage drives, a new multi-function grip design, and much more.

Via: Newsshooter

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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