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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Editor’s note: Skip to just under 30 minutes again to avoid the static intro image.
Blackmagic Design has taken the wraps off its new Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K digital film camera with support for recording video at up to 12K/60fps with 80MP per frame. The model is joined by a pair of new off-camera monitors from the company, the Blackmagic Video Assist 3G in 5″ and 7″ sizes.
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The Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K is a digital film camera offering advanced options combined with a 12288 x 6480 Super 35 image sensor. This is the company’s third-generation model, one offering 14 stops of dynamic range, 4K/220fps Super 16 and 8K/110fps options in addition to 12K, an interchangeable lens mount and a SuperSpeed USB-C expansion port.
Blackmagic Design has packed a number of other notable features into its new pro-grade digital film camera, including built-in ND filters, an interchangeable PL mount and UHS-II SD and CFast card recorders. The company says that the Super 35 sensor found in this model is ‘optimized for images at multiple resolutions’ and that it features a unique (non-bayer) design with an equal number of RGB pixels. We’ve contact Blackmagic Design for further information on the sensor and will update with additional information when it becomes available.
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Blackmagic Design has also streamlined its entire workflow to be more efficient, going so far as to demo that with the help of Apple’s Metal graphics architecture, it’s possible to edit 12K Blackmagic Raw footage directly on a MacBook Pro.
The Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K is aimed at professional productions, including use with television and movies. Videos shot in 12K Blackmagic RAW can be tweaked with multiple constant bitrate encoding and quality options. The 12K sensor enables oversampling so that users get sharp, highly detailed 4K and 8K images, giving creators a bit more freedom during post-production.
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This is joined by a new film curve feature for Blackmagic Generation 5 Color Science that takes advantage of the 12K sensor color data. According to Blackmagic, this will ensure that highly saturated colors are better rendered and that skin tones are particularly ‘pleasing.’ The camera is compatible with PL cinema lenses, as well as EF and F mount lenses.
Talking about the new model is Blackmagic Design CEO Grant Petty, who said:
With Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K we have advanced imaging technology into a new generation where new styles of shooting will be possible. It’s not just the 12K sensor, but there is so many other innovations in this camera. From the Generation 5 Color Science, the in sensor scaling, new symmetrical color pattern, full RGB quality and of course the 12K resolution, it’s going to be exciting to see what DOPs do creatively with this technology!
Blackmagic Design is launching the URSA Mini Pro 12K this month at $ 9,995.
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Joining the new digital film camera is the Blackmagic Video Assist 3G, an off-camera monitor offered in 5in and 7in sizes. According to the company, Video Assist 3G is a touchscreen model offered at a lower price point than the company’s other options; it features HDMI and 3G-SDI with support for all Standard and High Definition video formats.
Likewise, Video Assist 3G has upgraded batteries compared to past models, as well as built-in scopes, a rear tally light, headphone jack and front panel speaker. Both size options feature standard SD and UHS-II SD card support — the larger model has two SD card slots so that a full card can be swapped out while recording to the second card continues.
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As well, the Video Assist 3G utilizes Sony L-Series batteries and features two battery slots so that one can be swapped out with a charged battery while recording. The obvious benefit to the Video Assist 3G is that it offers a larger display than the often small screens built into cameras, giving users considerably more control over their work.
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Likewise, the Video Assist has an integrated pro-grade audio recorder, exceeding the quality of many cameras while eliminating the need to tote around audio gear, though it is also possible to attach microphones to the 7-inch model via a pair of XLR inputs. In addition to the monitor’s many other features, Blackmagic has included support for several languages, including English, Spanish, German, Chinese, Russian, Japanese and more.
Blackmagic Design is now offering the Video Assist 3G monitors starting at $ 495.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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.
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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.
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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)
Blackmagic Design has unveiled its latest and most expensive camera to date, the URSA. The camera features a changeable sensor design, allowing the user to swap out the Canon EF lens mount and 4K Super 35 image sensor for a similar sensor with a PL mount. The URSA features touch screens for operator control – including a 10-inch flip-out screen. It also has another 5-inch screen showing timecode, histogram, and other indicators such as a spectrum scope for checking focus. Learn more
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)