Blackmagic Camera Updates And Pocket Cinema Camera is Shipping

Erik Naso • August 3, 2013 • 1 Comment

Lots of camera updates from Blackmagic Design. The Pocket Cinema Camera is now shipping which is good news for you preorder folks. This is a very cool camera and I hope to get my hands on one soon.

Also a big price reduction on the original Blackmagic Cinema Camera. Its now discounted $1000 and sells for $1999. This new price is for both the MFT and EF models.

An update on the Blackmagic Design Blackmagic Production Camera 4K is that it’s not ready yet. They just got some sensors and are testing them. with the software.

Here is a statement from Grant Petty of Blackmagic.

Hi,
I wanted to email you about some exciting updates. We have new software for ATEM switchers, HyperDeck recorders, and desktop video products, as well as a fantastic price reduction and shipping update for cameras.

Camera Update

The new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera is now shipping and there is a software update for it posted on our web site.

There are some new features in the software for the Pocket Cinema Camera. You can now focus by pushing the focus button when using an active MFT lens. This makes it very easy to accurately focus. The focus peaking feature is still there and you enable it by double pressing the focus button. The focus zoom feature is enabled by double pressing the OK button.

There will be an update for the 2.5K Blackmagic Cinema Camera soon that will also add these features, plus new de-bayer processing that will improve the cameras sharpness when shooting non RAW files.

The Blackmagic Production Camera 4K is not yet shipping as we need some more time. Our first batch of sensors was delivered only this week, so we have not been able to complete the software for the camera. We expect to start shipping in about 3 to 4 weeks once the final software work and testing is completed.

Blackmagic Cinema Camera Price Reduction

We have worked very hard over the last year to be able to build the Blackmagic Cinema Camera at a lower cost so we can reduce the price and allow access to digital filming to a wide range of cinematographers and photographers.

We have done it and from today the Blackmagic Cinema Camera EF and MFT models will be reduced in price to US$1,995. This is very exciting and is one of the proudest moments of my life to be able to do this!

I think people will be able to use the savings to invest in some exciting lenses and rigs to really boost the creative possibilities. The Blackmagic Cinema Camera is a fantastic design that’s now well proven. The advantage of the 2.5K sensor is it has enough resolution to eliminate the bayer resolution loss of a HD sensor, but when shooting RAW it produces files that are too not to big to store and work with easily. It’s a fantastic solution.

All orders placed that have not yet been filled, can be reduced to the new lower price.

HyperDeck Software 3.8

We have an exciting new version of software for the HyperDeck SSD recorders and this new update adds 6G-SDI support on the output for HyperDeck Studio Pro and adds on screen menus to both HyperDeck Studio models where you can set formats and other features. We have also added a new ethernet remote control support.

This is really easy to use and you connect HyperDeck to your network, set the IP address of the HyperDeck in the menu and then Telnet into the HyperDeck to get control. If you type play, the HyperDeck will play and if you type stop, then HyperDeck will stop. You can get clip lists and all kinds of control functions. There are more details in the instruction manual on the protocol.

This update is free of charge and on our web site now.

ATEM Switcher Software 4.1.1

We have a new software update for the ATEM switchers and it’s a big update with lots of new features. It includes a new save and restore that allows you to save the state of the switcher into an XML file, including all your media pool, into a folder of images. You can load that XML file back into the switcher to fully restore it with all settings and media back online.

You can even save parts of the switcher, such as a single keyer or even SuperSource and use them like Marcos. If you save the switcher, you also have the choice to load parts of the switcher, or the whole switcher. You can keep saving to keep rolling backups and each XML file is like a time based snapshot of your switcher state through the whole job. The media pool will keep adding any changed images to the media folder so you will get all media that’s used in the job and can restore back to any point in time. Its very powerful.

We have also been opening up some of the power of the new ATEM Production Studio 4K model that includes HDMI and 6G-SDI that operates in SD, HD and Ultra HD resolutions. This update now adds new 1080p progressive video formats including 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50 and 59.94fps. This really opens up the number of devices you can plug in.

This update also fixes a bug in the ATEM Production Studio 4K that stopped some devices using RGB HDMI such as Playstation, Xbox, computers and GoPro cameras from working with the switcher HDMI inputs.

This software update is available now from our web site for download.

DaVinci Resolve 9.1.5

We have a small software update for DaVinci Resolve 9 that adds improved compatibility with Avid Media Composer 7.0 round trip, supports reel names in Final Cut Pro X XML, adds support for Avid EuControl Software Package Version 3.0, improves handling of multi track Quicktime audio files and adds improved Cinema DNG file format support.

This update is available for download from our web site.

Desktop Video 9.7.7

This new software update now adds support for the 4K DCI modes and adds improved compatibility for HDMI on the UltraStudio 4K and the DeckLink 4K Extreme models. We have also improved support for Avid Media Composer for the UltraStudio Mini Recorder and DeckLink Mini Recorder models.

This software update is available now for download from our web site.

Splice Community Web Site

Over the last few years I have spoken to more and more people at shows and seminars, and one thing that really struck me is how hard it is to be the best at editing, color correction, design and effects in this industry.

This is one very tough industry, but it’s so incredibly exciting! In my time in post production I have spent many hours at a post facility at 2 a.m. talking to editors who have just come out of a 15 hour session. You might know that feeling!

I have spent hours listening to editors, effects artists and colorists talking about the jobs they just completed and how it went and it was really exciting. I really want to share those stories with everyone!

So I have created a new community page where we have people talking about their stories and posting their projects and images online. It’s not about Blackmagic here, as I really just want to share people’s stories about their work and how they got started in the industry.

I get to talk to so many people from thousands of post production and broadcast facilities, so I hope this website lets others enjoy these stories as well.

When we proposed this website to people in the industry, they were really receptive to the idea and have been fantastic in supporting it. They have really opened up and shared the tough times as well as the good times. They have explained how they got started in the industry and even the big breaks that made them who they are today. It’s fantastic and we are so lucky that we have had this support.

If you are interested in reading these stories, please head to www.splicecommunity.com
I hope that Splice will be a community space where you can go to see the background stories behind so many great projects. We will feature everything we can from feature films, shorts, TVCs and documentaries. There are loads of projects from directors, DPs, editors, colorists, visual effects artists and post houses who have all shared their stories.

So please check it out! If you want to tell your story, please let the guys know via the website or Facebook. I hope you like it.

Splice website: www.splicecommunity.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/splicecommunity Facebook: www.facebook.com/splicecommunity
New York Seminar

I hope you found this update useful!

Regards,

Grant Petty
Blackmagic Design

It’s been a bumpy road for camera releases but it looks like they now have a handle on things and hopefully in the future the roll outs will be much smoother.

Grant mentioned Splice website. I was fortunate to be profiled in the first release. Check out the site. It’s very cool!

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