Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
The new Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K is now in stock and shipping. I’m actually surprised to see this happen with a Blackmagic camera. They usually fall well behind demand during the initial launch window. But, right now, the new 6K pocket camera is shipping immediately and the early user reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Check it out here at B&H Photo.
Blackmagic has announced its new Pocket Cinema Camera 6K to follow on the popular Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. It records up to 50 fps 6144 x 3456 video and brings in a bigger Super 35 sensor, which is a step up from the 4/3 format sensor found in the 4K model. It also adds the larger Canon EF lens mount. Like the 4K model, Blackmagic claims 13-stops of dynamic range on the new 6K camera. [Read more…]
Blackmagic announced its new Video Assist 4K external video recorder this week at NAB 2016. [Read more…]
Nearly a year after the camera was announced, the Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera is in stock and now shipping. The camera is touted for its compact size and ability to accept radio control commands while mounted on a drone. [Read more…]
This article on Giving Your Video That Cinematic Look – Why Understanding ISO Is Just as Important as Having the Right Gear is from guest author Corey Benoit.
Like many, my projects require both still and motion images and are often lacking essential light to simplify the production. Switching between the two, I have found that understanding ISO is equally as important as selecting the right gear for your shoot. This article takes a look at ISO and gear for creating cinematic video in low light situations.
Many photographers and videographers think that ISO only affects the overall exposure of the image or the light being received by the sensor, and this is a myth. ISO doesn’t just affect the exposure or the lightness/brightness of an image. It basically destroys the color integrity and accuracy. Your greens will take on a lighter shade and will most likely have noise. Reds turn into more of an orangey kind of red, and blues will typically take on a cyan color. Color pollution is a problem with higher ISO. The color matrix will be polluted the more you push the ISO. Not to mention the damage that is done to the black/gray shades. They are polluted very badly with higher ISO. [Read more…]
Blackmagic Design has released a final version of DaVinci Resolve 12. Both the Standard and Studio versions are available. [Read more…]
Blackmagic Design has unveiled a B4 lens mount for its URSA Mini PL camera.
The B4 mount replaces the PL mount on the URSA Mini PL. It requires users to take the PL lens mount off where it is normally removed for shimming PL lenses and bolt the B4 lens mount into place. [Read more…]
Blackmagic Design has dropped the prices on its Studio Camera HD and Studio Camera 4K models. The HD model will reduce in price by $300 and the Ultra HD model will reduce in price by $500.
The HD Blackmagic Studio Camera model is now $1,695 and the Ultra HD Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K model is now $2,495.
Blackmagic notes that the reason for the price drop is based on customer feedback regarding the lack of use of the fiber connection. Blackmagic has removed the connection from the cameras and made it an aftermarket accessory that can simply be plugged into the camera.
Personally, I think the biggest detraction from the studio cameras is the lack of lens options. Sure there are plenty of Micro Four Thirds cameras in the world and you can buy an adapter for virtually any other lens mount. However, many users would like to put studio B4 lenses on these cameras and that is just a clunky option.
If Blackmagic had built these cameras with a 2/3″ sensor and a native B4 lens mount, I don’t think they could make them fast enough. Sometimes, a bigger sensor is not always the best option.
A couple of weeks ago, I detailed the new Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve 12 and the powerful new NLE features being added to this version. Now, it is available as a public beta to download for free. [Read more…]
One of the most impressive things I saw at NAB 2015 was Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve 12. Looking back, I can’t believe that I haven’t written about this yet. But maybe this timing is actually a little better since it is supposed to become available in the next few days.
Right now, the big three video editing platforms are Premiere Pro CC, Final Cut Pro X and Avid Media Composer. All have their fans and faithful user bases. But I think there is about to be another big player with Resolve 12. [Read more…]