Blackmagic Design today announced a new family of
Blackmagic Studio Cameras for live production. The new compact all-in-one
design will help a wider range of live production customers who need cameras
with professional features that are also fast to setup on location. The new
Blackmagic Studio Cameras include design features such as carbon fiber
reinforced polycarbonate and large integrated 7" viewfinders so they are
very light weight making them much easier to transport and setup than large
traditional studio cameras.
Blackmagic Studio Cameras is available
immediately from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide from $1,295.
Blackmagic Studio Cameras have the same features
as large studio cameras, miniaturized into a single compact and portable
design. Plus with digital film camera dynamic range and color science, the
cameras can handle extremely difficult lighting conditions while producing
cinematic looking images. The sensor features an ISO up to 25,600 so customers
can create amazing images even in dimly lit venues. Advanced features include
talkback, tally, camera control, built in color corrector, Blackmagic RAW
recording to USB disks and much more.
While Blackmagic Studio Camera is designed for
live production, it’s not limited to use with a live switcher. That’s because
it records Blackmagic RAW to USB disks, so it can be used in any situation
where customers use a tripod. The large 7" viewfinder makes it perfect for
work such as chat shows, television production, broadcast news, sports,
education, conference presentations and even weddings. The large bright display
with side handles, touch screen and physical controls makes it easy to track
shots while being comfortable to use for long periods of time.
Large broadcasters use expensive studio cameras
that are extremely large, so they’re not very portable. It features a
lightweight carbon fiber reinforced polycarbonate body with innovative
technology in a miniaturized design. The camera is designed for live production
so it’s easy to track and frame shots with its large 7" viewfinder. The
touchscreen has menus for camera settings, and there's knobs for brightness,
contrast and focus peaking. Plus a tripod mount with mounting plate is included
for fast setup.
The Blackmagic Studio Camera features gain from
-12dB (100 ISO) up to +36dB (25,600 ISO) so it's optimized to reduce grain and
noise in images, while maintaining the full dynamic range of the sensor. The
gain can be set from the camera, or remotely from a switcher using the SDI or
Ethernet remote camera control.
The amazing 4K sensor combined with Blackmagic
generation 5 color science gives customers the same imaging technology used in
digital film cameras. The color corrector can even be controlled from the
switcher. With 13 stops of dynamic range, the camera has darker blacks and
brighter whites, perfect for color correction. The sensor features a resolution
of 4096 x 2160 which is great for both HD and Ultra HD work. Plus, all models
support from 23.98 fps up to 60 fps.
With the popular MFT lens mount, Blackmagic
Studio Cameras are compatible with a wide range of affordable photographic
lenses. Photographic lenses are incredible quality because they're designed for
use in high resolution photography. To eliminate the need to reach around to
adjust the lens zoom and focus, the optional focus and zoom demands let
customers adjust the lens from the tripod handles just like a large studio
camera. It gives customers the same feel as an expensive B4 broadcast lens.
The large 7" high resolution screen will
totally transform how customers work with the camera because it's big enough to
make framing shots much easier. On screen overlays show status and record
parameters, histogram, focus peaking indicators, levels, frame guides and more.
Customers can even apply 3D LUTs for monitoring shots with the desired color
and look.
Unlike consumer cameras, the Blackmagic Studio Camera
4K Pro model has SDI connections that include talkback so the switcher operator
can communicate with cameras during live events. That means the director can
talk to the camera operators to guide shot selection, eliminating the problem
where all cameras could have the same shot, at the same time. The talkback
connector is built into the side of the camera and supports standard 5 pin XLR
broadcast headsets.
Blackmagic Studio cameras have lots of
connections for connecting to both consumer and broadcast equipment. All models
feature HDMI with tally, camera control and record trigger, so are perfect for
ATEM Mini switchers. Customers also get headphone and mic connections, and 2
USB-C expansion ports. The advanced Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro model is
designed for broadcast workflows so has 12G-SDI, 10GBASE-T Ethernet, talkback
and balanced XLR audio inputs. The 10G Ethernet allows all video, tally,
talkback and camera power via a single connection, so setup is much faster.
That's just like a SMPTE fiber workflow, but using standard Category 6A copper
Ethernet cable so it's much lower cost.
The Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro model
supports connecting cameras via a single Ethernet cable. Traditional broadcast
studio cameras use SMPTE fiber to communicate and power cameras, however SMPTE
fiber is very expensive. Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro model has 10G Ethernet
as an alternative to SMPTE fiber so it's much lower cost. The Ethernet includes
all camera video, program return feeds, tally, talkback, camera control and
also power. The Blackmagic Studio Converter handles all video conversions at
the switcher end plus adds power to the Ethernet cable. That means customers
don't need to connect power to the camera.
The Blackmagic Studio Camera features a high
speed USB-C expansion port that allows customers to record to external disks or
connect to a wide range of accessories. Plug in an external USB flash disk and
the camera can record high quality 12-bit Blackmagic RAW files for later
editing and color correction. That means customers can just move the disk to a
computer to work, and customers don't need to waste time with file copying.
Plus the USB port will power any phone or disk that’s plugged in.
Some file formats such as H.264 are highly
compressed, so add noise and artifacts, causing sensor detail to be lost
forever. Blackmagic RAW eliminates this problem so customers get stunning
images with incredible detail and rich color throughout the whole post
production pipeline. Blackmagic RAW also saves camera settings as metadata so
customers can change ISO, white balance and exposure later in DaVinci Resolve.
Plus the files are small and fast, so editing responsiveness is incredible.
Blackmagic Studio Cameras include built in
microphones so customers get sound included in the design making setup much
faster. Plus the built in microphones are shock and wind resistant, so
customers get great sound even in tough conditions. There’s also a 3.5mm audio
input for connecting video camera microphones as well as a 3.5mm headphone
jack.
Because the most common location to place
microphones is near to cameras, the Pro model includes the best audio ever
designed into a studio camera. The professional 2 channel balanced XLR inputs
support +24 dBu line level and have an ultra low noise microphone preamplifier
with P48 phantom power alongside an equivalent input noise (E.I.N.) of -131
dBV(A). That's followed by two 117 dB high dynamic range analog to digital
converters, so customers get the high end audio demanded by broadcasters and
audio engineers. This means any microphone plugged into the XLR inputs will
have a higher level of noise than the camera's audio.
To allow quick mounting onto tripods and faster
setup, all Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K models include a tripod mount with a
machined metal design and quick mounting plate. The quick mounting plate allows
the camera to slide onto the tripod and customers get forward and rear
adjustment of the camera so customers can adjust the position to get the
perfect camera balance.
Blackmagic Studio Cameras have lots of different
power options. All models have a common 12V DC locking power connector so the
cable won't be accidentally pulled out. However if users are using a single
Ethernet cable to connect to the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro model, then
the whole camera and its accessories can be powered from the Ethernet
connection. The Blackmagic Studio Converter has a large power supply that adds
PoE power to the Ethernet cable so customers don't need any power connection to
the camera. That’s a great solution when there's no power available where the
cameras are placed.
The optional zoom and focus demands can be added
to turn affordable photography lenses into amazing broadcast lenses. The focus
and zoom demands have USB-C connections so they work with all Blackmagic Studio
Camera 4K models. Each zoom and focus demand has 2 USB-C ports, so customers
can daisy chain them then connect to the camera with a single USB connection.
The design has an incredibly precise feel and so customers get very fine lens
control, and customers can frame and adjust the lens without taking their hands
off the tripod handles.
With 10G Ethernet on the Pro model, customers can
connect all signals to the camera with the one Ethernet IP link connection.
That means the camera feed, return program feed, timecode, reference, tally,
talkback and control are all sent down the single cable. That's the same
benefits of SMPTE fiber, but the standard 10G copper Ethernet cable is much
lower cost. The Blackmagic Studio Converter allows breakout of all the video,
audio and talkback connections at the studio end. It also includes a massive
power supply that powers the camera down the Ethernet cable, so customers don't
need a power source near the camera.
"These new studio cameras are built on all
the knowledge and customer feedback from the original Blackmagic Studio
Cameras," said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. "These new models
are a big step forward and they have been designed to be high end cameras, not
entry level cameras. They might be small and self contained, but the features
such as the built in 10G Ethernet, low light capability and professional
viewfinder design make them very high end cameras for high end work!"
Blackmagic Studio Cameras Features
• Designed specifically for live production.
• Carbon fiber reinforced polycarbonate chassis.
• Up to 25,600 ISO for incredible low light performance.
• Native 4K sensor with 13 stops of dynamic range.
• Compatible with a wide range of popular MFT lenses.
• Large 7 inch high brightness viewfinder.
• Includes 12G-SDI, HDMI, 10G Ethernet connections.
• Single 10G Ethernet allows SMPTE fiber style workflow.
• USB-C port allows recording directly to external disks.
• Features incredible quality Blackmagic RAW recording.
• Built in stereo microphones with wide separation.
• Professional mini XLR inputs with 48 volt phantom power.
• Includes tripod mount for quick location setup.
• Powers by 12V or Ethernet connection.
• Optional focus and zoom demands for lens control.
• Blackmagic Studio Converter allows all connections via Ethernet.
Availability and Price
Blackmagic Studio Cameras are available now from
$1,295, excluding local duties and taxes, from Blackmagic Design resellers
worldwide.
Press Photography
Product photos of the Blackmagic Studio Cameras,
as well as all other Blackmagic Design products, are available at
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/media/images.
