Blog

New updates from Blackmagic Design contain fixes for users of MultiView 16 (Blackmagic MultiView 2.1.1 fixes a rare bug where the overlays do not appear on the output of MultiView 16), and Mini Converter Optical Fiber 4K (Blackmagic Converters 7.1 update adds Level A support to Mini Converter Optical Fiber 4K). Download at www.blackmagicdesign.com/uk/support.

Upgrade to EDIUS 9 from older versions! In this limited-time promotion, users of EDIUS 2-7, EDIUS EDU or EDIUS Neo 1-3.5 can upgrade to EDIUS Pro 9 for 269 EUR ex. VAT, or from EDIUS Mync Standard for 365 EUR ex. VAT! The Jump Upgrade is also allowed to EDIUS Workgroup 9 from EDIUS 2-7, and EDIUS Pro 8 editions (but not EDIUS EDU or EDIUS Neo); this upgrade path is available at 455 EUR ex. VAT.

Tutorials in the new EDIUS Basics series describe basic functionality of the Grass Valley EDIUS Pro 8 and Workgroup NLE applications.

The world is moving to 4K high dynamic range for streaming and digital broadcast. From the recent Apple TV 4K announcement, to existing 4K HDR services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and others, there is a rapidly growing need to create new high resolution, high dynamic range content. HDR gives you a much larger color palette and incredibly wide dynamic range so you can use color and light to help tell your story in new and exciting ways! URSA Mini and DaVinci Resolve are the perfect tools for a complete, end to end 4K dynamic range workflow. Together with Dolby and Moai Films, we’ve created a short video to show you how fast and easy it is to shoot, edit, and master Dolby Vision HDR content.

Sony has announced three new 4K HDR camcorders: the XDCAM PXW-Z90, the NXCAM HXR-NX80 and the Handycam FDR-AX700. Featuring Sony's Fast Hybrid AF system, all three palm camcorders combine a fast and reliable autofocus (AF) function adapted for shooting with a 1.0-type stacked Exmor RS CMOS image sensor, delivering stunning image clarity alongside a range of versatile shooting features. The new camcorders all support an instant HDR (High Dynamic Range) workflow, enabling users to produce HDR content with minimum post-production to suit a range of content creation scenarios and applications.

The Fast Hybrid AF system ensures highly accurate focusing and tracking during shooting, delivered by 273 phase-detection AF points that cover approximately 84% of the shooting area, high-density placement of autofocus points and a newly developed AF algorithm. This reduces the burden of focusing, especially when accurate focusing is required for shooting 4K films. In movie recording mode, the appearance of phase-detection AF frames indicates the focused area and easily allows users to monitor a subject that is in focus. The new camcorders feature a high-resolution OLED viewfinder (0.39-type OLED, 2,359k dots) and advanced touch screen operation, on the 3.5-type large LCD screen (1,555k dots), to allow users to quickly switch focus from one subject to another, while the AF Drive Speed, Tracking Depth Range and Subject Switching Sensitivity can all be configured as required for different subjects and content styles.

The new camcorders support 4K HDR recording with HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), offering an instant HDR workflow. This enables users to reduce the post-production work and produce high-quality HDR content without grading, which usually requires a highly skilled technique and specialist knowledge. They also have the following key technology features to support versatile shooting, including;

4K (3840 x 2160) full-pixel readout without pixel binning, using an enhanced BIONZ X image processing engine

Super Slow Motion recording up to 1000 fps in PAL resolution (without sound, 4K not supported), which is industry leading among palm categories and Slow & Quick Motion Full HD recording up to 100 fps in PAL (without sound)

S-Log3/S-Gamut3 capabilities for users to create and work with images as they desire

29mm7 (35EQ) wide-angle ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 12x optical zoom lens and 18x Clear Image Zoom (18x in 4K, 24x in an HD mode)

Less image distortion (rolling shutter phenomenon), in comparison to conventional models when shooting subjects in motion

Workflow efficiency benefits such as Proxy recording, relay recording and simultaneous backup recording are also delivered thanks to the new camcorders' dual memory card slots and multi-camera operation capabilities supported by TC (time code)/UB (user bit). The three new camcorders also have REMOTE terminals, Multi-Interface Shoe, and HDMI Type A to ensure enhanced operability.

In addition to the above key features as series, the XDCAM PXW-Z90 and NXCAM HXR-NX80 also feature dual XLR audio input, a detachable handle, and access to Content Browser Mobile -- a supporting smartphone application to enable Wi-Fi monitoring, Camcorder remote control and optional wireless timecode sync between multiple cameras.

The PXW-Z90 also includes several features to suit broadcast-specific requirements including XAVC format recording, which provides high-quality images at 4:2:2 10 bit (HD) and 4:2:0 8 bit (QFHD) in addition to conventional broadcasting MPEG2HD9 format recording, 3G SDI connectivity for compatibility with existing broadcasting equipment, and networking functions to support news reporting, such as compatibility with XDCAM air, the Sony cloud-based ENG subscription service.

NXCAM HXR-NX80 and Handycam FDR-AX700 adopt XAVC S10, an extended format of XAVC for consumer use which can record high-defined 4K2 films.

The XDCAM PXW-Z90, NXCAM HXR-NX80 will be available in December and Handycam FDR-AX700 will be available in October.