News

Press Release

Blackmagic Design announced the release of Blackmagic Camera Update 1.8 software which includes updated features for all Blackmagic Design cameras. Blackmagic Camera Update 1.8 is available now for download free of charge for all existing Blackmagic Camera customers from the Blackmagic Design support page on the website.

The new Blackmagic Camera Update 1.8 software features a completely new code base for all Blackmagic digital film cameras so provides a foundation for new features. This update supports the original wide dynamic range 2.5K Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera and the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K.

This all new code base also improves performance and includes a new modern user interface similar in design to the new URSA camera announced at NAB. This new user interface is included in all models of cameras available from Blackmagic Design, allowing a nice clean fresh look.

Blackmagic Camera 1.8 adds compressed RAW DNG support for the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K model, and this allows RAW recording in real time so all sensor data can be captured allowing more range and much higher image quality when doing post production and color grading. DaVinci Resolve 11, also available today, fully supports RAW grading and rendering to final output direct from the RAW camera original files. This means customers get incredible first generation masters, with a solution that edits RAW files as easily and as responsively as a normal video file.

New features in this update include enhanced lens control support for EF lens mount cameras such as the original Blackmagic Cinema Camera EF and the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K models. This means customers can now get auto focus when pushing the focus button on active EF based lenses and the cameras will mathematically analyze the center of the image and optimize the focus for maximum sharpness.

This is important with high resolution 4K cameras where images are so sharp that accurate focus is critical for the best results. Because this update uses the focus button for auto focus, the focus peaking feature is now enabled by double pressing the focus button.

This release also improves the focus peaking display allowing incredibly accurate and super sharp manual focus, critical when using cine lenses. The focus peaking is now green in color so it’s much easer to see, and the filters generating the edge peaking have been optimized allowing for better detection and display for maximum sharpness. In addition, the iris control has been changed, due to customer request, to hold its setting between record and playback.

This new Blackmagic Camera 1.8 also includes major improvements for the original Blackmagic Cinema Camera models including improved audio performance and a completely rewritten new higher quality de-bayer processor. This new de-bayer means when customers record to normal video files such as ProRes or DNxHD they will get sharper and cleaner looking images. This new de-bayer processing features algorithms that have been incorporated from DaVinci Resolve, which means that Blackmagic camera customers get the benefit of DaVinci Resolve’s research and development in image processing and its partnership with major Hollywood studios.

Other benefits for the original Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes enhancements to the cameras dynamic range when sooting at 1600 ISO. This means, with this new software update, customers will get even more dynamic range and image quality, free of charge, even if they purchased their camera 2 years ago.

Improvements for the Pocket Cinema Camera are also included in this update, including the modern updated interface, new focus peaking and improved de-bayer quality, plus additional active MFT lens support for lenses including Sigma and Lumix.

“We have been working very hard to incorporate camera feature requests that customers have been sending us” said Grant Petty CEO Blackmagic Design “There are major changes and improvements in this update and we are very excited to see the wonderful creative work done with the benefit of this software. Of course, we are working very hard on more features we want to add into our cameras and you will see more and more of what we have been working on in updates that will be release over the upcoming months.”

Availability and Price

Blackmagic Cameras are available now starting from US$995 from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide.

Press Photography

Product photos of Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Pocket Cinema Camera, Production Camera 4K and all other Blackmagic Design products, are available at www.blackmagicdesign.com/press/images.

About Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design creates the world’s highest quality video editing products, digital film cameras, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability in post production, while the company’s Emmy™ award winning DaVinci color correction products have dominated the television and film industry since 1984. Blackmagic Design continues ground breaking innovations including 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI products and stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia. For more information, please go to www.blackmagicdesign.com.

Blackmagic Design released a new version of its Blackmagic Camera Utility software/firmware, updating its line of popular digital film cameras. Download the new version here. New features:

Blackmagic Production Camera 4K

– Updated user interface.

– Losslessly compressed RAW DNG recording support.

– Addresses an issue where pixel artefacts are seen in edges with strong highlights while shooting in 1080 mode.

– Adds autofocus support for compatible EF lenses.

Blackmagic Cinema Camera

– Updated user interface.

– Adds autofocus support for compatible EF lenses.

– Improved debayering when shooting to ProRes or DNxHD.

– Improved focus peaking display.

– Improved ISO handling when shooting at ISO 1600.

– Improved general audio performance.

– Iris setting is retained when switching between camera recording and clip playback.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera

– Updated user interface.

– Improved performance when recording using internal microphones.

– Improved instances where a grid-like pattern may occur in some flare highlights.

– General improvements in autofocus with active MFT lenses.

– Adds supports for stabilization in MFT lenses without physical O.I.S switches.

– Improved support for Sigma MFT lenses.

– Improved support for Lumix 12-42mm PZ lens.

– Improved support for Olympus 60mm f/2.8 MFT lens.

– Iris setting is retained when switching between camera recording and clip playback.

Blackmagic Studio Camera

– Improved phantom power compatibility.

– Addresses an issue with interlace video being output as progressive video.

Panasonic announced an extended warranty program for its AVCCAM camcorders: AG-AC8, AG-AC160 or AG-AC90. Upon purchase of this option, the warranty is extended by 2 years for a total of 5 years of warranty.

Panasonic has announced a new professional AVCCAM HD handheld camcorder, the AG-AC90A, with significant improvements over its predecessor, the AG-AC90. Advances include two new recording options -- a PM mode (1280x720, 8Mbps) supporting sports analysis applications and a CS mode (720x480, 3.5Mbps) for cloud service utilization. Other enhancements comprise the ability to copy content from one SD card to another, a date and time superimpose function ideal for law enforcement and legal depositions, Freeze Frame (still picture) on video out during shooting position change, Eye-Fi card support, a Variable White Balance function, additional marker displays, and a Digital Range Stretch (DRS) On/Off user button. Current AC90 owners can access these new features via a free firmware upgrade available at http://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/index.html.

Press Release

Blackmagic Design would like to congratulate the films “Foxcatcher” and “Lost River” on their inclusion in the 2014 Cannes International Film Festival. Blackmagic Design is proud to announce that color correction for these films was done on DaVinci Resolve.

Held in Cannes, France from May 14-25, the Cannes Film Festival is one of the world’s most distinguished film festivals and previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from around the world. Inclusion in the festival is one of the most prestigious honors an independent film can gain, and each year some of the most successful films of the next several years are shown for the first time there.

Some of the films color corrected using DaVinci Resolve at this year’s festival included:

– “Foxcatcher,” graded by Tom Poole, Company 3, which will be released in theaters by Sony Pictures Classics on November 14; and

– “Lost River,” graded by Siggy Ferstl, Company 3.

The films in this year’s competition join a long list of films that have used DaVinci Resolve systems, including “Les Miserables,” “Zero Dark 30,” “Prometheus,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Avatar,” “Precious,” “Skyfall,” “Frankenweenie” and “The Fighter,” as well as some of the world’s most popular TV shows, including “NCIS: LA,” “Elementary” and “Sleepy Hollow.”

DaVinci Resolve is used by thousands of colorists worldwide. It has been used to grade more feature films, television commercials, documentaries, episodic television productions and music videos than any other color grading system.

Press Photography

Product photos of DaVinci Resolve are available at www.blackmagicdesign.com/press/images.

About Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design creates the world’s highest quality video editing products, digital film cameras, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability in post production, while the company’s Emmy™ award winning DaVinci color correction products have dominated the television and film industry since 1984. Blackmagic Design continues ground breaking innovations including 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI products and stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia. For more information, please go to www.blackmagicdesign.com.