News

Press Release

Blackmagic Design announced the immediate availability of Camera 1.9 software which includes new “heads up display” on screen metering that provides customers with histogram, peak audio meters and recording time remaining for the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K.

Camera 1.9 update is available now free of charge from the Blackmagic Design website.

Using these additional displays for the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K means that customers can easily and quickly check important camera settings such as exposure, audio level and the remaining space on their recording disk.

Using the histogram scope, customers can now easily and rapidly set exposure in a shot as the histogram shows the the distribution of luminance in their images and if highlights or shadows are being clipped. Images with clipped highlights or shadows make it much harder to color grade the shots in post production, so having the histogram feature helps DOP’s shoot with confidence. The histogram scope is real time so highlights and shadows can be adjusted interactively with the lens setting, ensuring images are not clipped and maximum detail in tonal ranges is preserved, critically important for allowing colorists to create amazing grading effects in post production using the full contrast range of the camera.

Camera 1.9 software update also includes a new audio metering with peak hold feature to allow setting audio levels for Channels 1 and 2 when using the built in microphone as well as externally connected audio sources. The audio meters make it fast to view audio levels and adjust camera audio gain so that audio is not clipped or distorted.

The new heads up display also includes a recording time remaining indicator that shows remaining space on the recording disk. The time remaining indicator is automatically re-calibrated to ensure an accurate time remaining value if the either the frame rate or codec are changed, and displays red when the disk is getting full.

This update is available to our Blackmagic Production Camera 4K customers free of charge. Customers can download this update now and install it onto their camera from either Mac or Windows computers using a simple USB cable connection to the camera. Once the update is complete, customers can view the new on screen menus by simply swiping their finger up from the bottom of the capacitative touch screen.

This new heads up display will be released for other models of Blackmagic Design cameras over the coming weeks, so an even wider range of Blackmagic Design camera customers can get the benefits of this new display.

“We are extremely excited that we have been able to provide yet another release for our camera customers ,” said Grant Petty, CEO of Blackmagic Design. “Having this new heads up display with on screen scopes will enable film makers to shoot the most amazing images with confidence that they will get incredible results in post production!”

Blackmagic Production Camera 4K Key Features

– Large high resolution 4K Super 35 mm sized sensor with superior handing of image detail.

– Professional global shutter for smooth pans and image motion.

– Wide 12 stops of dynamic range allows capture of increased details for feature film look.

– Compatible with extremely high quality EF mount lenses.

– Built in SSD recorder allows long duration recording onto solid state disks.

– Open file formats compatible with popular NLE software, such as Apple ProRes and compressed CinemaDNG 12 bit RAW. No custom file formats.

– Features all standard connections, including jack mic/line audio in, 6G-SDI output for monitoring with camera status graphic overlay, headphone mini jack, Thunderbolt, LANC remote control and standard DC 12 power connection.

– Built in touch screen LCD for camera settings and metadata entry compatible with popular video editing software including Final Cut Pro X.

– Supports Ultra HD and 1080HD resolution capture in 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97 and 30 fps.

– Includes UltraScope software for live scopes via the built in Thunderbolt connection.

– Includes DaVinci Resolve color grading software.

Availability and Price

Camera 1.9 is available now for download from the Blackmagic Design web site free of charge for all Blackmagic Production Camera 4K customers.

Press Photography

Product photos of the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K, and all other Blackmagic Design products, are available at www.blackmagicdesign.com.

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.

Press Release

Blackmagic Design announced that Blackmagic Cinema Cameras EF were used to capture complex action sequences in the new film “The Expendables 3.” Second Unit DP Paul Hughen, ASC, placed the cameras directly in the action in order to get incredible shots, including exciting scenes of car races, intricate boat chases and large scale action sequences.

In “The Expendables 3,” the mercenary group returns to battle with the team's co founder turned ruthless arms dealer Conrad Stonebanks, who in this latest installment has made it his mission to destroy The Expendables. With an all star cast, including Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Kelsey Grammer, Victor Ortiz, Ronda Rousey and Kellan Lutz, there is no shortage of action and adventure.

“I was looking for a stunt camera that offered maximum resolution and ease of workflow, and I wanted the action footage to be as close to the main unit resolution as possible,” says Peter Menzies, First Unit DP. “The Blackmagic Cinema Camera’s RAW image is the best quality available in a camera of that compact size and versatility, and the image is very sharp and has great latitude.”

“The Blackmagic Cinema Camera’s form factor was perfect for the many complex camera positions that Second Unit Director Dan Bradley and I came up with,” explained Paul. “We wanted to mount the cameras to different vehicles with the smallest amount of rigging possible. We mounted them to boats, tanks, and trucks; and in one of the most involved and exciting sequences, three Blackmagic Cinema Cameras were attached to the front and sides of a high speed military train.”

The Blackmagic Cinema Camera’s light weight also allowed Paul to attach the cameras to the front or side of a motorcycle because the form factor kept rigging and cables to a minimum and made it safe to carry for the rider. “The cameras were so easy to use that we often found ourselves giving them to stuntmen who turned them on and ran with them on top of trains or rode with them in the backs of Jeeps. The light weight and easy handling made the cameras the action unit workhorse,” said Paul.

Because of the nature of the action unit, Paul and his team knew that the Blackmagic Cinema Cameras were going to be in harm’s way. While the camera’s form factor sometimes afforded them the opportunity to use metal crash cages to protect them, other times they simply mounted them and hoped for the best. As such, affordability was key.

“Affordability was a major factor in deciding to shoot with the Blackmagic Cinema Cameras. However, over the course of shooting we only lost one camera, and the exciting shots we got far outweighed the cost of a replacement,” said Paul. “The camera that was destroyed was attached to the bottom of a free falling elevator. Upon action, the camera was turned on and allowed to fall with the metal cage of the elevator nine stories to the bottom of the shaft. While the camera was destroyed in the fall, the SSD was protected, and we were able to retrieve the information from it and get a great shot.”

Press Photography

Product photos of Blackmagic Cinema Camera 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.

Sky Glide Cinema, top of the line of Sky Glide camera stabilizers, offers computer-controlled balancing in 3 axis with remote control, 3 joystick controls, and 3 modes of operation (simple, stabilization, and tracking). This digital, brushless 3-axis gimbal is suitable for cameras weighting up to 6 kgs. The stabilizer is made of carbon fiber and aircraft-grade aluminum materials and features an intergrated 2600 mAh Li-Poly accu, plus a hard travel case. Suitable for Blackmagic Production Camera 4K, Blackmagic Cinema Cameras, Sony F55 or FS700, Panasonic DMC-GH4, RED EPIC, ARRI ALEXA M, Canon C500, Phantom Miro, and other digital cinema cameras.

Sony's PXW-X500 solid-state memory shoulder-mount camcorder offers superior picture quality with three-chip 2/3-inch type new CCD image sensors. The camcorder is designed to be a flexible 1080p acquisition tool for a broad range of HD production applications such as TV dramas, live productions, ENG and sports productions. To be available in October 2014.

Metabones released the new Canon EF to Micro-4/3 mount Speed Booster adapter. The adapter makes the lens 0.71x wider, increases maximum aperture by 1 stop, and also increases MTF. The adapter features built-in electronics to control lens aperture by the controls on the camera body, and is also powered by the camera's body. The adapter is an ideal companion for Blackmagic Cinema Camera MFT or the mirrorless Panasonic GH4 models.