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Blackmagic Design Announces New Studio Cameras Family for Live Production

Blackmagic Design Studio Cameras OneBlackmagic Design announced a new family of Studio Cameras for live production. The new Blackmagic Studio Cameras include design features such as carbon fiber reinforced polycarbonate and integrated 7-inch viewfinders. Blackmagic Studio Cameras have the same features as large studio cameras, miniaturized into a compact and portable design. The cameras are equipped with digital film camera dynamic range and color science. The sensor features an ISO of up to 25,600, so customers can create images even in dimly lit venues. Advanced features include talkback, tally, camera control, built-in color corrector, Blackmagic RAW recording to USB disks and more.

While Blackmagic Studio Camera is designed for live production; it’s not limited to use with a live switcher. It records Blackmagic RAW to USB disks, so it can be used in any situation where customers use a tripod. The 7-inch viewfinder makes it an option for work such as chat shows, television production, broadcast news, sports, education, conference presentations and weddings. The display also has side handles, a touch screen and physical controls.

Blackmagic Design Studio Cameras threeThe cameras feature a lightweight carbon fiber that’s reinforced with a polycarbonate body. The touch screen has menus for camera settings as well as knobs for brightness, contrast and focus peaking. A tripod mount with a mounting plate is included.

The Blackmagic Studio Camera features gain from -12dB (100 ISO) up to +36dB (25,600 ISO) and is 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 4K sensor combined with Blackmagic generation 5 color science gives customers the same imaging technology used in digital film cameras. The color corrector can be controlled from the switcher. With 13 stops of dynamic range, the camera has darker blacks and brighter whites. The sensor features a resolution of 4096 x 2160 for both HD and Ultra HD work. All models support from 23.98 fps up to 60 fps.

With the MFT lens mount, Blackmagic Studio Cameras are compatible with a wide range of photographic lenses. 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. On-screen overlays show status and record parameters, histogram, focus peaking indicators, levels, frame guides and more. Customers can apply 3D LUTs for monitoring shots with the desired color and look.

The Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro model has SDI connections that include talkback so the switcher operator can communicate with cameras during live events. The talkback connector is built into the side of the camera and supports standard five-pin XLR broadcast headsets.

All models feature HDMI with tally, camera control and record trigger. Customers also get headphones, mic connections and two USB-C expansion ports. The advanced Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro model is designed for broadcast workflows and 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.

Blackmagic Design Studio Cameras two

Some file formats such as H.264 are highly compressed and add noise and artifacts, causing sensor detail to be lost forever. Blackmagic RAW claims to eliminate this problem so customers get stunning images with incredible detail and rich color throughout the whole pipeline. Blackmagic RAW also saves camera settings as metadata so customers can change ISO, white balance and exposure later in DaVinci Resolve. Files are small and fast for quick editing responsiveness.

Blackmagic Studio Cameras include built-in microphones. The built-in microphones claim to be shock and wind-resistant, so customers get great sound even in tough conditions. There’s also a 3.5-millimeter audio input for connecting video camera microphones as well as a 3.5-mm headphone jack. The professional two-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. This means any microphone plugged into the XLR inputs will have a higher level of noise than the camera’s audio.

Blackmagic Studio Cameras have lots of different power options. All models have a common 12V DC locking power connector to avoid accidentally pulling the cable. If users are using a single Ethernet cable to connect to the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro model, the whole camera and its accessories can be powered from the Ethernet connection. Blackmagic says its Studio Converter has a large power supply that adds PoE power to the Ethernet cable.

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 and 10G Ethernet connections.
  • Single 10G Ethernet allows SMPTE fiber style workflow.
  • USB-C port allows recording directly to external disks.
  • 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.

Blackmagic Studio Cameras are available immediately from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide from $1,295.

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