NAB is off to a flying start with thousands of eager audio and video professionals flocking to the dessert oasis that is Las Vegas. And just like in the previous three years Aussie gear maker Blackmagic Design unleashed numerous new products, and of course a few new cameras. Something they've been doing for the past few years and surely become a standard. Whether that's a good thing, and we think it is, we'll let you decide.

Of course, there weren't just new camera announcements, but in this post I'll try and cover the highlights of Day 1 of NAB 2015.

Here's what Blackmagic Design announced in the camera department on Day 1:

The Blackmagic URSA Mini 4.6K EF and PL mount, and URSA Mini 4K EF and PL mount. So a total of 4 new URSA Mini cameras. To add to the mix, the original 4K URSA camera is still available and users can update their existing original URSA's to the new 4.6K sensor for around $2,000. We don't have the exact UK pricing on the upgrade yet, but as soon as we do we'll let you know.

The new redesigned body is almost twice as light compared to the original URSA, made out of magnesium alloy, which is very sturdy, while yet light enough to allow for shoulder mount haldheld operation. The camera features a 5-inch flip out screen as well as an optional Full HD OLED electronic viewfinder.

 

Blackmagic URSA MINI 4.6K Features:

  • 4.6K Super 35 image sensor

  • Global / Rolling shutter – User selectable in camera

  • 4K Compress raw at 60p (Rolling Shutter Mode)

  • 4K Compress raw at 30p (Global Shutter mode)

  • 3K Anamorphic option

  • Up to 150fps In Full HD (Crop Mode)

  • Dual Cfast 2.0 Cards

  • 15 stops of dynamic range

  • EF or PL Mount

  • Dual XLR audio inputs

  • Removable Hand Grip

  • Optional EVF & Shoulder Mount Kit

The other new camera announced at the show was the Micro Cinema camera, featuring a Super 16 Sensor with 13 stops Dynamic Range and built in Raw & ProRes recording with active Micro Four Thirds mount making it the perfect cinematic camera for aerial photography and difficult angles. In-camera raw recording allows for colour matching to just about any other professinal cinema camera available today from ARRI Alexas and RED Epics to C300's and Sony FS7's.

 

Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera Features:

 Includes a built in SD card recorder for capturing up to 1080HD in CinemaDNG RAW or ProRes, MFT lens mount and operates up to 60 fps with global shutter up to 30 fps

  • Sensor Size - 12.48mm x 7.02mm (Super 16)

  • Shooting Resolutions - 1920 x 1080

  • Frame Rates - Global Shutter - 1080p23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30

  • Frame Rates - Rolling Shutter - 1080p23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60

  • Dynamic Range - 13 stops

  • Focus - Remote focus control via expansion connector when using compatible lenses.

  • Iris Control - Iris control via Rewind and Forward buttons, plus remote control via expansion connector when using compatible lenses.

  • Lens Mount - Active MFT mount

  • Controls - 6 control buttons including Record, Play, Rewind, Forward, Menu, and Power. 4 channel PWM plus 1 x S.Bus remote via expansion connector

  • Microphone - Integrated stereo microphone, active when camera is recording.

  • Mounting Options - 1 x 1/4" (top), 3 x 1/4" (bottom)

The Micro Cinema camera is priced along the same level as the current Pocket Cinema camera at £709 + VAT and is expected to start shipping in July.

 

Blackmagic Micro Studio 4K Camera

Sharing a similar design to the Micro Cinema camera, the Studio 4K camera does not have internal recording, but does features SDI support for the ATEM 4K switcher and is small enough to be mounted anywhere. Broadcast and live applications will find a lot of great uses for the Micro Studio 4K camera. The Micro Studio Camera 4K has a 6G-SDI connection so it works up to 30 frames per second in Ultra HD and can also be switched to 3G-SDI or HD-SDI so it can operate up to 1080p60. If you’re working in HD or Ultra HD the Micro Studio Camera 4K can easily handle both.

The price of the Micro Studio 4K camera is £929 + VAT and is expected to ship in July this year. 

Check out our NAB 2015 video from the show floor below. 


Panasonic also announced their new AG-DVX200 4K large-sensor, 4/3” handheld camcorder a successor to the legendary DVX100 from about 10 years ago. In its day, the DVX100 was the first handheld camcorder to record in 24p. The DVX200 features a large 4/3 sized CMOS sensor and a fixed 13x Zoom Leica Dicomar f2.8 lens. The camera also utilised 5-axis in camera body stabilisation, which is a very welcomed feature as it will reduce shake and unwanted movement from handheld operation.

The DVX200 will offer many top-end features including 4K/60p recording, a 13X optical zoom and a V-Log L gamma curve (12 stops of latitude, target).


The DVX200 will be optimized for 4K/HD production, and shares the esteemed VariCam family characteristics of filmic tonality and colorimetry, with natural, subtle rendering of skin flesh tones, and a V-Log curve emulating the natural grey-scale rendition of the VariCam 35.

The camcorder will incorporate a newly-developed 4/3” large-format MOS sensor and offer variable frame rate recording up to 120fps in FHD mode, enhancing the DVX200’s utility in sports and VFX production.

The new handheld 4K camcorder will offer an array of professional features including a newly-designed Leica Dicomar 4K F2.8~F4.5 zoom lens (4K/24p: 29.5 mm ~ 384.9 mm, HD: 28 mm ~ 365.3mm, 35 mm equivalent), time-code in/out, 3G HD-SDI and HDMI 2.0 (4K) video outs, easy focus and zooming, and programmable user buttons.

The DVX200 will record 4K (4096 × 2160) / 24p, UHD (3840 × 2160) / HD (1920 × 1080) 60p / 50p / 30p / 25p / 24p in either MP4 / MOV file formats. There are two SD card** slots, facilitating backup and relay recording. For professionals working worldwide, the camera’s master frame rate is selectable between 59.94Hz (23.98Hz) / 50.00Hz / 24.00Hz.

The AG-DVX200 will be available in Fall 2015 with a suggested list price under around £3,500.

To place your pre-orders and avoid long waiting times call us on 0208 977 1222.