Cinematography : Black Magic by Jared Kasanofsky

Cool thanks.

This one is. http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicursa

The Black Magics are designed like American Motors cars of the 1970's.. very different, and in very short order, distasteful. The URSA in particular has poorly thought out UI for starters. Look at AJA CION, or the original BM 2.5K in fact. Their 4K is having issues right now and frankly 2K+ is a fine realm for almost all production, despite what the RED fanboys may preach to you.

So far feels like your the first one I heard, who feels that way about the black magic. But good to know.

I've got a 2.5k Bmcc and just got the 4 k production cAmera. I like the 2.5 better for low light but the global shutter on the. 4 k seems to reduce rolling shutter. Both are awesome cameras for the price and if I had to choose one I would get the. 2.5k BMCC.

Two guys from our studio interacted with the Ursa at NAB. We're getting a couple of them when they are released. They're touting the Ursa as a RED killer, and say it's doing for the camera industry what Apple did to the phone industry.

I wouldn't invest in the black magic

Why do you feel that way Kayleigh.

Is there any info out for the Ursa.

Yes there is: http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicursa

The term " investing" has little place in the camera realm as cameras today surely depreciate, if not obsolete, in 18 months to 3 years. IF a camera will give you use of value to you that justifies it's capital investment,, then it's a good choice for you, period. The BM cameras are like most cameras sold today- not there yet but getting interesting. The URSA won't do any RED killing, you can come back here and check my words in a year . I look at it from the perspective of having shot tons of broadcast video and 16/ 35mm film--- cameras in those realms were largely unchanged for decades, and for a reason- not because technology was lacking but rather was so refined changes were regular but minor ( the new Star Wars is shooting on 65mm and 35mm film with cameras and lenses largely unchanged in 20 years - film is still a superior and mature technology, albeit pricey). Cameras were well designed and well balanced which they are not today. Today, digital cinema is doing what other technologies did years ago* - progressing rapidly we have a slew of camera choices, and at the low price points ( under $25,000 ) no camera is "perfect". Most under $10,000, all cameras have serious design compromises any professional will point out. That's not to say they are not capale of amazing quality- most are... but at the cost of seriously compromised ergonomics, functionality, etcetera... take DSLRs for example- very narrow color space, minimal exposure latitude, soft images compared to true 1080, horrific rolling shutter artifact and a form factor ill suited to motion imaging photography handheld. Yet despite these crippling facts, obviously, the cameras are embraced and adopted by millions as " filmmaking tools"... largely due to the fact they are almost free. GOOD ENOUGH has become the new GOOD. Which is a shame. (*Remember how amazing your third cell phone was compared to the first and second ? And yet that is a laughable design and function now that smartphones have matured ).

The Ursa is not yet available. It is not yet a product available to the public. Nobody has tested a production version of the camera because it does not exist. If it has some features worth looking at, they are still in the planning or testing stage. When it is a real delivered finished product, not a beta version, seen and tested in it’s delivered form then its merits can be discussed. Not before. I can think of 3 other cameras in the same general category that were also previewed at NAB. Interest is one thing, choosing any of them before the finished products are delivered and tested is premature. Professional decisions are based upon knowledge. What it does or does not do when it is tested by the person making the decision is a large part of that knowledge.

Unless the URSA's ergonomics are re-worked from their current layout, it's simply a strange tool. That said, NAB isn't like it used to be... pre-production and BETA is the norm in many arenas today, not just cameras. It's a big historical change and relatively recent... RED started it with cameras by debuting a non working brick with great claims that changed the industry. The very floor feedback from potential end users can kill a product, or refine it in the 11th hour before production. And in production, the days of using proven gear are almost over... it goes against logic, but the fact is things change so fast that by the time a camera is a proven reliable workhorse, it's time for the next model and producers even more than DPs seem to like whatever is next. And they want Next right now.

Here is a nice review. Sean from CUE 3 PRODUCTIONs

BM Rocks! URSA is awesome!

thank you Mark. What a great parody of the omnipresent postings of fan-boys for RED or DSLRs, only using Blackmagic of course. I could almost hear your mom telling you to come out of the basement because your dinner is ready. Priceless.

From what I do know, the BlackMagic Pocket Camera is exceptionally well in daylight exterior shots outside.

When buying a camera 5 important things to consider: Resolution Bit rate Dynamic range Sensor size Form factor

Wrong wrong wrong wrong and wrong

No content, how odd. Have we found a troll? picking 5 is personal, related to usage and only picking 5 is really restrictive. Considerations should also include: -Real tested resolution, not the irrelevance of counting sensor photo sites. -extended colour space -colour bit depth -compression -ergonomics

@Andrew bang on. Everyone has their own situation for which they need a tool that will fit the hand that holds it.

Mark Content. Add some content instead of just making noise. "wrong, wrong ..." but no statement of your opinion of what is right is the problem. Go ahead and post something helpful that is worth reading. Please, prove that you are not what you have shown yourself to be.

It's not that simple and cheap working with raw. but the 4k production model is incredible for the price. the build in battery might be a deal breaker.

I've got the pocket cam. Very happy with it but battery life is disappointing. The images I got from it is very filmic even when using prores. Depending on lens, it's very comparable to super 16mm. I use the Voigtlander Nokton 17.5mm f/0.95 Lens. Artbox shot some great footages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XzzrsH1okM

Ken, have you tested the raw function on the pocket cam?

Not as much as I like, but the dynamic range is impressive. Seems the 13 stops range is true. I must say the image I've gotten so far from this small camera exceeded my expectations. I might even shoot a movie on this someday.

Yeah I agree more or less - #1 look at the sensor specs then tell me you did not have these issues: movement of the camera (handheld) required serious stabilization, focusing required a third party monitor, 3rd party battery is almost required unless you like short stabs and while I do not HATE this camera it really is NOT a pocket camera once you put a lens on it. I think my best take on this camera is that it would be nice to see their second effort. Once you get everything you need to shoot on this camera it is the same size as a DSLR that shoots a larger frame.

Beats lugging my arri sr2 gear and reloading film stock in a black bag. Not to mention cost of film stock and dev, telecine? Depends how you use it really. I have no problems with the size, shoot pretty steady. I also do the whole rig setup with all my cameras red one, 5d, regardless of how big or small the camera anyway? I like always using a tripod, Matt box, nd filters, follow focus, external battery. Makes no difference for me.

It's not for everyone. Either you like or not. But from the test images I've seen it's amazing for the size and price.

The battery life is disappointing, no optical viewfinder, the build in sound sucks. But, treat it like a s16mm film camera to shoot a movie, and it works for me. We always record sound separately anyway, plus I don't need to buy film stock, change mags and pay for processing and transfer just to view my dailies. If you're looking for a run and gun video/digital cam then look elsewhere. Get a Canon C 100/300/500 or something else instead.