Firmware Update Gen 5 for Ursa Mini Pro G2

update the Sidecar in Resolve for the G2 so that it defaults to Color Science 5 when the files are loaded. Currently that's the only method to achieve this when having to hand off the files.

Resolve isn’t the only method. The Sidecar files are simple JSON format text so it’s faster to create Sidecar files for an entire days shoot as a single batch with a simple shell script. Saves a lot of clicking in Resolve.

update the Sidecar in Resolve for the G2 so that it defaults to Color Science 5 when the files are loaded. Currently that's the only method to achieve this when having to hand off the files.

Resolve isn’t the only method. The Sidecar files are simple JSON format text so it’s faster to create Sidecar files for an entire days shoot as a single batch with a simple shell script. Saves a lot of clicking in Resolve.

Right, but not all people are comfortable with scripting // texting work.
Many people is thrilled from when they start a small black windows where they should write Blackmagic words like sudo, ls, cd, etc


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Right, but not all people are comfortable with scripting // texting work.

I couldn’t code if my life depended on it, I know zero about actual coding, but those JSON format sidecar files are simple to edit in any text editor and it’s easy on Mac to open a terminal window for a folder and paste in a three line shell script to batch copy one sidecar for every BRAW folder inside the folder. I don’t even have to type in the file path.

Well, my biggest concern is about developing LUTs based on Gen5 color science that are not usable inside the camera, on set.
Again, what is very frustrating is that older, cheaper and smaller cameras from the same manufacturer got this software update 1 year ago.
The URSA G2 is left on the side not benefiting from this in camera software improvement.

Right, but not all people are comfortable with scripting // texting work.

I couldn’t code if my life depended on it, I know zero about actual coding, but those JSON format sidecar files are simple to edit in any text editor and it’s easy on Mac to open a terminal window for a folder and paste in a three line shell script to batch copy one sidecar for every BRAW folder inside the folder. I don’t even have to type in the file path.

Jamie, can you share an online reference and/or examples on how to do this sidecar using JSON scripts? Where can I find the sidecar keys to be used in the JSON pairs? Then how is the JSON file used?

Jamie, can you share an online reference and/or examples on how to do this sidecar using JSON scripts? Where can I find the sidecar keys to be used in the JSON pairs? Then how is the JSON file used?

It's in the documents section of the installation package for the Blackmagic RAW SDK along with sample BRAW frame and sample sidecar file.

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You can also simply export a sidecar file from Resolve and edit it from there in any text editor. To swap out a 3D LUT just open the LUT in any text editor, copy out the values, and paste them into the sidecar file. Easy peasy.

You don't have to add settings for all the values that sidecar files support. Any value not specified will always default to the value in the BRAW file itself. So, I generally only adjust a few values — the highlight recovery, gamut compression, gamma, gamut, and the 3D LUT options are the only values that I adjust in most cases.

Once I've got the sidecar file set the way I want it, I open the folder of BRAW files in a Terminal window and run this simple ZSH script to clone that single sidecar for every BRAW file in the folder.

Code: Select all

for FILE in *.braw; do
 name=$(echo "$FILE" | cut -f 1 -d '.')
 cp x.sidecar $name.sidecar
done

For this script to work either name the sidecar you want to close as x.sidecar, or change the name in the script to match the name of the sidecar file you are using.

If after all that you need to make bespoke clip by clip adjustments to ISO, exposure or white balance, just load the files into Resolve (if they were already loaded, make sure to restart Resolve so that it reads the newly created sidecar files) adjust them clip by clip, and click the "update sidecar" button. This will preserve what was done in the earlier batch operation and only update the specific values that have been changed.

Has anybody talked to them about this at NAAM Boot ?

Strangely disapointing.
Anyway G2 is still a fine camera, was looking for upgrading the otherday...
I would need 15 to 20+k€ to have the same features in 2022 (codec, dynamic range, slow mo, color science, workflow).

So my next update.... might be an Ursa G3 24x36 3:2 when It will show up (let's be honest, it will happen)

I don’t think it’s going to happen. You might want to look at the UMP Broadcast G2 which has Gen 5 and the P6K sensor. It comes with EF mount and is 2K cheaper. It has its limitations in comparison with the UMP 4.6K G2. I wished it had a Film mode switch that changes Gain control to ISO control and other film mode features. But others here have good experience with it. I don’t have it and I have the UMP 4.6K G2 as I mostly do narrative projects.

Right now your G3 is pretty much wishful thinking…. at least for a couple of years. I hope I’m wrong.

It's a wishfull thinking that will take some time (or years).
Pandemic is still a thing, and about G2 upgrade.... I don't understand at all what's happening.

I think G2 is just a small market compared to rest of the hardware software and camera that blackmagic developpers are working on.

That's still hurts of course.

Wanting to ping BMD developers again to let them know we didn't stop caring about these issues. Please get us Gen 5 in camera on the UMP G2 as well as RGB Histogram and 8x pinch zoom!

Wanting to ping BMD developers again to let them know we didn't stop caring about these issues. Please get us Gen 5 in camera on the UMP G2 as well as RGB Histogram and 8x pinch zoom!

+1. Hopefully soon!

The pace of development for Resolve seems to be on steroids. Unfortunately the same can't be said for the camera firmware; apart from the G2 the Broadcast G2 is still on a beta firmware after at least a couple of months. It's not a good incentive to invest in BMD cameras, if development is quickly dropped after a couple of years, or less, of model introduction, IMV.

Well, we are fast approaching the 3-Year Mark since the last Firmware Update for the UMPG2. As for the Broadcast G2 I can't speak on that subject, but I feel like the firmware has to be on the same level as the UMP12K and Pockets since it is a newer camera.

I have a feeling that the UMP12K is about to be replaced with the next generation URSA Camera. It's been 2-Years since the 12K was introduced. The UMPG2 will also become End of Life with the next URSA. So what will that be?

First, I would like a final firmware update that at least brings UMPG2 Gen 5 and as well some of the other firmware features now in newer cameras. But I don't think it will happen. I lost hope for that.

So, what will be next? The 12K sensor will be in the next URSA. I think a revised UMP body design will happen. But also we'll see an URSA Micro introduced to fulfill the "box camera" requests. This will bring us to two URSA body options using the same sensor. I think both will utilize CFEXPRESS Cards. The UMP will have dual card slots and the Micro will have one card slot. The UMP will have full XLR ports, and the Micro will have one or two Micro XLR ports. Both will be interchangeable lens mount. I think both will have updated external ports, but the UMP will have a few more options than the Micro. I think the Micro may get a Lemo Timecode Port, and may utilize Lemo connections more. Maybe the Micro may also have Micro SDI ports to keep the size smaller. But the UMP body may also get some Lemo ports as well.

Either way, I'm going to keep an eye out for what is next and use the UMPG2 until that point where a new camera is introduced. I have zero interest in the current 12K now because I know what is next will be better. No reason to upgrade to that until the 12K sensor is in the newer bodies.

Do I wish the UMPG2 could be updated? Yes! But, do I think it will? Not really holding out hope.

The UMPG2 will also become End of Life with the next URSA. So what will that be?

I don’t know much what will be of the UMP12K but I doubt the UMPG2 will be EOL. First it is still being marketed. Second, it is the ONLY BMD camera that is listed as Netflix approved. Taking it out leaves BMD nothing in the selection list and mind you, I spoke with a number of producers and that list has a big impact in their decision it process.

First, I would like a final firmware update that at least brings UMPG2 Gen 5 and as well some of the other firmware features now in newer cameras. But I don't think it will happen. I lost hope for that.

I want this too. I’m disappointed with the way BMD has handled this.

But also we'll see an URSA Micro introduced to fulfill the "box camera" requests.

Maybe. Not holding my breath anymore.

I need some help, I dont understand why is this update is so important for so many users. Once you import your BRAW footage into DaVinci, you can just choose your colourspace, can you not? I still work with the URSA mini Pro G1 and I can change the setting in post in the raw settings.

unless somebody can explain to me that this method only comes with some penalty in regards of quality or color rendering. Im not an expert here, I just assumed that I dont need this camera internal update.

I need some help, I dont understand why is this update is so important for so many users. Once you import your BRAW footage into DaVinci, you can just choose your colourspace, can you not? I still work with the URSA mini Pro G1 and I can change the setting in post in the raw settings.

unless somebody can explain to me that this method only comes with some penalty in regards of quality or color rendering. Im not an expert here, I just assumed that I dont need this camera internal update.

I think the demand is more for ProRes at this point. I'm sadly still asked to hand over ProRes to some clientele because they prefer that. So matching a Gen 4 ProRes to a Gen 5 ProRes isn't exactly the easiest for those clients. Especially since most mainly just slap a LUT on in Premiere Pro because they're not professional colorists. It all has to do with matching to the Pockets in ProRes recording.

BRAW isn't necessarily the problem. I've set Resolve up on my computers to Default have the BRAW Settings use Gen 5 for all BRAW footage. This makes matching easiest for me. Again, this doesn't work for the clientele that doesn't embrace Resolve and don't use BRAW.

I need some help, I dont understand why is this update is so important for so many users. Once you import your BRAW footage into DaVinci, you can just choose your colourspace, can you not? I still work with the URSA mini Pro G1 and I can change the setting in post in the raw settings.

unless somebody can explain to me that this method only comes with some penalty in regards of quality or color rendering. Im not an expert here, I just assumed that I dont need this camera internal update.

I invite you to read the discussion we have on this topic to find answers like :
- Shooting ProRes doesn't allow you to change the color science in post;
- Matching cameras on set (for example a BMPCC 6K with an URSA G2) is currently impossible if not all the recent BMD cameras are updated with the same firmware and using the same color science;
- Developing a LUT to use in camera as well as in post is currently more difficult due to the difference between Gen 4 (in camera) and Gen 5 (in post, with the Raw tab). In fact, you need to create 2 LUTs, one for Gen 4 and one for Gen 5.

By the way, this topic is also discussing the overall problem of giving firmware updates (with more features and new color science) to older cameras (BMPCC 4K) but not to the newest, more capable and more expansive ones (URSA G2).

I suspect you may not see a revised firmware version for the G2. There may be a practical limit to how much can be wrought by BM out of the existing electronic design versus introducing some unexpected bads.

The existing G2 and 12K seem to be fairly matured. One certainly does not read as many tales of woe as for the G1. Scavengers for repairable wrecks like me have not seen any 12Ks looking for a rescue.

One physically damaged G2 offered on eBay went off at what I thought was a high price.

In fairness, the G1 has been around for a fair old while now. Specimens I have recently seen have not been hangar queens but honest workers with worn handgrips, lens mount faces, skin and hair off the outside and dust inside.

Major revision of the existing bodies would almost certainly require revisions to the internal hardware profiles and that might be asking for un-necessary trouble. "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it."

My imagining, maybe wrongly is that there might be minor cosmetic re-style to the fronts of the of the side-covers and base cover, maybe more squarish and or the main body being shortened at the rear. I for one favour the existing taper-front for easier manual access to the lens controls and being easier able to see what it going on without having twist and strain to look around a flat corner.

A shorter body at the rear would permit a rear-attaching subassembly containing the media card docks, including caseless SSD docks and the battery mount making up the original length. The downside is that the side covers, the base cover, the main frame and upper cover would all have to be majorly redesigned for little real benefit except to make space for a caseless SSD dock.

The troublesome USB port as a media connection would be eliminated, needed only for firmware updates.

BM would have to be careful of assailing the sensitivities of Red Corp as this might be interpreted as stackable modules which Red may have hogtied with patents. The existing design is fine albeit time-consuming to pull apart for a repair.

I can now strip one bare in 45 minutes but careful re-assembly takes me longer. Factor in the cost of labour for the daily productivity of say four units per repairman for simple substitutions and you can see why beyond a certain point, repairs are uneconomic, especially if dinky intermittent faults require hunting down.

A major redesign risks opening the floodgates of more warranty returns. I don't think anyone or BM wants that.

Factor in the cost of labour for the daily productivity of say four units per repairman for simple substitutions and you can see why beyond a certain point, repairs are uneconomic, especially if dinky intermittent faults require hunting down.

It will be cheaper for BM to just replace rather than repair, with a replacement cost of 15-20% of the list price.

BRAW isn't necessarily the problem. I've set Resolve up on my computers to Default have the BRAW Settings use Gen 5 for all BRAW footage. This makes matching easiest for me. Again, this doesn't work for the clientele that doesn't embrace Resolve and don't use BRAW.

How do you default to that?

with a replacement cost of 15-20% of the list price

That seems quite a margin, Ellory? The FPGA based processing is more expensive to produce in quantity than similar ASIC based designs, even though initial development can be quicker and more cost effective. There are more limits too to how adaptable FPGA programming is, than many assume, and the lack of a new firmware may be simply that the G2 has reached its limit in possibilities for future firmware programming. Each generation of hardware is developed in tandem with current codec and software development and Gen 5 didn't exist when this model was introduced.

It's perhaps broadly analogous as to why some older PCs cannot be upgraded to Windows 11, they lack the hardware components necessary.

with a replacement cost of 15-20% of the list price

That seems quite a margin, Ellory? The FPGA based processing is more expensive to produce in quantity than similar ASIC based designs, even though initial development can be quicker and more cost effective. There are limits too to how adaptable FPGA programming is and the lack of a new firmware may be simply that the G2 has reached its limit in possibilities for future firmware programming.

So it reached its limit back in 2019, the year of its launch, considering that it never received any update since then ?
On the other hand the BMPCC 4K, released in 2018, still receives firmware updates up to this day.
Should we understand that the URSA G2 has been released with lesser quality electronics that cannot handle a firmware update supported by an older and cheaper camera like the BMPCC 4K ?
In summary, that’s a 0 year vs 4 years firmware updates support.

On the other hand the BMPCC 4K, released in 2018, still receives firmware updates up to this day.
Should we understand that the URSA G2 has been released with lesser quality electronics that cannot handle a firmware update supported by an older and cheaper camera like the BMPCC 4K ?

It's a valid point but the 4K may just contain a different type of FPGA that can be updated. It wouldn't be that the G2 has lesser components, it probably has better ones but they were designed more strictly for their intended purpose - the dual gain iso that gives the G2 its very fast sensor read out, for example, may take up a great deal of processing already... but then I'm not a hardware engineer and it could just be model differentiation for marketing purposes so as to aid new 12K sales. The G2 is still around, I suspect, since it is the only Netflix approved camera currently in BMDs line up and it would be perhaps unwise to drop it until another arrives or is similarly approved.

On the other hand the BMPCC 4K, released in 2018, still receives firmware updates up to this day.
Should we understand that the URSA G2 has been released with lesser quality electronics that cannot handle a firmware update supported by an older and cheaper camera like the BMPCC 4K ?

It's a valid point but the 4K may just contain a different type of FPGA that can be updated. It wouldn't be that the G2 has lesser components, it probably has better ones but they were designed more strictly for their intended purpose...but then I'm not a hardware engineer and it could just be model differentiation for marketing purposes so as to aid new 12K sales. The G2 is still around, I suspect, since it is the only Netflix approved camera currently in BMDs line up and it would be perhaps unwise to drop it until another arrives or is similarly approved.

Well, then it would be such a bad decision from the developers of this camera. As far as it was released one year after the BMPCC 4K, this would mean that they chose to put more restriction in the FPGA of the camera making it less flexible than its cheaper predecessor.
By the way, I highly suspect that they were already working on the development of the Gen 5 color science when releasing the URSA G2. So this would mean that they really didn’t care about this camera being future proof - future being a big word considering that the Gen 5 color science was introduced only 2 years after the release of the URSA G2.

Well, then it would be such a bad decision from the developers of this camera. As far as it was released one year after the BMPCC 4K, this would mean that they chose to put more restriction in the FPGA of the camera making it less flexible than its cheaper predecessor.

If it were so, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad decision, since components like these are selected off the shelf, they are not manufactured by BMD, and the unexpected possibilities of one or the other might not be revealed until later. Even if they were working on Gen 5 in 2019, the G2 probably dates back to 2017 in developmental terms, perhaps.

As I say there's a lot more processing going on in the G2, particularly with that sensor - the 4K has dual iso non-concurrently, whereas the G2 runs them at the same time, a la Alexa, to get very good readout speed and excellent DR. It's the same sensor as earlier Ursas but this feature was new. There simply might not be anymore processing power for that and Gen 5 too, I don't know. Pure speculation again on my part.

I already gave up on the hope that a new firmware will be release for the UMP G2. Sad but it is what it is.

I think BM will be worth the purchase on low priced ticket items like BMPCC, ATEMS, and the Micro Panels. I think anything that is less than $2,500USD is where one would look to buy with the BM brand. That was if it breaks or they decide to put the product in an end of life early as they come out with newer cheaper models, it’s not painful on the pocket. Don’t get me wrong, I love the URSA but at the $6K and up, it’s probably better to look at a more reliable and supported brand.

Interesting that we are talking about this because a couple of weeks ago, my Panasonic GH5 had a hiccup. I’ve had that camera for 4 years and have been using it for video work and I think that camera model has been around longer than I had like. But I called Panasonic and send it to them for repair the same day I called them. They had the viewfinder part that was malfunctioning and repaired it. Soup to nuts, it cost me $217. A bit steep for a small repair on an old camera but my point is that they had the parts and within 10 days, I got my camera back and all is good.

Meanwhile, I sent in my Micro Panel to BM for repair because all of a sudden the Shadow Knob fails to work with DVR. It has been over a week now since BM received it and the only email I got from BM support was from yesterday letting me know that it is still on the bench for the technician to look at. And for a $895 device, it will be probably cheaper for them to charge me a 10% replacement fee and send out a new one. That is faster and cheaper for everyone and not getting into the business of fixing at all since it seems like they don’t have the resources of the big boys (Panasonic, Sony, etc.). Still waiting to hear what the diagnosis is.

I already gave up on the hope that a new firmware will be release for the UMP G2. Sad but it is what it is.

It's a very fine camera still, Ellory. I'd buy one if I was a cinema DP still today.

I already gave up on the hope that a new firmware will be release for the UMP G2. Sad but it is what it is.

It's a very fine camera still, Ellory. I'd buy one if I was a cinema DP still today.

I know and I am enjoying my G2. Just saying because like Tim, I have been banging the drums for firmware updates since 2-3 years ago and it has just fallen on BM deaf ears.

Considering its been quiet a while for any new camera release by BMD standard (I don't count the Pocket 6K G2 as a new camera, only a rehashed dumbed down version of the 6K Pro) the camera tech department would have plenty of time to develop firmware updates for their existing cameras. 6 months for any new cameras or firmware feature updates is a very long time in the camera world.

Well, then it would be such a bad decision from the developers of this camera. As far as it was released one year after the BMPCC 4K, this would mean that they chose to put more restriction in the FPGA of the camera making it less flexible than its cheaper predecessor.

If it were so, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad decision, since components like these are selected off the shelf, they are not manufactured by BMD, and the unexpected possibilities of one or the other might not be revealed until later. Even if they were working on Gen 5 in 2019, the G2 probably dates back to 2017 in developmental terms, perhaps.

As I say there's a lot more processing going on in the G2, particularly with that sensor - the 4K has dual iso non-concurrently, whereas the G2 runs them at the same time, a la Alexa, to get very good readout speed and excellent DR. It's the same sensor as earlier Ursas but this feature was new. There simply might not be anymore processing power for that and Gen 5 too, I don't know. Pure speculation again on my part.

I am convinced that the URSA G2 could handle a firmware update. I don’t think there is much processing power needed to work on a different gamma curve and color science. It’s just a swap technically speaking. The struggle could happen in the updating process but this camera has already survived one firmware update the year of its release (bug fixes if I remember correctly).
As far as the processing proper is higher on the G2, I am expecting better or same firmware support compared to a Pocket camera.
Still crossing my fingers for a firmware to be released but I believe more and more that the G2 will be out of their catalog very soon.

Considering its been quiet a while for any new camera release by BMD standard (I don't count the Pocket 6K G2 as a new camera, only a rehashed dumbed down version of the 6K Pro) the camera tech department would have plenty of time to develop firmware updates for their existing cameras. 6 months for any new cameras or firmware feature updates is a very long time in the camera world.

Indeed, as far as coding goes nowadays, impressive stuff can be developed firmware wise to provide new features to older systems. If we even consider the G2 as an old camera, which is definitely not the case.

The interesting thing is that the UMP G2 is still being sold by retailer "new". That should still be suitable for firmware upgrades. The one that is of importance is the Gen 5 update, and then some. But this has been asked since Gen 5 came out on the Pocket 4K.

Hi everybody,
apologies if this is a rookie question but, why is it so important for the camera to receive an update that supports the Gen5 color science?

it is my understanding that once shot in BRAW (as I do in my Ursa mini Pro Gen1) and once opened in davinci, I can very easily select which color space and which gamma curve I want the sensor data to be interpreted with.
or did I get it completely wrong? please help me understand this discussion.

It's important for people who have to deliver ProRes to clients right after the shoot, or for live broadcast/streaming.

Hi everybody,
apologies if this is a rookie question but, why is it so important for the camera to receive an update that supports the Gen5 color science?

it is my understanding that once shot in BRAW (as I do in my Ursa mini Pro Gen1) and once opened in davinci, I can very easily select which color space and which gamma curve I want the sensor data to be interpreted with.
or did I get it completely wrong? please help me understand this discussion.

With all my respect, if you would have read this discussion, you wouldn’t ask how to understand it.
All the reasons are already clearly explained in this very discussion.
I don’t think that rewriting things again and again is necessary.