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Ursa Broadcast G2 as cinema camera

PostPosted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 6:15 pm
by mpdpcc
I saw a Youtube video about the Ursa Broadcast G2 camera, which I wasn't familiar with before. Apparently it's a "Ursa"-version of the Pocket 6K.

I have been shooting smaller narrative and commercial projects with my personal Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K G1 for 7 years now. I'm looking to get a camera with better low light capability. I have been looking at Sony cameras, but since I already own the BM EVF and other accessories for the Ursa Mini Pro, and also a lot of CFast 2.0 media, the best option would be to replace just the camera "body".

I've been considering the 12K and the UMP G2, but both of them are not Dual ISO cameras, and apparently they should also be used only with the native 800 ISO if you want to get the best image.

I don't shoot traditional broadcast stuff, no live stuff, no ENG.

It seems that the Broadcast G2 can be used as a cinema camera.

There seems to be few negatives:
- No Prores 4444
- Some non-16:9 resolutions are missing

So my question is, am I missing something crucial? If I replace my UMP G1 with the Broadcast G2 should everything go smoothly or is there something that I haven't considered which makes the camera unusable for narrative and commercial work?

Re: Ursa Broadcast G2 as cinema camera

PostPosted: Mon Feb 19, 2024 8:46 pm
by mpdpcc
I forgot to add the bad rolling shutter performance. Will it get good enough if you go down to UHD?
If not, it seems like a dealbreaker...

Re: Ursa Broadcast G2 as cinema camera

PostPosted: Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:21 pm
by timbutt2
The Broadcast G2 is really a broadcast camera first. It doesn’t do ISO but instead Gain, so you’ll have to rework your brain to thing in terms of DB instead of ISO numbers. Not hard, but annoying.

It slags the 6K sensor that was used in the Pockets, so it has all the flaws and drawbacks of those sensors with no benefits coming from the better URSA body other than the connectivity I/O Ports and other physical body enhancements. Slow rolling shutter and mediocre high frame rates come to mind.

Yeah, the lack of ProRes 444 is annoying. Especially since we know the URSA body can handle it with the 4.6K models. The 120 FPS of 4.6K BRAW is easily as intensive as doing 6K at 60 FPS. So the fact that the body doesn’t get that higher frame rate bump proves it’s the sensor that is the culprit for crippling features.

Honestly, I love my UMPG2. But it’s 5-years old now. There’s bound to be a new camera this year. I’m looking forward to the release of a potential URSA updated body with a VistaVision sensor.


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