Blackmagic Forum

Would the URSAs better cooling improve the noise we know from the 4K sensor?

Yes. The cooler the sensor, the better the noise.

Sort of.


Cooling the sensor reduces dark current. This usually only is an issue with long exposure photography, but because digital video cameras are "switching" their sensor on and off so much (not really, but you know what I mean), the sensor may suffer the same issues during a long sequence as a long exposure would.

So sensor cooling would be effective for the following situation:

If the camera is on long enough for the cooling system to cool the sensor prior to shoot, and
If the shoot itself is continuous for a period of time over, say, a few minutes per cut, and
IF the camera is shooting many takes over hours at a time.

Clearly BM wants the URSA to be used by film makers or folks shooting long takes, so cooling makes sense. For a run and gun guy, it probably wouldn't make sense.