Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

The place for questions about shooting with Blackmagic Cameras.
  • Author
  • Message
Offline
User avatar

timbutt2

  • Posts: 3589
  • Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2013 10:32 am
  • Location: St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of Amercia

Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostWed Jun 25, 2025 12:07 am

So, my buddy is taking meeting with a Vertical Video Distribution company for narrative shorts that find an audience. They have sizable budgets. So he's asking me about shooting Vertical Video. I told him the Pocket 6K Pro has Vertical Orientation UI and automatically handles the footage to show up correctly in Resolve without having to manually adjust it in post.

I would love for this to come to the URSA Cine 12K and PYXIS 6K/12K models as well. As much as I hate asking for this, and it pain me to do it, it must be requested. There's the gyroscope built in to the cameras just like the Pocket line. So it should be possible.

I already shared the Wooden Camera Vertical Camera Bracket with my buddy to demonstrate the easy tool we'd need for mounting the camera in vertical orientation. The Pocket line is easy to do this already with the firmware. All we need is for it to happen in the URSA Cine and PYXIS line.

I'm begrudgingly making this feature request. Sadly, this fad is here for now. I'm sure it will fade soon. But for now we have to accommodate it. Remember, I personally hate Vertical Video.
Real Name: Tim Buttner (timbutt2)

Cameras: URSA Cine 12K & Pocket 6K Pro
Past: UMPG2, UM4.6K, P6K, BMCC2.5K
Computers: iMac 5K (Mid 2020) & M4 Pro MacBook Pro 16" (Late 2024)
Offline
User avatar

Sam Merrill

  • Posts: 4
  • Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2024 1:14 am
  • Location: Laie, Oahu, Hawaii
  • Real Name: Sam Merrill

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostWed Jun 25, 2025 7:00 am

timbutt2 wrote:So, my buddy is taking meeting with a Vertical Video Distribution company for narrative shorts that find an audience. They have sizable budgets. So he's asking me about shooting Vertical Video. I told him the Pocket 6K Pro has Vertical Orientation UI and automatically handles the footage to show up correctly in Resolve without having to manually adjust it in post.

I would love for this to come to the URSA Cine 12K and PYXIS 6K/12K models as well. As much as I hate asking for this, and it pain me to do it, it must be requested. There's the gyroscope built in to the cameras just like the Pocket line. So it should be possible.

I already shared the Wooden Camera Vertical Camera Bracket with my buddy to demonstrate the easy tool we'd need for mounting the camera in vertical orientation. The Pocket line is easy to do this already with the firmware. All we need is for it to happen in the URSA Cine and PYXIS line.

I'm begrudgingly making this feature request. Sadly, this fad is here for now. I'm sure it will fade soon. But for now we have to accommodate it. Remember, I personally hate Vertical Video.
Works on my BMCC 6K FF too. Never tried on my PYXIS. Surprised it doesn’t currently work! Maybe was an oversight?

Also, honorable request. We’ve all had to accept this reality, sadly
Sam Merrill PYXIS 12K, Cinema Camera 6K
Instagram: @happy.man.sam
Offline
User avatar

STEFANvDIEST

  • Posts: 33
  • Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2023 12:00 am
  • Location: Belgium
  • Real Name: Stefan van Diest

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostWed Jun 25, 2025 6:32 pm

Almost 18 years ago I made a short short film in vertical, before "social media content" was a thing, and remember thinking "this vertical framing is pretty cool". Some years later I did a vertical anamorphic video which is actually really nice haha.
So I can't honestly say im against this format/feature :D
But yes in this day and age its not uncommon to shoot vertical if your deliverables are only vertical so this would be a good thing to have!
Cinematographer - SBC
Offline
User avatar

rick.lang

  • Posts: 18690
  • Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 5:41 pm
  • Location: Victoria BC Canada

Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostWed Jun 25, 2025 9:56 pm

Are there any emerging standard aspect ratios for delivery of vertical videos? For example: 9x16 or 1:2?
Rick Lang
Offline

ShaheedMalik

  • Posts: 1592
  • Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2020 5:28 am
  • Real Name: Shaheed Malik

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostWed Jun 25, 2025 10:36 pm

rick.lang wrote:Are there any emerging standard aspect ratios for delivery of vertical videos? For example: 9x16 or 1:2?

9x16 is common.
Offline
User avatar

timbutt2

  • Posts: 3589
  • Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2013 10:32 am
  • Location: St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of Amercia

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostWed Jun 25, 2025 11:40 pm

rick.lang wrote:Are there any emerging standard aspect ratios for delivery of vertical videos? For example: 9x16 or 1:2?

It's generally 9:16 and 4:5 ratios. In some instances you have to have 4:5 for scrolling, and then 9:16 for when the video is clicked and made full screen.
Real Name: Tim Buttner (timbutt2)

Cameras: URSA Cine 12K & Pocket 6K Pro
Past: UMPG2, UM4.6K, P6K, BMCC2.5K
Computers: iMac 5K (Mid 2020) & M4 Pro MacBook Pro 16" (Late 2024)
Offline
User avatar

rick.lang

  • Posts: 18690
  • Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 5:41 pm
  • Location: Victoria BC Canada

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostWed Jun 25, 2025 11:42 pm

Thanks, gentlemen.
Rick Lang
Offline
User avatar

Rakesh Malik

  • Posts: 3403
  • Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2012 1:01 am
  • Location: Vancouver, BC

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostFri Jun 27, 2025 2:11 am

The vertical production companies have been the busiest here in Vancouver, though we're FINALLY up to 40 regular productions ongoing, with The Last of Us, God of War, and Shogun gearing up for production.

The ones I've seen have all been filming in 9:16. Though I think using an UC 12K sideways would be insanely awkward, there's more than enough resolution for a 9:16 crop, so it should be a relatively straightforward option to add, though the UX might take a while to iron out.
Rakesh Malik
Cinematographer, VFX Artist, photographer, adventurer, martial artist
http://WinterLightStudios.ca
System:
Asus ProArt 16/64GB/12 core Zen5/nVidia RTX 4070 8GB
Nuke/Houdini/Resolve
Offline
User avatar

rick.lang

  • Posts: 18690
  • Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 5:41 pm
  • Location: Victoria BC Canada

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostFri Jun 27, 2025 2:25 am

Sure, shoot 12K or even 9K 6:5 spherical (not anamorphic) aspect ratio and crop in post to 9:16. I think it would be acceptable.
Rick Lang
Offline
User avatar

Rakesh Malik

  • Posts: 3403
  • Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2012 1:01 am
  • Location: Vancouver, BC

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostFri Jun 27, 2025 2:35 am

That might make their editors explode though; their turnarounds are ludicrous.
Rakesh Malik
Cinematographer, VFX Artist, photographer, adventurer, martial artist
http://WinterLightStudios.ca
System:
Asus ProArt 16/64GB/12 core Zen5/nVidia RTX 4070 8GB
Nuke/Houdini/Resolve
Offline
User avatar

rick.lang

  • Posts: 18690
  • Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 5:41 pm
  • Location: Victoria BC Canada

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostFri Jun 27, 2025 3:17 am

So looks like BMD should include a 9:16 capture ratio for Cine 12K and Pyxis 12K ASAP. Hollywood True North needs it!
Rick Lang
Offline
User avatar

timbutt2

  • Posts: 3589
  • Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2013 10:32 am
  • Location: St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of Amercia

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostFri Jun 27, 2025 4:11 am

I mean, at 8K Open Gate 5360 is plenty of resolution for the 9:16 guides in horizontal orientation. However awkward orienting the camera vertically is it still is something that will be done. Especially with that Bracket.

Arri came out with their own solutions for their cameras several years ago:
Real Name: Tim Buttner (timbutt2)

Cameras: URSA Cine 12K & Pocket 6K Pro
Past: UMPG2, UM4.6K, P6K, BMCC2.5K
Computers: iMac 5K (Mid 2020) & M4 Pro MacBook Pro 16" (Late 2024)
Offline
User avatar

rick.lang

  • Posts: 18690
  • Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 5:41 pm
  • Location: Victoria BC Canada

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostFri Jun 27, 2025 11:46 am

But as Rakesh points out, shooters could meet demands for instant turnaround of media by recording 9:16 without post production.
Rick Lang
Offline
User avatar

Rakesh Malik

  • Posts: 3403
  • Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2012 1:01 am
  • Location: Vancouver, BC

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostFri Jun 27, 2025 8:26 pm

timbutt2 wrote:I mean, at 8K Open Gate 5360 is plenty of resolution for the 9:16 guides in horizontal orientation. However awkward orienting the camera vertically is it still is something that will be done. Especially with that Bracket.


Again, think about post production. They create feature length films that release within a month of wrap. They don't have high end budgets, and they don't have time. They don't even record in raw; all of the verticals I've been on have been filming with Sony cameras and recording internally -- which means they're recording in XAVC. They also shoot 10-12 pages a day.

The 12K's internal scaling makes a 9:16 crop scaled to UHD resolution perfect for their niche, but I still suspect that their heads would explode upon seeing the 12K emblazoned on the cameras.
Rakesh Malik
Cinematographer, VFX Artist, photographer, adventurer, martial artist
http://WinterLightStudios.ca
System:
Asus ProArt 16/64GB/12 core Zen5/nVidia RTX 4070 8GB
Nuke/Houdini/Resolve
Offline
User avatar

timbutt2

  • Posts: 3589
  • Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2013 10:32 am
  • Location: St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of Amercia

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostFri Jun 27, 2025 9:27 pm

Rakesh Malik wrote:
timbutt2 wrote:I mean, at 8K Open Gate 5360 is plenty of resolution for the 9:16 guides in horizontal orientation. However awkward orienting the camera vertically is it still is something that will be done. Especially with that Bracket.


Again, think about post production. They create feature length films that release within a month of wrap. They don't have high end budgets, and they don't have time. They don't even record in raw; all of the verticals I've been on have been filming with Sony cameras and recording internally -- which means they're recording in XAVC. They also shoot 10-12 pages a day.

The 12K's internal scaling makes a 9:16 crop scaled to UHD resolution perfect for their niche, but I still suspect that their heads would explode upon seeing the 12K emblazoned on the cameras.
My buddy was saying that the company he interviewed with had sizable budgets for projects. Didn’t get into how many days the shoots are or how many pages per day. But did quote one director’s day rate fee which sounded decent.

We will just have to see if he lands the projects. I gave him my best input. I’m not a fan of vertical and he knows it. But I’ve experimented and he knows I have. So I am open minded.

I think he was trying to pitch them on doing some action shorts for vertical platforms. Again, we will have to see what comes of that interview.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Real Name: Tim Buttner (timbutt2)

Cameras: URSA Cine 12K & Pocket 6K Pro
Past: UMPG2, UM4.6K, P6K, BMCC2.5K
Computers: iMac 5K (Mid 2020) & M4 Pro MacBook Pro 16" (Late 2024)
Offline
User avatar

Rakesh Malik

  • Posts: 3403
  • Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2012 1:01 am
  • Location: Vancouver, BC

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostFri Jun 27, 2025 10:16 pm

timbutt2 wrote:My buddy was saying that the company he interviewed with had sizable budgets for projects. Didn’t get into how many days the shoots are or how many pages per day. But did quote one director’s day rate fee which sounded decent.


Our verticals make Hallmark films look expensive and luxurious. The rates I've seen on those so far are very low.

If they get popular enough though then maybe investors will spend more on them.

We will just have to see if he lands the projects. I gave him my best input. I’m not a fan of vertical and he knows it. But I’ve experimented and he knows I have. So I am open minded.


I'm not a fan of the format either, but work is work.

Our verticals do have a rather unsavory reputation though, because some of the verticals were softcore pr0n and weren't very good about paying people.

The ones I've worked on have all had essentially the same hoky story, but more like Hallmark stories with swearing than anything else, and the longest I had to wait to get paid was three days. Most paid me within 24 hours.

I think he was trying to pitch them on doing some action shorts for vertical platforms. Again, we will have to see what comes of that interview.


If their popularity continues growing they'll probably become mainstream.
Rakesh Malik
Cinematographer, VFX Artist, photographer, adventurer, martial artist
http://WinterLightStudios.ca
System:
Asus ProArt 16/64GB/12 core Zen5/nVidia RTX 4070 8GB
Nuke/Houdini/Resolve
Offline
User avatar

timbutt2

  • Posts: 3589
  • Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2013 10:32 am
  • Location: St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of Amercia

Re: Feature Request: UCine & PYXIS Vertical Orientation UI

PostFri Jun 27, 2025 11:31 pm

Rakesh Malik wrote:Our verticals make Hallmark films look expensive and luxurious. The rates I've seen on those so far are very low.

If they get popular enough though then maybe investors will spend more on them.

I'm not a fan of the format either, but work is work.

Our verticals do have a rather unsavory reputation though, because some of the verticals were softcore pr0n and weren't very good about paying people.

The ones I've worked on have all had essentially the same hoky story, but more like Hallmark stories with swearing than anything else, and the longest I had to wait to get paid was three days. Most paid me within 24 hours.

If their popularity continues growing they'll probably become mainstream.

That's a pity to hear. Especially making Hallmark look expensive. That's a tall order.

Also a shame about the softcore corn type of content that weren't good about paying people. Here in Florida we have an age restriction that means cornhub and others block the site from out state. So I don't even know if anyone here is trying to make that content at all due to the laws.

The cheesy and hoky stories aren't fun. But at least those seem to pay quick near you. I'd rather be paid quick than slow. I don't know why the hoky stories are a go to. But if there's an audience then fine. However, I hope people would expand to better storytelling soon.
Real Name: Tim Buttner (timbutt2)

Cameras: URSA Cine 12K & Pocket 6K Pro
Past: UMPG2, UM4.6K, P6K, BMCC2.5K
Computers: iMac 5K (Mid 2020) & M4 Pro MacBook Pro 16" (Late 2024)

Return to Cinematography

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Food4Thought and 163 guests