Blackmagic URSA

They just stole the show

This camera looks very similar to my prediction a few weeks ago.....


:-p


I love it!

is that for real?

It looks incredible but OMG!!!! Shipping July again??????

Tom...you should sue!

well, now we know why no new firmware updates for us. Looks like everyone has been busy with yet more camera products.

sigh.

wow. I didn't think they could surprise me again...

Atleast we finally see 60p

This is what they should have made from day one. but the huge VU meters show no real hope for previous cameras!

and proper XLR's and AUDIO MONITORS

Aja cion will smash this

Not unexpected...

TC in and TC out
BIG SOUND Meters on the side for whoever needs them...

Aja cion will smash this

Not sure... I kinda feel the BMD URSA will be a favourite for most

Aja cion will smash this

Not sure... I kinda feel the BMD URSA will be a favourite for most

at $6k, i agree. but it looks like its the 4k BMPC in a new body.. who wants that sensor anyways?

Looks like it might fit on a standard Sony VCT-14 plate, but what about the viewfinder/mounting options for when you want it on your shoulder?

Aja cion will smash this

Not sure... I kinda feel the BMD URSA will be a favourite for most

I dunno about that. Releasing two new cameras instead of fixing existing products (again) will be enough to send customers elsewhere with a bad taste in their mouth. We have both blackmagic and Aja hardware at work and Aja has always been solid where blackmagic had failed.

I'm reserved, this camera has the same sensor as the BMPC4K. Until I see the FPN issue fixed, there is no way I'm buying another paper weight.

Although, if they can fix it.......... take my money, wow this thing is cool.

Shipping in July!! THIS MADE ME LAUGH!

My *ss hurts so badly from getting F**ked over by Blackmagic Design, leaving me with in-upgradeable products including the BMCC 2.5K and the BMPC 4K cameras respectively. Good thing I told my clients to hold off until NAB 2014.

Aja cion will smash this

Not sure... I kinda feel the BMD URSA will be a favourite for most

at $6k, i agree. but it looks like its the 4k BMPC in a new body.. who wants that sensor anyways?

Thats what I thought reading the specs. More conections, proper audio, those fancy screens (that I liked) and a bigger housing for a BMPC4K. And for the double of the price...

Let me thinking "What about the end results?" which is what really matters...

The god news is that both new cameras look to be using existing sensors, so there is an interest for BMD to fix any known sensor issues.

With lens and battery this is going to be almost 20lbs

¡Crap! I don't know what to start looking at, if the URSA or the Studio Camera, or other goodies.

Cool looking camera, Now fix the ones you got. Also thanks for price dropping the 2.5K version to the point of making a brick of it and having no scaleable reach like the current 4k market wants. Yes, who needs 4k right? well you just made 3 4k cameras, how about a upgrade to us, i mean my camera went from worth $3,000 to $800 in a 8 months. Do you guys just give away the 2.5k for people showing up at your booth at NAB?

At least it has 60fps ...lmao!

Christ, I was just starting to get acquainted with the BMPC4K. In all honesty, while I've been impressed with the resolution, the dynamic range has really been concerning me. So of course, I was on the phone trying to pre-order the URSA EF as soon as I heard the announcement.

Does anyone know where you can pre-order the URSA EF? I pre-ordered last year from the NAB floor. The AJA costs about 3k-4k more than the URSA. AJA is also a recorder company like Black Magic, so they come from a similar pedigree. We'll see how they deal with shipping dates and firmware updates.

For those complaining about the BMPC4K sensor that appears to be part of the URSA's initial spec, you'll be able to replace the sensor and the lens mount later, as described on the new site page. I love how they have rod holes right underneath the front of the lens mount and a top handle built into it.

http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicursa

B4!! Awesome!!!

I am impressed by you BM Team! Five cameras for three years, four from them you put on the market for two years... Blow-minding speed... Now you have cameras on each price category... Thats a win! Anybody knows who has done something like that? Me not...
BRAVO

Jeremy I think there will be upgrades after their conference today lets keep our fingers crossed

[Tony Rivera]

I see a butt load of returns of the 4k cams at B&H for sure! I just got mine last week and then this !

Thats what I thought reading the specs. More conections, proper audio, those fancy screens (that I liked) and a bigger housing for a BMPC4K. And for the double of the price...

Let me thinking "What about the end results?" which is what really matters...

And storage cards that are $1200 for 120gb. I was really digging the EF URSA until I saw the storage prices.

Looks like a nice camera, but I think I'll stick with my BMCC and BMPCC for now.

This camera looks amazing and seemingly saves money on a lot of accessories, but Cfast 2.0 cards are currently selling for about $10/GB. B&H is selling 120GB cards for $1200.00.

Talk about costs adding up. Sheesh.

And July? Lol

don't worry, by the time this camera ships, those cards will be much less. And by the time this camera ships with firmware to make it work to the advertised specs, those cards will be outdated and available on ebay for pennies.

So, I didn't read through all the specs but from what I did read, what makes this different from the BM4PC? Audiometers and 60p? Pass.

Native ASA?

I'm assuming this is the same sensor as the BM4K.

There's still plenty of reason to get the 2.5K cam. Plenty.

What the actual ****?
This is SICK for 5995.

What the actual ****?
This is SICK for 5995.

How? It has the same sensor and basically the same specs as the BM4PC which is 3 grand cheaper. Help me understand what's so awesome about it?

Native ASA?

I'm assuming this is the same sensor as the BM4K.

There's still plenty of reason to get the 2.5K cam. Plenty.

Yeah, it looks astonishingly cool but image wise I'm happy with the 2.5K.

But to reiterate: damn, it looks cool!

Great job BMD. Form factor we've all been waiting for. And the price is so right.
I love this camera already. 60p is a good move. I'm sure they did steal the show with this 1.

Who designs these cameras? A shoulder mountable operators camera is a great idea and probably what we all want but yet again I'm left confused by design decisions...

Particularly the 10" ipad attached to the camera which will be about 3 inches from your face if you put this on your shoulder. Who wants a monitor that big? And you've got a settings monitor on the focus puller side...great...except if they want to reload mags they would have to go through your face. Why? Everything black magic always feels half baked; we're three years down the line and I just wish they were using the products they're designing and realising what a hit it would be if they got these (basic) things right.


Finally, the audio meters?? Who needs them to be this large? To me it feels like a bit of a '**** you' to all of us with previous gen cameras who don't have any...but that may be my cynicism.

July 2014
I don't think so. How can you launch a new camera when you haven't even sorted out the problems of the existing ones? I just don't understand. I certainly will not be popping no deposit down until I see an awful lot of the other issues sorted first. Where are MY audio meters, where is MY ability to reformat in camera…….that actually makes my existing camera work properly. Seems to be a complete disregard for existing customers.

IF it has 60P- I wonder, does it really? The pattern for BM is to share firmware for all their cameras. So is their firmware for the show the Beta firmware for all the cameras- and all the cameras then will soon get 60P???? Also, audio meters??? And everything else everyone has been asking for?????


Clearly these two cameras answer the reason they haven't been putting out major firmware upgrades. I think they are testing their new software with their new gear, and until they get the software right in the new gear (July??? lol), no upgrades for you!

What the actual ****?
This is SICK for 5995.

How? It has the same sensor and basically the same specs as the BM4PC which is 3 grand cheaper. Help me understand what's so awesome about it?

Proper audio, proper monitoring via 2x 5 inch screens, a great 10 inch screen, more connections and a bigger, heavier (and cool) housing. Is this worth 3.000 $ more?

Maybe the possibility to "change" the sensor for a better one in the future and keep all the rest...

Well, I like it, but it is far from a run & gun camera. Oh well. I keep my Sony a little longer.

What the actual ****?
This is SICK for 5995.

How? It has the same sensor and basically the same specs as the BM4PC which is 3 grand cheaper. Help me understand what's so awesome about it?

Proper audio, proper monitoring via 2x 5 inch screens, a great 10 inch screen, more connections and a bigger, heavier (and cool) housing. Is this worth 3.000 $ more?

Maybe the possibility to "change" the sensor for a better one in the future and keep all the rest...

It's sounds like a cool camera, don't get me wrong, but if those are the only selling points over the BM4PC then it's not really worth $3000 more imo.

Proper audio, proper monitoring via 2x 5 inch screens, a great 10 inch screen, more connections and a bigger, heavier (and cool) housing. Is this worth 3.000 $ more?

Maybe the possibility to "change" the sensor for a better one in the future and keep all the rest...

It's sounds like a cool camera, don't get me wrong, but if those are the only selling points over the BM4PC then it's not really worth $3000 more imo.

Thats what I meant. At first, looks like an Alexa in a BMCC manner, but when you look better... its not that much innovation.

And one thing everyone is not seeing. With that much screens, connections and other, that camera might need a lot more power to keep it on then we need for the actual cameras. So, another big concern to add to the cost, weight and more.

While Arri tried to make a smaller Alexa, BMD tried to make a bigger and heavier BMPC4K

Well this camera might be $3.000 pricier, but compared to my BMCC for which I paid 3.000 back then plus $1.400 for the external monitor plus $1.200 for the cage, rod support and V-mount adapter, plus an external audio recorder for phantom power for $500 - suddenly this new camera doesn't look that expensive.

What the actual ****?
This is SICK for 5995.

Proper audio, proper monitoring via 2x 5 inch screens, a great 10 inch screen, more connections and a bigger, heavier (and cool) housing. Is this worth 3.000 $ more?

Maybe the possibility to "change" the sensor for a better one in the future and keep all the rest...

It's sounds like a cool camera, don't get me wrong, but if those are the only selling points over the BM4PC then it's not really worth $3000 more imo.

Higher Frame Rates...it has 60fps and it will be upgradeable to 100+ fps because of the new cooling solution. While this comes standard with a Red, you will be paying about twice as much for this feature without any on-board monitoring solution. I think the important thing is that Black Magic has sensor upgrades on their road map instead of building a new camera. Hopefully the URSA will house all their future sensor and feature upgrades for the forseeable future so they can stop releasing a new camera every year.

Well this camera might be $3.000 pricier, but compared to my BMCC for which I paid 3.000 back then plus $1.400 for the external monitor plus $1.200 for the cage, rod support and V-mount adapter, plus an external audio recorder for phantom power for $500 - suddenly this new camera doesn't look that expensive.

Exactly. They built the camera that included everything people said the BMCC/4K lacked (and would be willing to pay more for) and now they're unhappy about the price. lol

Anyway, this camera is a great concept and good price point. Unfortunately, it's till based on a flawed sensor and is being made by a company with a ridiculous track record for updating products and communicating with their users.

Seriously looking at AJA's unit and my old fav before I bought my BMCC, the FS700.

Maybe the possibility to "change" the sensor for a better one in the future and keep all the rest...

It's sounds like a cool camera, don't get me wrong, but if those are the only selling points over the BM4PC then it's not really worth $3000 more imo.

Thats what I meant. At first, looks like an Alexa in a BMCC manner, but when you look better... its not that much innovation.

And one thing everyone is not seeing. With that much screens, connections and other, that camera might need a lot more power to keep it on then we need for the actual cameras. So, another big concern to add to the cost, weight and more.

While Arri tried to make a smaller Alexa, BMD tried to make a bigger and heavier BMPC4K

I do have genuine concerns about the battery and memory in the Ursa. What kind of battery life will you get from a standard V-Mount or Anton Bauer? Then these memory cards seem like a step backwards from SSD.

Here's a 128GB card for $365. But Apacer? Have never heard of them. How big can these CFast cards get? You'll be swapping these things out every 10 minutes.
http://www.amazon.com/128GB-Apacer-CFas ... cfast+card