We've already seen one major announcement from Blackmagic today, and boy was it a doozy. Blackmagic was far from finished, however, as they had another brand-spanking new camera ready to reveal to the world. Now that it looks like the low-budget cinema market is clearly in their grasp, Blackmagic is headed for the broadcast industry with a uniquely-designed studio production camera with a 10" display and built-in fiber-optic connectivity. Check below for all of the details!
The Blackmagic Studio Camera comes in two models, a full HD version for $1995 and a full 4K version for $2995. It's aimed directly at various applications within broadcast industry such as live news production, sports production, sitcom/talk-show production, etc. As such, it has just about every industry-standard connection that a production would need in order to get live video feed from the camera to the switcher and to keep the camera operator in contact with the production. Most importantly, it's natively wired for high-speed fiber-optic connectivity, which means that it's essentially future-proof considering that most broadcast technology is headed in that direction.
Beyond the native connectivity is an array of features that are completely unique to the Studio Camera. The built-in 10" monitor on the back of the camera looks to be an operator's dream, as it will not only allow for very easy framing and focusing, but it's also home to all of the buttons and settings that an operator would need to access quickly in a live production environment. Also unique to the Studio Camera is a massive internal battery that will last for over 4 hours with constant use. The Studio Camera is also equipped with an active M4/3 mount that allows perfect adaptability with any lens system, making this one of the most versatile production cameras available.
Here are the specs for the camera:
- Effective Sensor Size: 12.48mm x 7.02mm
- Resolution and Frame Rates: 1920 x 1080p23.98, 1920 x 1080p24, 1920 x 1080p25, 1920 x 1080p29.97, 1920 x 1080p30, 1920 x 1080p50, 1920 x 1080p59.94, 1920 x 1080p60, 1920 x 1080i50, 1920 x 1080i59.9 and 1920 x 1080i60
- Focus: Auto focus. Peaking mode.
- Iris Control: Iris button automatically adjusts the lens iris settings so no pixel is clipped in film mode. Scene average auto exposure in video mode.
- Lens Mount:Active MFT Mount
- Screen Dimensions: 1 x 10.1” - 1920 x 1200
- Screen Type: 10.1” - TFT-LCD
- Controls: Push button controls for navigating menus.
- Microphone: Integrated stereo microphone
- Mounting Options: 2 x 3/8” tripod mount. 4 x 1/4"-20 UNC thread mounting points on top of camera, 3 x 1/3”-20 UNC thread mounting points left on right of camera.
And the specs on the camera's connectivity:
- SDI Video Output: 1 x 3G-SDI 10-bit 4:2:2
- SDI Video Input: 1 x 3G-SDI
- Ref Input: 1 x Reference Input
- Optical Fiber Input/Output: 3G Optical Fiber Input and Output
- Analog Audio Input: 2 x XLR analog switchable between mic and line levels. Phantom power support.
- Analog Audio Output: Aviation headphone (Fixed Wing Plugs) output for talkback and audio monitoring
- SDI Audio Output: 2 channels in 3G-SDI 48Khz and 24 bit. 2 channels for talkback on channel 15-16.
- Remote Control: 1 x 2.5mm LANC for Iris Control and Focus. SDI CCU control from ATEM.
- Computer Interface: USB 2.0 Mini-B port for software updates.
And what new camera post would be complete without some sexy pictures:
For the broadcast industry, these cameras are without a doubt going to be a serious contender due to their price. The only caveat that might prevent the Studio Camera from being immediately adopted is that it isn't natively wired for triaxial connectivity, which is still the standard in many, if not most, broadcast facilities since high-speed fiber is an incredibly expensive upgrade. With that said, facilities that are already wired with fiber-optic connectivity will likely spring for these cameras because, in traditional Blackmagic fashion, they offer tremendous value at an incredible price.
The HD Studio Camera and the 4K studio camera are scheduled to begin shipping in June.
What do you guys think of Blackmagic Studio Cameras? Will they be widely adopted in the broadcast industry? Let us know down in the comments!
Link: Blackmagic Studio Camera -- Blackmagic Design
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