Blackmagic Design Releases Camera Control App for URSA Mini Pro

Last week, the Australian-based company released the public beta version of DaVinci Resolve 14, which adds a ton of new features like drag and drop transitions from one clip to another, live preview clips, improved H.264 encode and decode performance, unlimited audio tracks, 192 KHz 24bit audio support, 20+ ResolveFX plugins. Now, in their latest update, they've made available the Camera Control app for URSA Mini Pro cameras, which was first announced at this year's NAB. 

With the Camera 4.4 update, you can now control the URSA Mini Pro, which No Film School reviewed earlier this year, from the Camera Control app via Bluetooth. Both the update and app are free but the app requires an iPad with iOS 10.0 or later. We've reached out to Blackmagic to see if there will be compatibility with iPhones – it's currently not available but they haven't ruled it out.

Once paired, you have access to all major settings – aperture, shutter angle, ISO, white balance power on/off – and you can adjust or add metadata using a digital slate, trigger recording and more up to 30 feet away. 

Blackmagic Design Camera Control app

The Bluetooth functionality also adds a new preset timecode option for the URSA Pro Mini and the Camera 4.4 update offers functionality with the Canon 18-80mm T4.4 for iris control, record start/stop, and focusing. They've also added automatic F-stop and T-stop detection for PL and B4 lenses for both the URSA Mini Pro and URSA Mini 4.6/4K with the latter seeing improved zebra overlays and slate functionality as well. 

Blackmagic Design has also developed the app as an open protocol and will provide a sample code for developers looking to create their own customization within the app. The code will be available later this summer.

Check out the full list of updates below: 

New features for Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K

• Enabled Bluetooth LE module in URSA Mini Pro.
• Added pairing security passcode in URSA Mini Pro.
• Added ability to control camera settings via Bluetooth.
• Added ability to update metadata features via Bluetooth.
• Added ability to control URSA Mini Pro’s DaVinci color corrector via Bluetooth.
• Added ability to control camera’s lens via Bluetooth.
• Added Bluetooth page in camera setup menu.
• Added Preset record run timecode functionality.
• Added automatic f-stop and T-stop detection for PL and B4 lenses.
• Added iris, focus and zoom control for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 lens via EF mount.
• Added record start/stop for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 with ZSG-C10 hand grip.
• Added support for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 lens image stabilizer.
• Improved lens functionality for EF, PL and B4 lenses.
• Improved status LED functionality.
• Improved slate functionality.
• Fixed bug where focus peaking button did not function in playback.
• Fixed bug where ProRes 422 color was misinterpreted in some applications.
• Fixed bug where taking ‘Stills’ did not update used space in media status page.
• Fixed bug where heads up display disappeared after turning off Color Bars.
• Fixed bug where scaling on 4” display caused monitoring image artifacts.
• Fixed user interface bug in media status page.
• Fixed bug where XLR Phantom Power pad was displayed incorrectly.
• Fixed bug where UI reported wrong power source when powering up unit.
• Fixed bug where SD card icon did not appear on external status display.
• Updated screen grabs and servo zoom lens information in URSA Mini Manual.

New features for URSA Mini 4.6K and 4K

• Added safe area guides and false color options to heads up monitoring options.
• Added automatic f-stop and T-stop detection for PL and B4 lenses.
• Added iris control for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 lens via EF mount.
• Added record start/stop for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 with ZSG-C10 hand grip.
• Added support for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 lens image stabilizer.
• Improved Zebras for URSA Mini 4K in low ISO’s when using Video dyanmic range.
• Improved lens support for EF, PL and B4 lenses.
• Improved slate functionality.
• Improved Door LED functionality.
• Fixed bug where ProRes 422 color was misinterpreted in some applications.
• Updated screen grabs and servo zoom lens information in URSA Mini Manual.

Source: Blackmagic Design