IBC 2015 Tech: Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design | Hall 7, Stand H20 | Website: www.blackmagicdesign.com

Blackmagic Design has introduced the Blackmagic URSA Mini B4 Mount, a B4 lens mount modification for its new Blackmagic URSA Mini PL camera that lets it use broadcast HD lenses. Since URSA Mini’s launch at this year’s NAB Show, feedback from broadcasters has been overwhelmingly positive, and now they will also be able to use their existing high definition B4 broadcast lenses with Blackmagic URSA Mini.

The new produce is being demonstrated at the Blackmagic Design IBC 2015 booth in Hall 7, Stand H20.

The Blackmagic URSA Mini B4 Mount is designed to replace the existing PL lens mount on Blackmagic URSA Mini PL, turning it into a B4 camera for HD. To install the B4 mount, customers simply take the PL lens mount off where it is normally removed for shimming PL lenses and bolt on the B4 lens mount.

The Blackmagic URSA Mini B4 Mount is a true lens mount replacement that features precision glass optics specifically designed to match Blackmagic URSA Mini’s sensor with high definition broadcast B4 lenses. The B4 mount also features spherical aberration correction so customers can use their lenses wide open with no blooming effect. The Blackmagic URSA Mini B4 Mount can be used with both 4K and 4.6K PL models of URSA Mini.

Once the mount is installed, B4 lenses can be attached to the camera. Blackmagic URSA Mini PL also includes a new lens control connection that works with both PL and B4 lenses. This new connection supports both analog and digital lens control standards and also provides iris control and power for the lens.

The built in PL lens mount on URSA Mini PL can be changed to the B4 lens mount whenever needed, giving customers the flexibility to use URSA Mini with their existing B4 broadcast lenses for HD today, and with PL cinema lenses for Ultra HD and 4K tomorrow.

The Blackmagic URSA Mini B4 Mount turns URSA Mini PL into an ENG-style camera. Crafted from advanced technology magnesium alloy, URSA Mini is a rugged, yet extremely lightweight and well-balanced shoulder mount camera that the company says is comfortable enough to be used all day. There’s a 5-inch fold-out monitor, complete technical scopes, professional audio recording, and dual ProRes recorders all built in as well as the optional URSA Viewfinder and URSA Mini Shoulder Kit. With URSA Mini, news crews can shoot a story, mount the card on a computer in the van and begin editing immediately without having to convert files so they can get stories on air fast.

Blackmagic URSA Mini PL can be purchased with either a 4K or a 4.6K image sensor and features up to 15 stops of dynamic range. When used with high-definition B4 lenses, URSA Mini shoots HD images that, the company says “have massive dynamic range and look far better than the images from a traditional broadcast HD camera.” In addition, broadcasters can use their URSA Mini PL with B4 lenses on one job and then switch back to PL lenses for another job.

Blackmagic URSA Mini B4 Mount will be available in November for $295 from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide.