At IBC 2023, Blackmagic introduced the free Blackmagic Camera app for iPhone and the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K.
The no-cost Blackmagic Camera app adds digital film camera controls and operating systems to the Apple iPhone. Based on the same operating system and intuitive interface as Blackmagic Design’s digital film cameras, these professional features give iPhone content creators the same tools used in feature films, television and documentaries. Support for Blackmagic Cloud allows creators to collaborate and share media with multiple editors and colorists around the world instantly.
The app’s interface is the same as Blackmagic’s cameras, so users will find it familiar. This means they can adjust settings such as frame rate, shutter angle, white balance and ISO all in a single tap, or they can record directly to Blackmagic Cloud in industry-standard 10-bit Apple ProRes files up to 4K. Recording to Blackmagic Cloud Storage lets users collaborate on DaVinci Resolve projects with editors anywhere in the world all at the same time.
Everything is interactive, so users can tap any item and instantly change settings without searching through menus. The heads-up display, or HUD, shows status and record parameters, histogram, focus peaking, levels, frame guides and more. Users can show or hide the HUD by swiping up or down and can autofocus by tapping the screen in the area where they want to focus. It’s possible to shoot in 16×9 or vertical aspect ratios, and people can even shoot 16×9 while holding the phone vertically if they want to shoot unobtrusively. There are also tabs for media management, including uploading to Blackmagic Cloud, chat and access to advanced menus.
The HUD contains the most important camera controls, such as lens selection, frame rate, shutter angle, timecode, ISO, white balance, tint, histogram and audio levels. Users can adjust settings, such as exposure, by touching the ISO indicator, or they can change the audio levels simply by touching the audio meters. Everything is interactive, so if users tap any item, they can instantaneously change its settings without having to search through complex menus. Clearing the HUD to reveal the full-screen image is as simple as swiping up or down with a finger.
The settings tab uses the power of the phone’s camera, with quick access to advanced settings such as monitoring, audio, camera setup, recording and more. The record tab allows control over video resolution and recording format, including Apple ProRes or H.264 and H.265. Users can also set anamorphic de-squeeze and lens-correction settings. Professional audio options include VU or PPM audio meters and AAC, IEEE Float and PCM formats. Users can add their own external microphones. Blackmagic Camera also includes pro monitoring tools, such as zebra settings for checking exposure, focus assist, frame guides and more. It’s also possible to add 3D LUTs to recreate film looks.
Blackmagic Camera features a built-in chat workspace so Blackmagic Cloud project members can talk about shots and quickly share creative ideas, all without leaving the app. They simply log in to Blackmagic Cloud, select the project and start typing a message. They can quickly message editors, assistants, colorists or VFX artists to talk about shot selection or to receive an update on the project. Everyone on that project can see the message and reply instantly. This means project members can keep in touch with each other without leaving the app and missing a critical shot.
Blackmagic Camera media tab has all the controls needed to browse or scrub clips for quick review, to search and sort, and to view the upload status of the media. Users can also link to their photos and select clips to upload to the Blackmagic Cloud. They can access their media from Blackmagic Camera’s All Clips folder by choosing the Media button to see the thumbnails for each stored clip. They can save their media to the Files folder on the phone, send it to Blackmagic Cloud Storage via Blackmagic Cloud or manually choose which clips to upload to a project library. Users can even sync media from Blackmagic Camera directly into a DaVinci Resolve project so they’re ready to edit and color grade.
Media management on Blackmagic Camera is easy, with three options depending on location and mobile data coverage: 1) Users can record to their phone and transfer clips to a computer, which means they can free up valuable storage space on their phone and share their files later to other users globally. 2) They can log in to Blackmagic Cloud and select a DaVinci Resolve project before recording. After each individual recording, the media will automatically upload and sync to all members of that project. 3) They can manually record footage to their phone and then select which clips they want to upload via Blackmagic Cloud when they have a network connection.
By creating a Blackmagic ID, users have access to Blackmagic Cloud. It’s easy, and there’s no charge. They simply tap on Blackmagic Cloud in the media tab to go to the Blackmagic Cloud website to register. Once they’ve created a Blackmagic ID, users can log in and set up their project library. This is where to create projects to upload to Cloud Storage. With a project library set up, users select the option for Blackmagic Camera to sync directly to Cloud Storage from the app. It’s possible to invite others using their Blackmagic ID to share the project and instantly collaborate with editors and colorists globally.
When shooting with Blackmagic Camera, users can instantly upload captured video as a proxy file, followed by the camera originals, and save to Blackmagic Cloud Storage. These will then automatically sync to all members of the project anywhere in the world. This means everyone can start editing quickly using their proxies, speeding up their workflow. Media can be constantly added to the project by multiple cameras in different locations, which is automatically synced to other project members via Blackmagic Cloud. Everyone can use the proxy media, and the colorist or finisher can download the original high-res camera originals and render. It’s a fast, seamless and automatic way to collaborate.
Blackmagic Camera is now available for free from the Apple App Store.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K
The Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K is a new high-end digital film camera with a full-frame 6K sensor, 13 stops of dynamic range, and dual native ISO up to 25,600 for low-light performance and recording to CFexpress cards. This new model features a large 24mm-by-36mm 6K sensor, allowing for large-format cinema camera image quality, precise skin tones and rich, organic colors in a portable, lightweight body. The Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K also uses a flexible L-Mount for lenses, which works with a wide range of new and vintage lenses for a wider variety of creative choices. A built-in optical low-pass filter is custom-designed to match the sensor.
Users also get fast CFexpress media, and the camera can even use Pocket Cinema Camera accessories. During cloud and mobile work, the camera records both deep-bit-depth Blackmagic RAW and H.264 proxies at the same time. Blackmagic says no other camera includes this level of technology, image quality and portability.
The camera’s massive full-frame sensor has a native resolution of 6048×4032 — almost three times larger than a Super 35 sensor — so users can shoot with a shallow depth of field or use anamorphic lenses uncropped for a true cinematic look. Whether shooting in bright sunlight or in almost no light at all, the 13 stops of dynamic range with dual native ISO up to 25,600 provide low-noise images in all lighting conditions. People can also shoot up to 36fps at full-sensor resolution or 120fps windowed.
The Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K’s large full-frame sensor makes it possible to work in a variety of film formats and aspect ratios without sacrificing quality. Using the full area of the sensor gives camera operators an open-gate 3×2 image, which also lets them reframe their shots in post. The large sensor also lets operators work in true 6×5 anamorphic without cropping, making wide-screen cinematic images more detailed and of higher resolution than previously possible. Camera operators can even use the classic Super 35-size window on the sensor to create an instant “close-up” version of their shot that fits seamlessly with open-gate footage.
The camera has an L-Mount, an advanced lens mount designed to accommodate full-frame sensors while ensuring compatibility with new and vintage lenses. With a large diameter of 51.6mm, L-Mount works with the latest full-frame lenses from manufacturers such as Leica, Panasonic and Sigma. Plus, a very short flange distance of only 20mm means users can easily add adapters for a variety of lens mounts without impacting image quality. L-Mount is a single mount that works with virtually any lens.
The Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K can shoot in all standard resolutions and frame rates from HD up to DCI 4K and even 6K. It even shoots stills at 24.6 megapixels. Operators can use the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K to shoot up to 36fps at 6048×4032 3×2 open gate or 60fps at 6048×2520 2.4×1 and 60fps at 4096×2160 4K DCI. For higher frame rates, people can window the sensor and shoot up to 100fps at 2112×1184 Super 16. They can also work in true anamorphic 6×5 at what Blackmagic says are much higher resolutions than other cameras using anamorphic lenses in 4.8K 24fps at 4838×4032. People can even shoot 120fps in 1080HD.
The Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K features a built-in CFexpress card recorder and a USB-C expansion port for recording direct to external flash media disks or to an SSD. CFexpress media is faster and more durable than even older media, so it’s good for recording full-resolution, 12-bit Blackmagic RAW files. It’s possible to capture more than an hour’s worth of full-resolution 6K images on a single 256GB CFexpress card.
The camera has a bright, 5-inch HDR touch screen that makes it easy for users to frame shots and accurately focus, whatever the conditions. On-screen overlays show status and record parameters, histogram, focus-peaking indicators, levels, frame guides and more. Users can quickly apply 3D LUTs for monitoring shots with the desired color and look. The LCD monitor can even be tilted up to 180 degrees flat and down to 47 degrees so it’s easy to monitor shots from virtually any position. Plus, the HDR display’s 1500 nits of brightness mean users can frame their shot, even in bright sunlight.
The Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K supports an optional viewfinder to make outdoor and hand-held shooting accurate and easy. There’s an integrated, high-quality 1280×960 color OLED display with built-in proximity sensor and a four-element glass diopter for incredible accuracy, with a wide -4 to +4 focus adjustment. The EVF is easy to connect to the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K, as it simply mounts on top of the camera with a single screw.
The Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K uses high-capacity NP-F570 batteries. A locking DC power connector ensures users won’t have to worry about losing power during a shoot, and the included AC plug pack can power the camera or charge the battery when the camera is not in use. Even the USB-C expansion port can trickle-charge the battery. As a result, people have the option to use portable battery packs, mobile phone chargers or laptops. The optional battery grip lets users add extra batteries to extend the power of the camera for all-day shoots.
The Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K is available now for $2,595.
