Blackmagic Design Announces New URSA Mini Pro G2 Camera

i usually very much like the image produced by a blackmagic camera

thanks for the link.

thumbs up.

rob
smalltalk productions/nyc
 
Great to see Blackmagic Design evolving as a company. I noticed the release said "available now for a price of $5,995". That is how you launch a camera. They a come a long way. If I was in this market the G2 looks to be quite a camera.
 
This does look like an appealing package. Unfortunately, BMD's camera reliability reputation proceeds it. I wish somewhere in their ad copy they talked about how they have improved reliability. Their perception among pros is not good which was why I was so surprised to see the UMP at work on Free Solo. They are good cameras, I just don't think they have the same reputation for always working like a Canon, Sony or Panasonic. Yet. Hopefully they'll get there.
 
Still looks like a toy. Why can’t manufacturers just stick with the tried-and-true ENG layout that we’ve had for decades? It just works...
 
Run&Gun said:
Still looks like a toy. Why can’t manufacturers just stick with the tried-and-true ENG layout that we’ve had for decades? It just works...
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A cinema camera and ENG camera have different needs and form factors. They market this as a cinema camera that CAN do ENG (just like DSLRs and mirrorless are stills cameras that CAN do video). I have the original URSA Mini 4K and the form factor is perfect for what I do which is narrative. I personally wouldn't want an ENG form factor.
 
Bassman2003 said:
Great to see Blackmagic Design evolving as a company. I noticed the release said "available now for a price of $5,995". That is how you launch a camera.
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”URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 is available to pre-order for $5,995 from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide. Blackmagic have said that the camera is going into production late next week, but who knows when it will actually start to ship.”

https://www.newsshooter.com/2019/03/06/blackmagic-design-announces-ursa-mini-pro-4-6k-g2/
 
David W. Jones said:
Back in the day cinema cameras were also like ENG cameras. You could shoulder one perfectly balanced, or put it on a tripod without issue.

No need for all the add-on build out crap to make it stable.
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Well, that's because film cameras didn't require as much crap to function! We have a lot more electronics that typically go on a digital camera than film cameras required. Another advantage with film was you automatically had a significant mass in the rear, the mag, which helped balance the lens. Early 35mm sensor cameras like the Genesis attempted to recreate that concept with recorder mags but once internal recording to cards came along, no need for the bulk at the back--and cameras became harder to balance.

With that in mind it is always baffling to me that manufacturers still build shoulder pads and cutouts into their camera designs as if the center of gravity is going to be centered on the body, which it almost never is any more. I see this with the Ursa Mini and many others. The only logical way to do it now is to use a strap-on shoulder pad or outboard pad that can be velcroed to the base at the actual CG, which is generally around the film plane or even fore of it.

I do find it annoying that the manufacturers seem to be relying more and more on 3rd parties to build out cages for the cameras to make them functional and to mount accessories. I will give Arri a pass for the Mini because I feel that was a stopgap camera for drones and the like and wasn't really meant to turn into the production juggernaut that it has become. It took Canon years to move past the awkwardness of the C300 and it's brethren into the box style of the C700. Any manufacturer that puts ports or connectors on the back of their (larger than DSLR) cameras without providing space for a gold or v-mount is not playing ball.

My favorite cameras back in the day for handholding were the Aaton and the classic Sony Betacam. They wrapped around the shoulder and sat balanced. Can't think of a modern camera that does that without 3rd party accessories and clever build-outs.
 
" Also included is a new Super 35mm 4.6K image sensor that captures up to 4608 x 2592 pixels with 15 stops of latitude at up to 3200 ISO. This allows customers to record full sensor 4.6K images at up to 120 frames per second, windowed 4K DCI at up 150 frames per second, and windowed 1080 HD at an amazing 300 frames per second." Wow. They've certainly got my attention now.
 
CharlesPapert said:
My favorite cameras back in the day for handholding were the Aaton and the classic Sony Betacam. They wrapped around the shoulder and sat balanced. Can't think of a modern camera that does that without 3rd party accessories and clever build-outs.
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Never shot with the Aaton but boy did I log many hours with several different Betacam's back in the day. And totally agree they sat so nicely balanced - even the Sony camera's I used before then - with umbilical chord running to a 3/4" deck on the other shoulder via strap - were more balanced than most of today's offerings. Honestly, if a company wanted to really stir up the market - offer up a s35 cinema camera that has that ENG type balance out of the box... seems lens manufacturers (thinking here of Canon's 18-80 & Sony's 18-110) are getting closer for this to happen in under $20k.
 
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Back on topic... does it strike anyone else odd that in only a few short years BM has already replaced the sensor in their original design? Perhaps one other reason not to buy... they may be worse than any other mfg at this point in continuously coming out with "better". If I were invested in the older model... I wouldn't exactly be thrilled it's replacement has already been announced.
 
El Director said:
A cinema camera and ENG camera have different needs and form factors. They market this as a cinema camera that CAN do ENG (just like DSLRs and mirrorless are stills cameras that CAN do video). I have the original URSA Mini 4K and the form factor is perfect for what I do which is narrative. I personally wouldn't want an ENG form factor.
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Except nobody really makes cinema with them. Is there any hollywood movies with them in regular base? If the reliability would get fixed it would be interesting. But we will only know in 1 year or 2 after release.
 
markfpv said:
Never shot with the Aaton but boy did I log many hours with several different Betacam's back in the day. And totally agree they sat so nicely balanced - even the Sony camera's I used before then - with umbilical chord running to a 3/4" deck on the other shoulder via strap - were more balanced than most of today's offerings. Honestly, if a company wanted to really stir up the market - offer up a s35 cinema camera that has that ENG type balance out of the box...
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I think this is what AJA tried with their camera. It looks like it balance nicely on shoulder with a prime. But I never used one. But for sure better shape than any monstrosity BMD had so far.
 
So this is basically an “S” style internal updates, correct?

Has much if anything changed on the physical body, controls, weight?

I really love BMD also and I too look forward to the day when reliability is on par with the more established players. That’s what precludes me from considering something like this for myself but I am always impressed with IQ and paper specs for sure. I also appreciate the quick release time from announcement.
 
SJX said:
Except nobody really makes cinema with them. Is there any hollywood movies with them in regular base? If the reliability would get fixed it would be interesting. But we will only know in 1 year or 2 after release.
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I myself track their cameras but I know of none of my colleagues putting them into regular use unless as specialty/stunt cameras. It's pretty well known that there was a company philosophy of make the sale, then replace with new model vs. upgrades and updates. That may have improved but I'd need to see that shift demonstrated over a period of time before investing. I do own a good amount of their post/tech gear but that is a much smaller investment.
 
The sensor seems to be just the same but working at a higher frequency: fps are basically doubled and rolling shutter is also twice as fast (link)
The processor must have been updated too because these are some insane datarates
 
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