Blackmagic URSA EF Cameras Have Started Shipping at Texas Media Systems

Seems to me that they should have put something like 2.5" SSD slots in the camera, or even 1.8" or mSATA.
 
16 lbs does sound heavy, but I started in 3/4" tape. The camera, deck and battery belts we wore came to 45 lbs! And even an F800, while not 16 lbs, isn't a lightweight on the shoulder. And coming from the days of "portable" 3/4" decks, to this day, I don't like external recorders. I think my spine has been permanently bent from all those years of running with a deck on one shoulder, and a camera on the other.
This is definitely a tripod camera. I'm not sure how you'd shoulder mount it, with that big 10" monitor inches from your nose.
 
I'm not quite sure what people are expecting. The Arri Alexa with sxs module, electrical viewfinder, and handle weighs in at 16.9 lbs. The Red One MX weighs 10 lbs with NO accessories attached. The HPX2700 Varicam body weighs 10 lbs. with no lens or accessories.

To me, the URSA is most decidedly a tripod-based camera and was designed as such. It never even occurred to me that someone would want to shoot with it handheld.
 
The wight discussion is a pretty new thing (manly from folks that come from DSLRs).
Generations of DPs and camera men have shot with much heavier rigs for decades - and yeah,
wight means stability when you are shoulder shooting.

Here is how I do it:

Bu8avcCIMAA_V3p.jpg
 
I'm not sure I like the flip-out LCD or ergonomics, but as for weight the ox in the picture below has a all steel BL4 on his shoulder, which with a 500 ft mag is at least 40 to 50 lbs. And he's on a motorcycle. No excuses! From the Mad Max movie - I forget which one. p.s. you couldn't do this with an URSA without tucking in the LCD and adding an EVF of somesort.

maxmax.jpg
 
I'm not sure I like the flip-out LCD or ergonomics, but as for weight the ox in the picture below has a all steel BL4 on his shoulder, which with a 500 ft mag is at least 40 to 50 lbs. And he's on a motorcycle. No excuses! From the Mad Max movie - I forget which one. p.s. you couldn't do this with an URSA without tucking in the LCD and adding an EVF of somesort.

View attachment 91137

That would be from THE movie Mad Max itself. Crazy Aussies put us to shame sometimes :)
 
16lbs? Heavy? My tape and P2 Vari's are over 25lbs in a shoulder shooting state(batt, lens, wireless, Porta-Brace cover). Heck, if they're decked out for a sit-down with MB and monitor, probably closer to 35lbs. Even my C300 in a cage for shoulder mounting is in that 20lb+ area.
 
And he's on a motorcycle. No excuses! From the Mad Max movie - I forget which one. p.s. you couldn't do this with an URSA without tucking in the LCD and adding an EVF of somesort.

Like the gentleman on the motorcycle, of course you would use an EVF in this scenario with an URSA.

And yeah, I have a certain preference, to do difficult shots like this.


Not the most flattering image of me, but whatever it takes....

:evil:

Bumperride.jpg
 
If you grow up using that kind of equipment or are on big sets with big crews or just the type of work and money call for it, it makes perfect sense...but I'm not using anything heavier than 5lbs (body). I need to run around and get all kinds of shots in different places on different pieces of equipment (jibs/sliders/steadicams), and a big and heavy camera will not make it easy.
 
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