BlackMagic - URSA Mini

Kholi said:
I dont' know why people are still comparing cameras as if they're all made for you or a specific task.

This is really simple:

If you want a video camera with internal NDs, buy an FS7 or a C300. They're tasked for video-specific production, they produce video-like images, they have great lowlight for documentary shooting, they have their own video codecs, and they produce images straight out of the box that you can turn over to clients.

If you want a cinema camera you go to RED, ARRI or BMD... most of their cameras do NOT have internal NDs, most of them require you to post process the image, they have pretty okay lowlight if you plan on using lights as you should be doing, they all shoot to a master format or better (as of today, BMD and ARRI do XQ) without any upgrade costs or boards, at least two of them give you internal lossless, compressed, or uncompressed RAW, they are ALL tuned for an undeniably cinematic image.

Someone definitely makes a camera for you if you want internal NDs, it isn't Blackmagic.
Someone definitely makes a camera for you if you want the most cinematic image bang for buck under 10K, it is Blackmagic.

Easy choice...
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Except that some of us like to make cinematic documentaries. Sorry not to fit in to your pigeon holes.
 
There are some seriously spoiled 1st world brats here, man. I would love to see some of the work from these constant camera detractors who claim a camera is only worthy if it beats a certain ISO or lack of built in NDs. Seriously, how spoiled n petty do you have to be to whine about stuff like this?

We would've killed to see specs like this at this price range 2yrs ago. Learn to photograph well n quit the crying. It ain't like the thing has a hardware/software issue or bugs. Geez.
 
Sam Scoggins said:
Except that some of us like to make cinematic documentaries. Sorry not to fit in to your pigeon holes.
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yeah, so do alot of others... Hop on over to red user to check out the documentaries being produced without built in nds.

Maybe some of the bmcuser a that have gone and produced docs with the original 2.5? Wyatt? Oh wait... What about the foo fighters doc on HBO shot with BMD camera?

Strange thing is that nobody's pigeon holing you, you're complaining about a camera that isn't for you. Why? Buy one that is.
 
Bern Caughey said:
Except for the Alexa 65 the new Arri(s) do have built-in NDs & imagine going forward they all will.
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I definitely said "some/most" in my post. It was the inevitable response.

the point is that all of those manufacturers have cameras that produce the best cinematic images in the industry without built in nds. There's an entirely different customer that isn't concerned about it
 
Kholi said:
yeah, so do alot of others... Hop on over to red user to check out the documentaries being produced without built in nds.

Maybe some of the bmcuser a that have gone and produced docs with the original 2.5? Wyatt? Oh wait... What about the foo fighters doc on HBO shot with BMD camera?

Strange thing is that nobody's pigeon holing you, you're complaining about a camera that isn't for you. Why? Buy one that is.
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Actually I haven't complained once. I think this will be my next camera. Looks almost perfect for my needs. I just disagree with your "it's simple......video camera......cinema camera" blah, blah, BS.
 
There's the matte box, the variables, homemade, you can hold a Lee filter to you lens for Pete's sakes ;-) If you really need the bokeh and don't want to stop it down you can always reframe with a longer lens. There's always a way isn't there? For a $3000 camera to have all of the features this camera has it is super duper! I may not know the half of it but still think BM is doing a killer job and can't wait for some of these to be out in the wild! Way to go BM! (I do wish that EVP was included for the $3K though... :-)
 
I dunno man I keep hearing about ND's or the lack their of and I just don't think its a huge deal. To me their is an easy fix, I would take lack of ND's over subpar pictures and codecs. I would take lack of ND's for a somewhat affordable modular camera with XLR inputs. I for one was tired of having to rig audio when I wanted to go large format over my EX-1, in fact I was so tired of it that I was looking at the C100. So I guess ND's are very important to some people, but I just think if you are going to use a matte box anyway who cares? And if you are not using a matte box WHO CARES just screw one on.
 
some people just wont get it.

For those still clambering over the lack of built in NDs, here it is, beyond utterly stupid simple to understand in two points:

-Blackmagic is new to cameras, they have not yet invested the undoubtedly significant time and funds to develop their own ND filter system.
-Complaining that a camera doesn't have a feature, won't magically make that feature appear. if it doesn't work for you, MOVE ON.

Different cameras for different markets. And cinematic is NOT solely up to your camera, it's how you use and light for it.

Hence, i'm debating getting both a ursa mini, a dvx200, and keep my c100/gh4 to satisfy the various types of shooting, instead of buying a single c300mk2
 
A matte box and all the gubbins on the full flavour URSA makes sense, I was kind of hoping given the minis ursas small size it was more tailored to run and gun.

Sometimes I have all the time in the word and attaching an ND filter is no big deal, but at times I only have an hour or two with a CEO/COO or other senior bod and time is precious. Scrabbling in my kit bag trying to find the right ND and fit it whilst the CEO, his PR guy and and agency guy keep looking at their watches frowning. It can be a very tight schedule at times and as a one man band I have to carry everything whilst out on location.

Mind you superb camera, its on my maybe list and well done Blackmagic for dominating NAB 2015, I doff my cap.
 
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Kholi said:
yeah, so do alot of others... Hop on over to red user to check out the documentaries being produced without built in nds.

Maybe some of the bmcuser a that have gone and produced docs with the original 2.5? Wyatt? Oh wait... What about the foo fighters doc on HBO shot with BMD camera?

Strange thing is that nobody's pigeon holing you, you're complaining about a camera that isn't for you. Why? Buy one that is.
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I can only speak for myself, but I am not meaning to complain just pointing out how
I think it could be improved. When all that was made were small sensor cams,
many people jumped to DSLR's...even though RED made large sensor cams....

Soon cheaper, large sensor cams came out. FS100 for example. Lots of
people bought them. Some people pointed out ways it could be better. Sony
then put a lot of those suggestions (built in NDs was one)into the FS700. Lots
of people bought that. Some suggested better codecs and internal 4k. Sony
made the FS7.......

Now Blackmagic has already incorporated a lot of fixes for what
people 'complained' about in the original URSA (better dynamic range for example,
smaller and lighter but still shouldermount and so on) to make it better, these
may have even been some of the things you thought they should
improve. I am merely stating what I personally would like to see....if the
URSA mini had built in ND it would be borderline perfect for me. It's kind
of a compliment for me to 'complain' as I think Blackmagic listens and
improves their cameras. Sony said much the same thing about built in NDs
with the FS100 (you can use a matte box, variable ND or screw on filters and
claimed they couldn't put in NDs because of lack of space). But lo and behold,
they did put them in the next version. So yeah, you are right, I won't buy one....
this time. They could very well have me as a customer next update though!
Just pointing out how they could gain another 'user segment'....not trying to
be a downer or complainer. Nice cam...almost perfect for me, lots and lots
of great stuff about it.
 
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I do both Docs/promo films and spots.
We move fast a lot and I only use Pronds on the BM cameras because they just get the best the camera offers, along with raw.
It's just a choice regarding the overall IQ.

It's compromise to shoot with VNDs. Even though I like them for convenience, I've moved on from them - in the name of overall IQ.

But here's the thing with internal NDs - they don't give you the fine control (for the most part) that a VND does, so if you know your light and choose the right ProND - even on the run - then you're getting in the same ballpark as an internal ND.

And if you can't swap an ND in critical circumstances ( I've done it in moving canoes, in the Arctic and from Olympic venues) then you just need to be a bit faster with your technique <g>.
 
oh come on y'all there is nothing wrong with saying what we want to see or what's not doing it for us. If this camera had ND filters it would be a no brainer for me. Yes there are other solutions to get shots. That's not the point. Everyone's workflow is different. Some of the things y'all want like SDI outputs and 10-bit and etc. just aren't interesting to me, and that's ok. Some of these things are HUGE for the way certain people work.

Anyway, the other thing I would really like to see here that would be concering for me is some more physical switches. Touch screens can be too slow and finicky. I wish they had some buttons and knobs for white balance, ISO, shutter, VFR, etc. Quick access stuff that doesn't need digging into the touch screen for.

This camera is exciting because it is very close to perfect for my personal needs, but not quite.
 
I believe it has two buttons that are user assignable labeled f1 and f2. If anyone else has anymore info on those buttons please share.
 
filmguy123 said:
That would at least be something! An add on accessory with physical controls could be a remedy as well.
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The optional EVF (which looks KILLER) adds 3 more programmable buttons. They are right on top of the EVF - right where your hand naturally wants to go.
 
URSA mini..incredible specs, but I didn't like the picture quality.. I will go for two BM micro..with speedbooster
 
Darren Levine said:
some people just wont get it.
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You don't get it.

Blackmagic is new to cameras, they have not yet invested the undoubtedly significant time and funds to develop their own ND filter system.
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Oh brother.

Complaining that a camera doesn't have a feature, won't magically make that feature appear.
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Actually, complaining enough does seem to make things appear.

Different cameras for different markets.
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Market segmentation benefits companies. They are biased toward oversegmentation. They have totally brainwashed you.

And cinematic is NOT solely up to your camera, it's how you use and light for it.
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Duh. Does this really have to be injected into every DVXUser thread? "It's not the camera, it's the operator." We know.

if it doesn't work for you, MOVE ON.
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Basically you're saying, "No complaining. If you don't like it, be quiet, and move on." Well, you're complaining about our complaining. I say to you, if you don't like this thread, be quiet, and move on.
 
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