Blackmagic Design announces Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2, a new professional broadcast camera with 6K digital film sensor designed to bring digital film quality to both traditional and online broadcasters. The advanced 6144 x 3456 digital film sensor is designed for exceptional low light performance with dual gain ISO of up to +36dB as well as 13 stops of dynamic range. Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 also includes H.265 and Blackmagic RAW file formats, Blackmagic Generation 5 Color Science, as well as a USB-C expansion port for external disk recording.
Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 is available immediately from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide for $3,995.
“The new Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 is an incredibly powerful camera designed for both traditional and online broadcasters,” the announcement states. “The three-cameras-in-one design allows it to work as a 4K production camera, a 4K studio camera or a 6K digital film camera. It's a perfect solution for broadcasters because it uses the lenses and batteries customers already own,” according to the announcement.
It is designed for customers to record to common SD cards, UHS-II cards, CFast 2.0 cards or external USB disks, using common file formats such as H.265, Apple ProRes and Blackmagic RAW, making it compatible with all current video software and broadcast media management systems. Customers can also change the lens mount.
The large 6K sensor combined with Blackmagic Generation 5 Color Science gives customers the same imaging technology used in digital film cameras. The 6K sensor features a resolution of 6144 x 3456 so it's flexible enough for broadcast and digital film work. When using B4 lenses, customers get a 4K window of the sensor for Ultra HD broadcast use. Then if customers change to a PL or EF lens mount, they can use the full 6K resolution of the sensor for digital film. With 13 stops of dynamic range, customers get darker blacks and brighter whites, designed for color correction.
The announcement continues, “Using digital film in broadcast is a revolution in image quality. The new URSA Broadcast features incredible low light performance so customers can shoot using ambient light or even under moonlight. The Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 features gain from -12dB (100 ISO) up to +36dB (25,600 ISO) so it's optimized to reduce grain and noise in images, while maintaining the full dynamic range of the sensor. The gain can be set via a camera switch, the LCD menu or remotely using the SDI remote camera control protocol.”
The URSA Broadcast G2 features a B4 broadcast lens mount that includes optics specifically designed to match the camera’s sensor. The B4 lens mount lets customers use modern Ultra HD lenses or lower cost HD lenses.
“Older HD lenses often feature resolutions well beyond HD, so customers get great quality at low cost. B4 lenses are fantastic because they are par-focal, so the image stays in focus as customers zoom in and out, so customers don't need to constantly chase focus as they shoot. Customers also get full electronic lens control to adjust focus, iris and zoom using the camera’s controls, or remotely. Plus, if customers want to use alternative lenses, they can change the mount to PL, EF and more,” the release states.
URSA Broadcast G2 features high quality neutral density (ND) filters that let customers quickly reduce the amount of light entering the camera. The 1/4, 1/16th and 1/64th stop filters have been specifically designed to match the image sensor and color science of URSA Broadcast G2, providing customers with additional latitude and better colorimetry. This lets customers use different combinations of aperture and shutter angle, in a wider range of situations. The IR filters have been designed to evenly filter both optical and IR wavelengths, eliminating IR contamination. Plus, the filter status on the LCD can be displayed as a fraction, number, or stop reduction.
URSA Broadcast is designed to work with standard file formats that are used by all broadcast
systems and editing software. Customers can record in ProRes 422 HQ and ProRes 422 into QuickTime files. The new Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 model can even record into H.265 for incredibly small files at 60:1 to 285:1 compression ratios, in 10-bit broadcast quality. Plus, customers can record to Blackmagic RAW files, a new format designed to capture and preserve the quality of the sensor data from the camera. Customers get a range of file formats designed for all types of workflows.
With dual CFast 2.0 recorders and dual SD/UHS-II card recorders, customers can choose the media that's best for them. With dual media slots, URSA Broadcast gives customers non-stop recording. When a card is full, recording automatically continues onto the next card so customers can swap a full card while recording continues. Customers get enough speed to record high quality ProRes and H.265 video file formats, even when working in Ultra HD at high frame rates. URSA Broadcast G2 is designed to be easy to integrate into existing broadcast systems. Customers can also record 12-bit Blackmagic RAW cinema files.
The Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 features a high-speed USB-C expansion port on the rear of the camera that allows customers to record to external disks or connect to a wide range of accessories. If customers plug in a large and low-cost external USB flash disk, customers can record ProRes, H.265 or high quality 12-bit Blackmagic RAW files for later editing and color correction. Users can move the disk to a computer to work, and avoid file copying. Plus, the USB port will power the disk that’s plugged in.
The Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 features a high-resolution sensor and Generation 5 Color Science, but when customers need to do HD work, the camera will scale the image sensor down to 1080HD video standards. When working in HD, the high-resolution sensor allows sub pixel image processing for anti-aliasing and sharp images. Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 is designed for both HD and Ultra HD production.
URSA Broadcast G2 features an interchangeable lens mount so customers can swap the included B4 lens mount for an EF, PL or even F mount. URSA Broadcast G2 comes with a B4 mount already installed, plus a spare EF mount is included. Customers can change the mount and use lower-cost photographic lenses. Photographic lenses are designed for high resolution photography. Customers can also purchase optional PL and F mounts separately. If users are shooting for digital film, the PL mount is best as it's the most common lens mount for cinema lenses. With URSA Broadcast G2, customers get a single camera that works with most modern lenses.
“Featuring the same Generation 5 Color Science as the high end URSA Mini Pro 12K, the new URSA Broadcast G2 delivers an even greater advancement in image quality with stunning, accurate skin tones and faithful color in every shot. Customers get a new dynamic 12-bit gamma curve designed to capture more color data in the highlights and shadows, for better looking images. The color science also handles some of the complex Blackmagic RAW image processing, so color and dynamic range data from the sensor is preserved via metadata which customers can use in post production,” according to the company’s announcement.
The optional zoom and focus demands allow customers to use photography lenses for live production. The focus and zoom demands have USB-C connections so they control the lens via the camera’s electronic lens control. Each zoom and focus demand has 2 USB-C ports, so customers can daisy chain them then connect to the camera with a single USB connection. “The design has an incredibly precise feel so customers get very fine lens control, and customers can frame and adjust the lens without taking their hands off the tripod handles,” the release states.
There's a wide range of accessories that are specifically designed to work with URSA Broadcast G2. However, a shoulder mount kit, V-Lock battery plate and top handle are included as well as a spare EF lens mount. Customers can add the optional Blackmagic URSA Viewfinder, or for live production, customers can add a Blackmagic URSA Studio Viewfinder. There's also an optional fiber converter that can power the camera from 2 km away via the single SMPTE fiber. For long duration recording, URSA Mini Recorder gives the option to record to external SSDs.
"Customers love the flexibility of the original URSA Broadcast and have been asking for a camera that also delivered the quality of digital film quality for broadcast use," says Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. "We’ve listened and the new URSA Broadcast G2 means that customers now don’t have to choose between a broadcast focused camera design or digital film images. With URSA Broadcast G2, they get both! URSA Broadcast G2 can be used as a production camera, a studio camera or a digital film camera, so it’s really 3 cameras in 1. We think both traditional and online broadcast customers are going to really enjoy the creativity of being able to shoot Hollywood quality digital film!"
Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 Features
* Native 6K sensor with 13 stops of dynamic range.
* Up to +36dB ISO for incredible low light performance.
* USB-C port allows recording directly to external disks.
* Includes Blackmagic generation 5 color science.
* Features incredible quality Blackmagic RAW recording.
* Optional focus and zoom demands for lens control.
* Compatible with new Blackmagic URSA Mini Recorder.
* Includes full DaVinci Resolve Studio for post production.
Availability and Price
Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 is available now for $3,995, excluding local duties and taxes, from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide.
