Latin America. Blackmagic Design announced the availability of the Camera 4.0 program, a new version that includes an innovative operating system with a totally original interface. Users of the URSA Mini model can now download this update for free from the company's website.
Since Blackmagic Design unveiled Camera 4.0 during the NAB show, the company's engineers have worked alongside professional cinematographers to develop the new operating system and design an interface that will revolutionize the way the user interacts with the camera. These elements are a novelty in the field of digital cinematography and facilitate the use of the models manufactured by the company.
The innovative operating system replaces complicated menus with a huge number of buttons and hard-to-find settings with a modern and elegant interface that puts the most frequently used functions at your fingertips. For example, on-screen options significantly reduce the number of steps required to configure different features. In this way, users have the possibility to quickly modify various parameters such as the photographic sensitivity scale, white balance, shutter angle and aperture of the diaphragm.
On the other hand, this version includes controls to modify the hue and customize the white balance. In addition, the selection of the shutter angle is facilitated by means of an on-screen keyboard that allows you to enter numbers more quickly. In this sense, the new operating system suggests the most appropriate parameters to eliminate flicker in the image, thus simplifying the work of the cameraman.
This release also includes new tools for determining exposure. By using the "false color" function, the parts of the image whose luminance is within a certain range are highlighted with different colors. As an example, green indicates a neutral gray, while pink tones provide a good reference for skin nuances.
The new operating system also provides better focus features. Users can choose the color of the indicator or choose more traditional tools that simply highlight the sharpest areas of the image.
Metadata entry has always been a tedious task. In this aspect, the new version offers an unpublished virtual whiteboard which can be accessed by sliding your finger on the screen to the left or right. In this way, the whiteboard corresponding to a particular shot and the entire project is displayed.
Also, in the case of electronic targets, metadata can be processed automatically or entered manually along with technical or other production-related data. These are stored in the archives and are used by programs such as DaVinci Resolve when editing and grading the recorded material.
In order to further simplify the use of the camera, the settings are grouped into six tabs located at the top of the screen. The first of these allows you to quickly select various recording parameters, such as format, quality and resolution. In addition, it offers the possibility to determine the dynamic range, the frame rate and the usable area of the sensor.
The monitoring tab allows the user to select the elements displayed on the camera screen and on the monitors connected to the SDI outputs. These can include clean signs, conversion tables, and framing guides, among others. It is even possible to display different data for the cinematographer according to the needs of the case. The new operating system also features an anamorphic decompression feature that simplifies the monitoring of images when shooting with anamorphic lenses.
On the other hand, just press the vúmetro to access the audio settings. The third tab at the top of the interface also provides additional controls in this regard. These allow you to modify the volume of the integrated microphone, speaker and headphones, as well as provide a low cut filter, among other features.
The fourth tab includes basic camera settings and offers the ability to program the F1 and F2 buttons. These can be used to enable and disable various functions, as well as to access different tools. In addition, the new interface provides the possibility to set up to six default settings. These settings can be saved for later application when necessary.
The last tab allows you to import, export, organize and delete three-dimensional conversion tables. These can be applied to images displayed on the camera screen or on any of the monitors connected to the camera.
In addition to all the new features for the URSA Mini model, the Camera 4.0 program also offers the possibility of optimizing the performance of the Blackmagic URSA Viewfinder device. This version significantly improves the colorimetry, proximity sensor sensitivity and automatic disconnection time of the electronic viewfinder.
