Blackmagic Design’s new Blackmagic Digicam ProDock turns the iPhone 17 Professional and iPhone 17 Professional Max into rig-ready manufacturing cameras, including full-size HDMI monitoring, BNC genlock and timecode, dual-purpose USB-C for SSD recording and equipment, 12V locking energy, and three.5 mm audio I/O, with tight integration for the Blackmagic Digicam app.
Blackmagic’s pitch is simple: take away the connectivity bottlenecks that usually preserve telephones off skilled units. ProDock extends the iPhone’s I/O to industry-standard ports, so crews can sync a number of cameras, feed correct displays, connect mics and cans, and report straight to quick exterior storage whereas powering the entire rig.
In case you missed it, right here’s our protection of Apple’s iPhone 17 Professional launch which provides ProRes RAW recording capabilities to iPhone.
Genlock and timecode for multicam and LED partitions
ProDock brings devoted BNC connectors for genlock and for exterior timecode. Genlock retains frames aligned throughout gadgets and reside switchers, which is crucial for multi-camera and digital manufacturing workflows. It additionally helps when capturing LED volumes by stopping flicker and tearing from panel refresh habits. Timecode enter lets every iPhone roll independently whereas nonetheless syncing routinely in submit, for instance when conforming in DaVinci Resolve.
All of the connectors of Blackmagic Digicam ProDock for iPhone 17 Professional. Picture credit score: Blackmagic Design
HDMI monitoring and on-set viewing
A full-size HDMI output permits connection to manufacturing displays or EVFs, giving administrators, focus pullers, and shoppers a correct feed with out resorting to client adapters. Framing, publicity checks, and reference playback grow to be a lot simpler for a traditional video village.
Provides a big HDMI port to iPhone 17 Professional. Picture credit score: Blackmagic Design
USB-C storage, equipment, and locking 12V energy
The dock supplies three USB-C ports to cowl high-speed exterior SSD recording and equipment comparable to lens or digicam management gadgets, whereas an clever energy system distributes a locking 12V DC enter to the dock, the iPhone, and all linked USB-C gear. This setup helps lengthy takes and extra advanced rigs with out juggling energy banks or hubs.
Exterior SSDs could be linked to iPhone 17 Professional through the Blackmagic Digicam ProDock as nicely. Picture credit score: Blackmagic Design
Audio out and in for actual monitoring
With 3.5 mm mic enter and a separate 3.5 mm headphone output, ProDock permits easy use of handheld, lapel, or on-camera shotguns whereas preserving correct confidence monitoring on set.
Audio I/O is being added to iPhone 17 Professional through the Blackmagic Digicam ProDock. Picture credit score: Blackmagic Design
App integration and file codecs
ProDock is designed to work hand-in-hand with the Blackmagic Digicam app on iPhone. You continue to get the cinema-style UI with fast entry to border fee, shutter angle, white steadiness, and ISO, plus direct Blackmagic Cloud workflows. Recording to plain codecs as much as ProRes, together with ProRes RAW, is supported for high-end imaging pipelines.
Blackmagic Digicam ProDock could be ordered from Apple or from Blackmagic Design resellers. Picture credit score: Blackmagic Design
Pricing and availability
Blackmagic Digicam ProDock is obtainable now for US $295, excluding duties and taxes, by means of the Apple Retailer on-line and Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide.
Specs at a look
- Sync: BNC genlock in, BNC timecode in.
- Monitoring: Full-size HDMI out.
- Audio: 3.5 mm stereo mic enter, 3.5 mm stereo headphone out.
- Storage and I/O: Three USB-C ports for exterior SSDs and equipment.
- Energy: Locking 12V DC enter powers the dock, iPhone, and linked USB-C equipment.
- Rigging: 1/4-20 pin-lock mounting factors on prime and backside.
- Compatibility: iPhone 17 Professional and iPhone 17 Professional Max with Blackmagic Digicam app.
In brief, ProDock takes the iPhone from “helpful B-cam” to a genuinely synchronized, monitor-ready node in knowledgeable multi-camera or digital manufacturing setup.
Would you belief an iPhone-plus-ProDock as an A-camera for sure jobs, or preserve it as a specialised device for multicam and LED wall days?
