It wouldn’t be hyperbole to name the brand new Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K one of the vital anticipated cameras of the previous decade. Nevertheless, it additionally may not be correct, as Blackmagic additionally has early critiques of the URSA Cine Immersive digital camera popping out right here now, too.
No matter which digital camera you’re extra intrigued by, it’s straightforward to see why the URSA Cine line is getting fairly a little bit of consideration and fanfare from these fortunate sufficient to get their arms on them early. To get a full breakdown of what the URSA Cine 17K has to supply to precise, working filmmakers and DPs, we chatted with Tyler Edwards about his first impressions.
Right here’s every thing it is advisable find out about working with the URSA Cine 17K and why you completely shouldn’t be afraid of this 17K behemoth.
NFS: First off, inform us a bit about your filmmaking historical past. What acquired you into cinematography?
Tyler Edwards: I acquired into filmmaking as a pastime in highschool. We did a brief movie for a category venture, and that actually kicked off my curiosity in filmmaking. In faculty and thru my first job out of school, filmmaking was only a pastime for me, however I used to be obsessive about filmmaking. I might watch each Philip Bloom, FilmRiot, Indie Mogul, and different movies on YouTube, making an attempt to be taught something I might. In 2015, I began taking over small company jobs on the facet and realized there was actual potential to do that for a dwelling.
NFS: What cameras have you ever used previously? What have you ever seemed for in a cinema digital camera historically?
TE: I’ve used just about each Blackmagic, RED DSMC2/DSMC3 digital camera, Sony FX line, and Canon EOS Cinema. Historically, a digital camera with extensive dynamic vary was the first function I seemed for in a cinema digital camera. Past that, it was—and nonetheless is—about discovering the digital camera with the options and specs wanted for a particular job.
NFS: Inform us a bit about your first impressions of the URSA Cine 17K?
TE: Blackmagic Design knocked it out of the park with this digital camera. The sensor is admittedly particular. The broader format provides spherical lenses a novel look. You get that compression from a 50mm lens, however a wider FOV, nearer to 38mm. That math could be off. It actually makes the picture really feel bigger than life. I used to be actually impressed by each the spotlight rolloff and lowlight efficiency. There’s a lot extra to say in regards to the digital camera, and I made a primary impressions video on my YouTube channel.
NFS: Are you able to share some insights into your present (or very best) rig for the URSA Cine 17K?
TE: The configuration I had was excellent for my wants. I used the Blackmagic Design shoulder mount for the bottom of the digital camera and Picket Digicam’s Elite system for just about the remainder. Their high deal with, high plate, 15mm rod attachment, and battery wedge plate actually make rigging the digital camera excellent for my wants. Moreover, Blackmagic Design’s EVF is an absolute should for this digital camera. I actually love that EVF. To energy the digital camera, I ran the V-Mount plate and Core SWX Helix Max dual-voltage batteries.
NFS: If a good friend had been renting or buying the URSA Cine 17K for a shoot, what recommendation would you give them?
TE: Don’t let 17K scare you. Blackmagic RAW compression is nice, but when 17K isn’t wanted, you possibly can seize in 8K [or even 4K] with out cropping in on the sensor. That’s the fantastic thing about this RGBW sensor. Additionally, the digital camera is energy hungry, so you should definitely have sufficient batteries for the day and the right batteries if you’d like excessive body fee recording. That mentioned, I used the V-mount plate, and for venture framerate recording (for me, 24p), regular V-mounts work nice for that.
NFS: What would you like to see within the subsequent cinema digital camera that Blackmagic may create?
TE: For those who had requested me earlier than NAB 2025, I might have mentioned, “I’d like to see that URSA Cine 12K LF sensor in a Pyxis physique,” however then they did that. So, I assume now my reply can be the identical, however with the 17K sensor in there.
