Introducing URSA Broadcast, the world’s most affordable and most flexible professional broadcast camera. URSA Broadcast is two cameras in one, an incredible field camera for ENG and programming work, as well as a professional studio camera! URSA Broadcast is perfect for traditional broadcasters because it uses the lenses and batteries you already own, and it also eliminates weird media cards and file formats found on traditional cameras. It records onto regular SD cards and uses the same common file formats found on broadcast media management systems and most NLE software.Plus URSA Broadcast is perfect for web broadcasters because it works with both older after marketHD lenses and inexpensive photo lenses.No other broadcast camera is more flexible and more affordable!
Effective Sensor Size
2/3 inch sensor size when using 4K B4 mount (Actual sensor size 13.056mm x 7.344mm)
Lens Mount
B4 2/3 inch
Lens Control
Electronic control via 12-pin broadcast connector. Control also possible via EF mount pins when using optional URSA Mini Pro EF Mount.
Dynamic Range
12 Stops+
Shooting Resolutions
3840×2160, 1920×1080
Frame Rates
Project frame rates of 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94 and 60 fps supported. Off-speed frame rates up to 60p.
Built in ND Filters
Four position ND filter wheel with clear, 2-stop, 4-stop and 6-stop ND filters.
Focus
Focus button turns on peaking, auto focus available using compatible lenses with focus servo.
Iris Control
Iris wheel and touchscreen slider for manual iris adjustment on electronically controllable lenses, iris button for instant auto iris settings on compatible lenses so no pixel is clipped in film mode. Scene average auto exposure in video and extended video mode.
Screen Dimensions
4 inch.
Screen Type
LCD capacitive touchscreen.
Metadata Support
Automatically populated lens data from electronic B4 lenses. Automatic recording of camera settings and slate data such as project, scene number, take and special notes.
Controls
Touchscreen menus on 4 inch screen. Push buttons for other controls. 2 assignable shortcut keys.
Timecode Clock
Highly accurate timecode clock. Less than 1 frame drift every 8 hours.
Wow is all I can add to this post, BlackMagic have done it again, a broadcast spec camcorder that takes B4 2/3″ lenses for just over £3000 is breathtaking. Sony, Panasonic and JVC will need to up their game to compete with this announcement.
I remember when Black magic begun and quite a few in the broadcast and media world kind of taunted them for being cheap rubbish.
And not really worthy the broadcast name they used.
As always – when the old world laughs and something or someone you know they are right. 🙂
This is a beautiful camera. And if is carries the BM quality I’m sure it will be quite successful.
A broadcast camcorder without 720p and limited to Raw and ProRes? No broadcast codec at all on board? Wow, it seems that Blackmagic have no idea what “ENG” is about.
BTW, the advertised price is the naked body only….no finder, no shoulder pad, no mic holder, not even a battery mount. Add these necessary items and you pay more than £4500. Not bad either but who cares when the specs don’t fit?
as you can shoot with XdCam HD, I work for a broadast television, the camera looks very nice but they forgot that many like me work in the broadcast environment.
“a broadcast spec camcorder that takes B4 2/3″ lenses for just over £3000 ….”
Well… not quite, as that price is without viewfinder, and I think the EVF from BlackMagic brings it up to about £4,500 or thereabouts.
OK, it’s still a good price, but the devil is in the detail and I suspect for one thing it’s probably single chip (??). In which case, don’t expect the sensitivity to be close to any comparable 3 chipper, and there may well be lens aberration issues. (B4 lenses tend to be optimised for use with a block and 3 chips.)
I tend to agree with Angelo above, that for a freelancer working for broadcast, you really need to be able to produce to XDCAM or AVC-Intra file formats for compatability. So may be OK for a self contained operation on a tight budget, but for many potential customers it’s a bit of a non-starter.
So yes, it’s interesting, but I doubt it’s got the likes of Sony or Panasonic too worried. If you’re happy to spend the high cost on a B4 lens in the first place, I suspect spending the extra on a 3 chip camera is not a problem. And if money is really tight, there are probably better (non B4 2/3″) solutions available.
So yes, interesting, but let’s not get too carried away. For one thing, the lack of any ability to accept slot-in radio mic receivers puts it at quite a disadvantage in the true broadcast ENG field. Basically, you get what you pay for – and at least it is pretty cheap!