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NAB 2012, Las Vegas, USA – April 16, 2012 – Blackmagic
Design today announced Blackmagic Cinema Camera, a revolutionary digital cinema
camera design that includes powerful features such as super wide 13 stops of
dynamic range, high resolution 2.5K sensor, built in high bandwidth SSD
recorder, open file format support, color correction with full version of
DaVinci Resolve and a built in LCD with metadata entry, all in an attractive
compact design

Many current generation video cameras suffer from a “video look” due to a
limited contrast range, a maximum HD resolution sensor, poor quality optics and
lenses, the use of heavy video compression for file recording and poor
integration with NLE software metadata management. With these limitations, they
cannot be used for high end work or feature films.

Blackmagic Cinema Camera has been designed to eliminate these problems so
customers get a true feature film look, and at an affordable cost can shoot high
end television commercials, episodic television programming and feature
films.

Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes a super wide 13 stops of dynamic range,
large 2.5K sensor, a built in SSD recorder that has the bandwidth to capture
open standard CinemaDNG RAW, ProRes and DNxHD files, a built in capacitive touch
screen LCD for direct metadata entry, standard jack audio connections, built in
high-speed Thunderbolt connection, 3 Gb/s SDI output, a refrigerated sensor for
low noise, and is fully compatible with extremely high quality Canon EF and
Zeiss ZF mount lenses.

Blackmagic Cinema Camera also includes a full copy of DaVinci Resolve for
color correction and Blackmagic UltraScope software for waveform monitoring.
UltraScope can be run on a laptop connected to the camera via a Thunderbolt
connection.

One of the most important features of the camera is its super wide dynamic
range of 13 stops, allowing feature film quality images. Commonly people focus
on more pixels, however often this just creates a higher resolution, but still
“video” looking images that suffer from highlight and black clipping that limits
details. Blackmagic Cinema Camera’s wide dynamic range eliminates this problem
and provides film quality with dramatically more detail retained in black and
whites in the image. Once the shoot is complete, the included DaVinci Resolve
color correction software can be used to adjust images and take advantage of
this extra range in the images. The high quality EF and ZF lens compatibility
also helps create sharp and cinematic images that look incredible.

To eliminate the damage that low bit depth and high compression video storage
creates, Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes a fast SSD recorder. The built in SSD
recorder can record on fast solid state disks the full sensor detail in 12 bit
Log RAW files in the open standard CinemaDNG format. These files can be read by
all high end video software. The full 2.5K sensor data is stored in the files
completely uncompressed because the SSD has the speed to store video data at the
required rate. Then this high quality file can be color corrected on DaVinci
Resolve for the same high quality result currently only possible on cameras
costing tens of thousands of dollars.

Blackmagic Cinema Camera has been designed as the perfect companion to Final
Cut Pro X and Avid Media Composer NLE software. Unlike other cameras, which
require the use of custom video file formats that are not compatible with
popular NLE software, often making the post production process a nightmare, the
Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes absolutely no custom video file formats, and
every file type included is open standard. It records into CinemaDNG format for
RAW files, ProRes and DNxHD for HD resolution files compatible with Final Cut
Pro X and Avid Media Composer.

The built in large LCD display makes focus easy, and allows playback of
captured files. Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes a built in microphone, as well
as external jack based mic/line level balanced audio connections. When playing
back recorded clips, a speaker is built in, and there is an included headphone
socket, as well as embedded audio on the SDI output and Thunderbolt connection.
The SDI output includes all camera data such as timecode, transport control,
shutter angle, color temperature setting and ASA information overlaid in
attractive anti aliased fonts.

For easy metadata entry, the built in LCD features fast and responsive
capacitive touch screen technology. When the user taps the display with a
finger, a data entry window called the “slate” appears. This lets the user enter
shot information just like typing on a smart phone. This data is then stored in
the files so can be accessed by NLE software when editing content later.
Metadata is compatible with popular software such as Final Cut Pro X and DaVinci
Resolve. All camera settings can be changed on this touch LCD, such as frame
rate, shutter angle, color temperature, dynamic range, focus assist settings and
more.

Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes an innovative industrial design built from
solid machined aluminum metal which results in an attractive but rugged design.
All of the camera, recorder and display have been shrunk down into a lightweight
design thats very portable.

“This is one of the most exciting products we have ever created and its been
a work in progress for a very long time,” said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic
Design. “Ever since I was a telecine engineer back in the 1990′s I have wished
that video cameras would include features that allowed them to perform
creatively similar to film. However current digital cameras are too heavy, way
too expensive and need costly accessories to work. We felt there was a need for
a camera that delivered these features in a design that’s optimized for
professional video shoots, as well as being a compact, elegant design that’s
easily affordable. We think we have achieved that!”

Building one of the finest cameras in the world requires attention to every
detail. Blackmagic Cinema Camera’s premium quality design features a machined
aluminum chassis, interchangeable optics, high resolution 2.5K sensor, 13 stops
of dynamic range and 12-bit RAW uncompressed and compressed file formats! Every
aspect of the image path has been totally optimized for quality, so this means
you always get the quality you need for the most demanding work.