Installation and Operation Manual Blackmagic Cinema Camera Mac OS X™ Windows™ December 2012
Welcome Welcome Thank you for purchasing Blackmagic Cinema Camera! We have worked hard to produce a camera that's designed from the ground up to have a very wide dynamic range and to produce files that are "flat", which means they preserve this wide dynamic range.
Contents Blackmagic Cinema Camera 5 Attaching a Lens Entry of Metadata 5 What is the Slate? 18 How to Enter Metadata Information 18 Turning the Camera On and Off 5 Inserting a SSD 6 Begin Recording 6 Choosing the Recording Format 10 18 Getting Started 19 Connections 6 Remote 19 Playing Back Clips 7 Headphones 19 Using Remote Control 7 Audio In 19 Charging the Internal Battery 7 SDI Out 19 Blackmagic Cinema Camera Utility 8 Thunderbolt™
Contents Blackmagic Cinema Camera 28 30 Attaching Accessories Sun Shield 28 Carry Strap 28 Blackmagic Cinema Camera Handles 29 Working with Thunderbolt Technology What Can I Do with the Thunderbolt Port on My Camera? 31 39 51 Using Blackmagic Media Express Using Blackmagic UltraScope Help Getting Help 51 Blackmagic Design Online Support Pages 51 Contacting Blackmagic Design Support 51 Checking the Version Currently Installed 51 How to Get the Latest Software Updates 51
Getting Started Getting started with the Blackmagic Cinema Camera is as simple as attaching a lens, turning the camera on and inserting a SSD. You can test the camera by recording and playing back your first shot and, of course, don't forget to charge the battery before you start shooting! Attaching a Lens Before you attach a lens to the camera, you'll need to remove the camera's dust cap from the lens mount. You can then attach and remove your favorite EF and ZE mount lenses.
Getting Started Inserting a SSD You can insert any 2.5" SSD formatted in either the HFS+ or exFAT file systems: Step 1. Open the SSD door on the right hand side of the camera. Step 2. With the gold SATA contacts facing towards the camera door, insert the SSD until you feel it press into place. Step 3. Close the SSD door.
Getting Started Playing Back Clips Recorded clips can be played back on the camera's touchscreen. Once you have recorded your video, you can use the transport control buttons under the touchscreen to play back your video. Press the play button once for instant playback and you'll see your video on the touchscreen and on any display connected to the SDI output. Hold down the forward or reverse buttons to fast forward or reverse through the clip.
Getting Started Blackmagic Cinema Camera Utility Blackmagic Cinema Camera Utility is used to change settings and update the internal software in your camera. How to Update Your Cinema Camera Software on Mac OS X After downloading the Blackmagic Cinema Camera Utility software and unzipping the downloaded file, open the resulting disk image to reveal its contents. Launch the Blackmagic Cinema Camera Installer and follow the onscreen instructions.
Getting Started How to Set Up Thunderbolt to Capture and Monitor Video This section guides you through how to set up your Blackmagic Cinema Camera with your computer for video capture and waveform monitoring. Connecting the Blackmagic Cinema Camera to your computer Step 1. Connect power to the Blackmagic Cinema Camera using the included power adapter. Battery power can be used but you'll usually want to connect the power adapter for longer sessions. Step 2.
Settings Camera Settings To configure camera settings on your Blackmagic Cinema Camera, press the MENU button in the transport control and tap the onscreen camera menu icon. Camera ID If you're using more than one Blackmagic Cinema Camera, it can be helpful to set a camera ID which will be included with any metadata recorded with your clips. You can change the camera ID by tapping the current name and then changing or entering a new camera ID with the onscreen keyboard.
Settings White Balance Your Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes 6 white balance presets for a variety of color temperature conditions. These are 3200K for tungsten light 4500K for fluorescent light 5000K, 5600K, 6500K and 7500K for a variety of daylight conditions such as time of day To adjust the White Balance settings, tap the arrow icons on the touchscreen. Shutter Angle The Camera Settings screen Shutter angle compliments the ISO setting by regulating the amount of light on the sensor.
Settings Audio Settings To adjust audio input and audio monitoring settings on your Blackmagic Cinema Camera, press the MENU button and select the microphone icon to the left of the touchscreen display. Microphone Input Microphone input adjusts the built-in microphone. Drag the audio slider icon to increase or decrease levels. The mono microphone input is recorded to audio channels 1 and 2 when no external audio source is connected to the camera.
Settings Recorder Settings The recorder settings are used to set the video format recorded to the built-in SSD recorder. To set recorder settings on your Blackmagic Cinema Camera, press the MENU button in the transport control panel and then tap the onscreen REC icon. Recording Format You can choose to record to CinemaDNG RAW 2.5K video or to a compressed, high definition, QuickTime movie in Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) or Avid DNxHD video formats. Choose RAW 2.
Settings Frame Rate Your Blackmagic Cinema Camera has five different frame rate settings for shooting common film and video frame rates: 23.98 fps, 24 fps, 25 fps, 29.97 fps, 30 fps. To select the frame rate, tap the arrow icons on the touchscreen. Time Lapse Interval The Recorder Settings screen This setting allows you to record individual frames at interval ranges of 1 - 10 seconds or 1 - 10 minutes. For example, you can set the camera to record a still frame every 5 minutes.
Settings Display Settings To adjust the display settings for the camera's touchscreen, press the MENU button and select the television icon on the touchscreen. Dynamic Range The touchscreen serves as your viewfinder, allowing you to view your video as you are recording. You can set the dynamic range of your viewfinder by tapping the onscreen television icon and selecting video or film. The Display Settings screen The dynamic range of the display is set independent of the recorder settings.
Settings Adjusting Settings Your Blackmagic Cinema Camera supports electronic iris control, focus peaking and image stabilization and is compatible with cinema style EF and some ZE mount lenses, all of which have the highest optical quality. Iris Button and Control You can also manually adjust the iris of your lens by using the forward and reverse buttons on the transport control panel.
Settings Status Strip Along the bottom of the touchscreen is a status strip that contains a convenient summary of the recording settings that have been chosen through the various menus. This information is displayed in the following order from left to right on the strip: Format - ProRes, DNxHD or RAW 2.
Entry of Metadata What is the Slate? - Single Tap The large touchscreen on the Blackmagic Cinema Camera has many purposes, one of which is to allow you to easily log metadata directly into the camera. Tap the display once with your finger and a data entry window called the ‘slate’ will appear. This data is referred to as ‘metadata’. The metadata is stored in the files and is easily accessed by NLE software when editing content.
Connections The Blackmagic Cinema Camera features standard connections, so custom cables are not required. Connections are located on the left side of the camera and are protected from dust and dirt by rubber hoods. Remote The 2.5mm stereojack for remote connection uses the standard LANC protocol to support record start, record stop, iris control and manual focus. Headphones 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack connection.
Connections Blackmagic Cinema Camera LANC 2.5 mm Remote Control 3.
Software Compatibility Accessing Clips File Naming Convention The Blackmagic Cinema Camera uses the following file naming convention when recording video. [Camera ID]_[Reel Number]_[yyyy-mm--dd]_[hhmm]_C[Clip number].mov This is an example of how this would appear on the touch screen of the camera: Edit directly from the SSD by removing it from your camera and directly mounting the SSD on your computer using an eSATA or Thunderbolt dock. BMC01_1_2012-08-08_1631_C0002.
Software Compatibility Capturing from the Thunderbolt™ connection The Thunderbolt port of your camera outputs uncompressed 4:2:2 10-bit HD1080 video while recording live with the camera. You can capture video from the Thunderbolt port with a variety of video software supported by your camera, including: Apple Final Cut Pro 7, Adobe Premiere Pro CS6, Avid Media Composer 6.x, Blackmagic Media Express 3 and DaVinci Resolve 9.
Software Compatibility RAW Files Why do my RAW shots look overexposed? VIDEO DATA RAW FILM DATA The 100% Zebra level in the Display Settings helps you adjust your exposure to ensure that you don't overload the sensor and clip your highlights. It is based on the full dynamic range capability of the Blackmagic Cinema Camera and not on video levels.
Software Compatibility Workflows There are many powerful ways to use Blackmagic Cinema Camera with your favorite video software. The following steps detail one of the most common workflows. Final Cut Pro X Step 1. Shoot with Blackmagic Cinema Camera and record to CinemaDNG RAW files. Step 2. Take the SSD out of the camera and dock it to your computer via a SSD dock with a fast Thunderbolt, USB 3.0 or eSATA connection. Step 3. Bring the media into Resolve 9. Step 4.
About SSDs Important Information About SSD Speeds Some SSDs can have up to 50% lower write speed than the manufacturer’s claimed speed, so even though the disk specifications claim a SSD is fast enough to handle video, in reality the disk is not fast enough for real time video data recording. Hidden data compression mostly affects recording and often these disks can still be used for real time playback.
About SSDs Supported Disk Format SSDs used by Blackmagic Cinema Camera must be formatted as either HFS+ or exFAT. These disk formats allow long clips to be recorded in a single file per clip. Simply connect the SSD to your computer with an external dock or cable adapter and format it as you would a regular disk. Make sure you back up anything important from your SSD as you will lose everything on it when you format it. HFS+ is also known as Mac OS Extended.
About SSDs Step 5. Select the SSD in the MacDrive Disk Manager and choose Initialize disk>Initialize as GPT. Step 6. Choose "Automatically create an HFS+ volume" and click "Initialize Disk". Step 7. Once the format has been completed, your SSD is ready for use with Blackmagic Cinema Camera. The Format dialog box can format a drive in the exFAT format on a Windows PC. Step 1. Connect the SSD to your computer. Step 2. Choose Start>Computer and right-click on your SSD. Step 3.
Attaching Accessories Option 1. Sun Shield Your Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes a detachable sun shield to shade the touchscreen in bright conditions and ensure optimum viewing is possible at all times. Place the sun shield over the rear of the camera and, with the shield positioned at the top, line up the locking tabs and gently push into the camera. Option 2. To remove the sun shield either: Option 1.
Attaching Accessories Blackmagic Cinema Camera Handles The Blackmagic Cinema Camera has optional handles for shooting in locations where you need to move around quickly with your camera. The handles let you steady your shot and keep up with the action! On the underside of the camera, locate the ¼” screw thread and insert the guide pin, locking the handles to the camera.
Working with Thunderbolt Technology What Can I Do With the Thunderbolt Port on My Camera? When connected to a Mac OS X computer with Thunderbolt technology, your Blackmagic Cinema Camera can be used as a powerful solution for video capture, waveform monitoring and color correction. Regardless of which recording format you choose on the camera, the Thunderbolt port always outputs HD1080p video in the uncompressed 10-bit format which is compatible with a wide range of popular video software.
Using Blackmagic Media Express What is Media Express? Blackmagic Media Express 3 software is included with every Blackmagic Cinema Camera to perform video and audio capture to files. Blackmagic Media Express 3 is a great tool when you don’t need the complexity of NLE software, but simply want to capture the live video output of your camera's Thunderbolt port. The User Interface Media Express can easily be scaled for different sizes of monitors or even small notebook screens.
Using Blackmagic Media Express Capturing Video and Audio Files Select your Blackmagic Cinema Camera from the Device menu. Selecting Your Blackmagic Cinema Camera If you have more than one Blackmagic Design capture product installed or connected to your computer, go to the Device menu in Media Express and select your Blackmagic Cinema Camera. In the example pictured on this page, an Intensity Extreme and a Blackmagic Cinema Camera are both connected to the same computer.
Using Blackmagic Media Express Media List Project name, video format and frame rate Timecode List, Thumbnail and Favorites view Clip Bins Mark In / Mark Out Search Field Grab Still Frame Logging Information VTR / deck timecode Capture options Transport Controls Audio channel enable/disable Video Preview Audio Meters Remote indicator
Using Blackmagic Media Express Capture Capturing video is easy, all you need to do is connect your Blackmagic Cinema Camera via a Thunderbolt cable, set the Media Express preferences and press the Capture button. Open Media Express and set its preferences to the desired project video format. Click the red Log and Capture tab and enter a description for your video into the Description field of the logging information area. Click the "+" button next to the Description to add it to the automatic Name field.
Using Blackmagic Media Express Media List Project name, video format and frame rate Timecode List, Thumbnail and Favorites view Clip Bins Mark In / Mark Out Search Field Clip Information Grab Still Frame VTR / deck timecode Favorites Selection Transport Controls Audio channel enable/disable Video Preview Audio Meters Remote indicator
Using Blackmagic Media Express Playing Back Video and Audio Files Importing Clips You can play back your video and audio files after capturing video or importing media into Media Express in any of the following ways: • Double-click an empty area of the Media List. • Right-click an empty area of the Media List and select Import Clip from the contextual menu. • Go to the File menu, select Import and then Media Files. Then select the clip(s) you wish to import from the Open Video Clip dialog box.
Using Blackmagic Media Express Browsing Media In the Media List, you can view your clips in Thumbnail view or Timecode List view by clicking on the desired view button at the top-right of the Media List. In the Media List, choose to view your clips in Timecode List view or Thumbnail view. Thumbnail View Thumbnails are the most intuitive way to display your clips.
Using Blackmagic Media Express Deleting Clips and Bins To delete clips, select the unwanted clips and press the forward delete button on your keyboard. This will only delete the clips from the Media List and they will safely remain on your disk storage. To delete bins, right-click within a bin and choose “Delete Bin”. This action will delete the bin and any clips it contained. This will only delete the clips from the Media List and they will safely remain on your disk storage.
Using Blackmagic UltraScope What is Blackmagic UltraScope? Now with Blackmagic Cinema Camera you get the incredible features of Blackmagic UltraScope which you can even use with compatible iMac and MacBook Pro notebook computers with Thunderbolt technology! Blackmagic UltraScope software is installed by the Blackmagic Cinema Camera Installer.
Using Blackmagic UltraScope Blackmagic UltraScope Interface 1. Parade Display 2. Waveform Display 3. Vectorscope Display 4. Histogram Display 6. Audio Metering Display 7. Picture Display 5.
Using Blackmagic UltraScope Understanding Blackmagic UltraScope Views Blackmagic UltraScope has two different views available depending on your workflow needs and screen resolution. You have the choice of viewing six displays in “Full Screen” view, or for more compact viewing, choose any 2 displays in “2-up” view. The display view can be selected from the View menu. Choose Full Screen to enter Full Screen view. If this option is unchecked, 2-up view will be displayed.
Using Blackmagic UltraScope Zoom Function Blackmagic UltraScope allows you to zoom in on various displays for a more detailed analysis. This helpful function will also pan and zoom the graticules for each display in high resolution. The zoom function is available in the Parade, Waveform, Vectorscope and Picture displays. To zoom in, simply click on the bottom right of each respective display. Now you will be able to view the display in finer detail.
Using Blackmagic UltraScope Blackmagic UltraScope is included for use with your Blackmagic Cinema Camera so you can always use it on set whenever your computer is connected to the camera's Thunderbolt port. The following pages explain how each waveform display is used for tasks such as editing and color correction, as well as with your camera, so you get a deeper understanding of how each type of waveform display can help you. 1.
Using Blackmagic UltraScope 2. Waveform Display The Waveform Display is similar to traditional composite waveform monitors seen in many broadcast studios. On Mac OS X, B/W is always selected to show the luminance view, which provides a digitally encoded waveform similar to traditional luminance waveform monitors. The luminance view is very useful when adjusting luma (brightness) levels in an image.
Using Blackmagic UltraScope 3. Vectorscope Display The Vectorscope Display uses a vector view to show the colors in a video signal. You can see color bar video levels by using the color boxes in the graticule. All you need to do is select 75% or 100% color bars, depending on the standard of color bar test signals used in your facility! Some people think you can use a vectorscope to check for illegal levels.
Using Blackmagic UltraScope 4. Histogram Display Histogram Display is most familiar to graphic designers and camera operators. Histogram Display shows the distribution of white to black information and lets you monitor how close the detail is to being clipped off in the whites or blacks of the video. Histogram Display also lets you see the effects of gamma changes in the video. Black video is shown on the left of the display, and whites are shown on the right.
Using Blackmagic UltraScope 5. Error Logging Display Error Logging records errors in video and audio and is indispensable when reviewing video and for unattended operation. Errors may be logged for color, brightness or audio threshold levels as well as loss of video signal, change of video format or audio silence. After setting the parameters which define when an error should be logged, you can choose to start or stop error logging, save the log to a file, or clear the log.
Using Blackmagic UltraScope How to Customize Error Logging To customize error logging, go to the Error Logging menu and choose Profiles to open the Error Logging Profiles window. Saved profiles appear in the profile list at the left and the current, active profile appears in bold above the list. The standard EBU-R103 profile cannot be deleted or modified and is grayed out. You can add a profile by clicking the add (+) button and typing a name for your profile.
Using Blackmagic UltraScope 6. Audio Metering Display Audio Metering Display shows you the audio levels in the embedded audio of the camera's video signal. The 2 channels of embedded audio from your Blackmagic Cinema Camera are de-embedded and then displayed in either dBFS or VU format. The VU button switches between dBFS and VU audio metering standards. dBFS is essentially a meter of the overall digital audio signal and is common on modern digital equipment.
Using Blackmagic UltraScope 7. Picture Display The Picture Display is a handy confidence monitor so you can see the video that is being received by Blackmagic UltraScope. The Picture Display has three settings: COLOR, B/W (black & white) and BLUE (Blue Only). Set to COLOR or B/W depending on the needs of your facility.
Help Getting Help The fastest way to obtain help is to go to the Blackmagic Design online support pages and check the latest support material available for your Blackmagic Cinema Camera. Blackmagic Design Online Support Pages The latest manual, software and support notes can be found at the Blackmagic Support Center at www.blackmagicdesign.com/support.
Help Replacing the Fan FAN Your camera contains a fan, which is necessary for cooling. If you detect that the fan is not working, or that it is making a strange noise, switch off the camera and order a replacement fan by contacting Blackmagic Design Support. You should use an anti-static strap to avoid damaging the camera while opened. To replace the fan, start by switching off the camera and then remove any external cables.
Warranty Information 12 Month Limited Warranty Blackmagic Design warrants that this product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 12 months from the date of purchase. If a product proves to be defective during this warranty period, Blackmagic Design, at its option, either will repair the defective product without charge for parts and labor, or will provide a replacement in exchange for the defective product.
