Blackmagic Design has announced the Blackmagic Camera, which adds digital film camera control to the Apple iPhone. Available for free download from Apple’s App Store.
Blackmagic Camera adds digital film camera controls and an operating system to iPhone, allowing anyone to create the same cinematic look found in Hollywood feature films. The interface is the same interface as the intuitive and user-friendly design as Blackmagic Design’s award-winning cameras. It is said to offer the same operability as a professional digital film camera.
This app can ajust settings such as frame rate, shutter angle, white balance, and ISO with a single tap. It also supports industry standard 10-bit Apple ProRes files up to 4K and can be recorded directly to Blackmagic Cloud. By recording to Blackmagic Cloud Storage, it is possible to collaborate on DaVinci Resolve projects with editors from all over the world.
The Blackmagic Camera App: intriguing app that allows for quick shooting
Blackmagic Camera has all the controls needed to quickly set up and start shooting. Everything is interactive, and it is possible to change settings instantly by tapping an item on the screen.
The head-up display (HUD) shows status, recording parameters, histogram, focus peaking, levels, frame guide, etc. Users can hide or hide the head-up display by swiping up or down. Autofocus can be performed by tapping the focus area. The app shoots in 16:9 or portrait aspect ratio. There’s also a tab for media management, allowing to upload to Blackmagic Cloud, chat, and access advanced menus.
The Display
The heads-up display (HUD) contains important camera controls such as lens selection, frame rate, shutter angle, timecode, ISO, white balance, tint, histogram, and audio levels. Everything is interactive, such as exposure settings using the ISO indicator and audio levels that can be changed by simply touching the audio meter. Simply change settings instantly by tapping an item on the screen. To hide the heads-up display and view the image full-screen, simply swipe up or down on the screen.
Settings Tab, and Management
The Settings tab provides quick access to advanced settings such as monitoring, audio, camera setup, and recording, to maximize the potential from the iPhone camera. The recording tab allows control over video resolution and recording formats, including industry-standard Apple ProRes and compact H.264 and H.265. It also features anamorphic desqueeze and lens correction settings. Professional audio options include VU or PPM audio meters, AAC, IEEE Float, and PCM formats. It is also possible to add an external microphone.
Blackmagic Camera also includes professional monitoring tools such as zebra settings for exposure confirmation, focus assist, and frame guides. Additionally, by adding 3D LUTs, it is possible to recreate a cinematic look.
Built-in Chat Feature
Blackmagic Camera has a built-in chat feature that allows Blackmagic Cloud project members to discuss shots and share ideas within the app. Simply log in to Blackmagic Cloud, select the project, and enter a message. Quickly send messages to editors, assistants, colorists, VFX artists, and more to discuss shot selections and check project progress. All staff involved in the project can see the message and reply if necessary. This means it is possible to communicate with other staff within the app and never miss an important shot.
Blackmagic Camera’s media tab provides the controls needed to view and scrub clips, search and sort through media, check the media’s upload status, and more. It is also possible to link to photos or select clips to upload to Blackmagic Cloud. To access media from the Blackmagic Camera’s clip folder, simply select the Media button to display thumbnails of the saved clips.
It is also possible to save media to a file folder on the iPhone and send it to Blackmagic Cloud Storage via Blackmagic Cloud, or manually select clips to upload to the project library. It is also possible to sync media directly from the Blackmagic Camera to DaVinci Resolve project, allowing editing and grading immediately.
Blackmagic Camera Media Management
Media management on Blackmagic Camera is easy, with three options depending on the location and mobile data coverage. Clips recorded on mobile phones can be sent to the computer. This frees up storage on the phone. Most importantly, this allows users to share files with other users around the world. Alternatively, it is possible to log into Blackmagic Cloud, select the DaVinci Resolve project, and start recording.
After each recording, media is automatically uploaded and synced with all staff on that project. Blackmagic Camera also includes the option to record footage from the phone and manually select which clips to upload to Blackmagic Cloud when network availability is available.
Once the library is set up, it is possible to sync the Blackmagic Camera app to Cloud Storage directly from the app. Users with Blackmagic IDs can be invited to share projects and work on the same projects with editors and colorists from around the world.
Conclusion
With Blackmagic Camera, the videos shot is instantly uploaded as a proxy file, followed by the camera original, and finally saved to Blackmagic Cloud Storage. These are then automatically synced to all staff around the world. Users can use a proxy to start editing right away, speeding up workflow. It’s possible to add media from multiple cameras in different locations to the same project. It automatically synced to other staff via Blackmagic Cloud.
Anyone can use proxy media, and colorists and finishers can download and render high-resolution camera originals. It’s an automated, fast and seamless way to collaborate.
Grant Petty, CEO of Blackmagic Design, commented:
Blackmagic Camera is a truly innovative workflow that allows you to create feature film quality content using your iPhone.
Blackmagic Camera adds professional camera features to your iPhone, including frame rate, shutter angle, time-of-day timecode, ISO, and white balance, giving you control similar to our professional cameras. Additionally, Blackmagic Cloud workflows allow you to record to Blackmagic Cloud storage and automatically sync with DaVinci Resolve. Get your footage to the newsroom or post-production studio in minutes! It’s really exciting to see how Blackmagic Camera changes traditional news and post-production workflows.
