'Don’t Let the 17K Scare You': First Impressions of the Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K Are In

It wouldn’t be hyperbole to name the brand new Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K one of the crucial anticipated cameras of the previous decade. Nevertheless, it additionally may not be correct, as Blackmagic additionally has early opinions of the URSA Cine Immersive digicam popping out right here now, too.No matter which digicam 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 all the things you’ll want to learn 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 obtained you into cinematography?Tyler Edwards: I obtained into filmmaking as a interest in highschool. We did a brief movie for a category undertaking, and that basically kicked off my curiosity in filmmaking. In faculty and thru my first job out of faculty, filmmaking was only a interest for me, however I used to be obsessive about filmmaking. I’d watch each Philip Bloom, FilmRiot, Indie Mogul, and different movies on YouTube, attempting to study something I might. In 2015, I began taking over small company jobs on the aspect and realized there was actual potential to do that for a residing.NFS: What cameras have you ever used up to now? What have you ever appeared for in a cinema digicam historically?TE: I’ve used just about each Blackmagic, RED DSMC2/DSMC3 digicam, Sony FX line, and Canon EOS Cinema. Historically, a digicam with large dynamic vary was the first function I appeared for in a cinema digicam. Past that, it was—and nonetheless is—about discovering the digicam with the options and specs wanted for a selected 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 digicam. The sensor is actually particular. The broader format offers spherical lenses a novel look. You get that compression from a 50mm lens, however a wider FOV, nearer to 38mm. That math is perhaps 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 digicam, and I made a primary impressions video on my YouTube channel.NFS: Are you able to share some insights into your present (or supreme) rig for the URSA Cine 17K?TE: The configuration I had was good for my wants. I used the Blackmagic Design shoulder mount for the bottom of the digicam and Picket Digicam’s Elite system for just about the remaining. Their prime deal with, prime plate, 15mm rod attachment, and battery wedge plate actually make rigging the digicam good for my wants. Moreover, Blackmagic Design’s EVF is an absolute should for this digicam. I actually love that EVF. To energy the digicam, I ran the V-Mount plate and Core SWX Helix Max dual-voltage batteries.NFS: If a buddy had been taking a look at 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 great thing about this RGBW sensor. Additionally, the digicam is energy hungry, so be sure you have sufficient batteries for the day and the right batteries if you need excessive body charge recording. That stated, I used the V-mount plate, and for undertaking framerate recording (for me, 24p), regular V-mounts work nice for that.NFS: What would you like to see within the subsequent cinema digicam that Blackmagic may create?TE: Should you had requested me earlier than NAB 2025, I’d have stated, “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 could be the identical, however with the 17K sensor in there.