The Blackmagic Design URSA Broadcast camera looks very familiar. That’s because it shares a lot of the features of the URSA Mini 4.6K Pro camera. All the good stuff like built-in ND filters and button placements but one big new feature is the B4 mount for 2/3″ Broadcast Zoom lenses.
URSA Broadcast Highlights
- 4K CMOS Sensor
- Compatible with 2/3″ B4 Lenses
- UHD 4K and 1080p up to 60 fps
- Records to Apple ProRes and Avid DNx
- Cinema DNG Raw Recording
- 2 x UHS-II SD, 2 x CFast 2.0 Slots
- 3G-SDI and 12G-SDI Outputs
- Genlock and Timecode
- XLR Inputs and Built-In Microphone
Behind the mount is a glass filter that corrects image issues that occur like aliasing and color fringing. These occur due to the nature of the 3 chip sensor 2/3″ cameras use. The URSA Broadcast has one 3.056 x 7.344 mm. 4K CMOS Sensor that is also found in the Studio Camera 4K 2 and Micro Studio Camera 4K.
B4 lenses can be bought for a very low price in the used market however high-quality B4 lenses still could run one thousand dollars and up. Using a 2/3″ zoom lens gives the user a very easy to operate camera that has a lens that is parfocal and a long range. No swapping lenses mean you won’t miss a shot. The URSA Broadcast uses the same accessories as the other URSA camera as well. The balance feels good when the camera is on the shoulder due to the hand being on the lens. Just like a good ole’ broadcast camera.
Formats
CinemaDNG Raw (Uncompressed or Lossless 3:1/4:1 Compressed):
3840 x 2160
Apple ProRes:
3840 x 2160
1920 x 1080
3840 x 2160
Frame Rates
60, 59.94, 50, 30, 29.97, 25, 24, 23.98 fps
Data Rates
Apple ProRes 444 XQ – 312.5 MB/s
Apple ProRes 444 – 165 MB/s
Apple ProRes 422 HQ – 110 MB/s
Apple ProRes 422 – 73.6 MB/s
Apple ProRes 422 LT – 51 MB/s
Apple ProRes Proxy – 22.4 MB/s
1920 x 1080:
Apple ProRes 444 XQ – 62.5 MB/s
Apple ProRes 444 – 41.25 MB/s
Apple ProRes 422 HQ – 27.5 MB/s
Apple ProRes 422 – 18.4 MB/s
Apple ProRes 422 LT – 12.75 MB/s
Apple ProRes Proxy – 5.6 MB/s
Rates based on 30 frames per second.
Media
2 x CFast 2.0
2 x SD UHS-II
The URSA Broadcast camera is priced extremely competitively at $3495 US
