Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Camera 7.7 Update

Refines imaging performance for Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K improving color balance and shadow detail.

Fremont, CA – December 20, 2021 – Blackmagic Design today announced Blackmagic Camera 7.7 update which further enhances sensor performance for Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K. This update refines the sensor’s unique technology with fine adjustments to the demosaic algorithm, leading to a more neutral color balance and enhanced sharpness of shadow details for better overall image quality.

Blackmagic Camera 7.7 update is now available as a free download from the Blackmagic Design website.

Blackmagic Camera 7.7 update for URSA Mini Pro 12K optimizes the 12K sensor by further improving the clarity of fine detail in shadow regions. It also provides a more neutral color balance with a more accurate starting point for better skin tones, while still retaining the natural soft highlight rolloff of film which customers enjoy from URSA Mini Pro 12K. In addition, the incidence of moire has been reduced when capturing ultra high resolution scenes with very high frequency fabrics or architectural textures.

“The images have that creamy but detailed film look that is so pleasant and also reach well into the highlights and shadows. There are no artifacts which is really important for my work,” said Christian Sebaldt, ASC, in testing a beta of the update. “And skin tones always look natural and, to me, these are features of a $40,000 camera.”

Cinematographer Vance Burberry extensively beta tested the new update on live productions. “After shooting three projects with the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the new update makes the image cleaner in the shadows,” said Burberry. “Usually, I’d never try to pull up the shadows, but when I did, there was less noise and at normal exposure, the shadows stayed very clean. There is something special about the URSA Mini Pro 12K’s sensor. It has this incredible resolution but at the same time, has a delicateness to it that really reminds me of film.”

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K is a revolution in digital film with a 12,288 x 6480 12K Super 35 sensor and 14 stops of dynamic range, built into the award winning URSA Mini body. The combination of 80 megapixels per frame, new color science and the flexibility of Blackmagic RAW makes working with 12K a reality. Oversampling from 12K gives you the best 8K and 4K images with the subtle skin tones and extraordinary detail of high end still cameras. You can shoot at 60 fps in 12K, 120 fps in 8K and up to 240 fps in 4K Super 16. URSA Mini Pro 12K features an interchangeable PL mount, as well as built in ND filters, dual CFast and UHS-II SD card recorders, a SuperSpeed USB-C expansion port and more. DaVinci Resolve Studio is included for creative control through post from editing to color, VFX and more!

URSA Mini Pro 12K’s extreme resolution goes well beyond traditional motion picture film. Customers get the benefits of shooting with film including incredible detail, wide dynamic range and rich, deep color. This means it’s perfect for feature films, episodic television and immersive, large format IMAX. The incredible definition around objects makes it ideal for working with green screen and VFX including compositing live action and CGI.

“Cinematographers love the incredible look of the 12K sensor and generation 5 color science of the Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “The new Blackmagic Camera 7.7 software update gets even more out of the incredible sensor without losing that special look that our customers love. We’re excited to be making this great camera even better whether our customers are using it on high end feature films, music videos, indie projects or even VFX work!”

Blackmagic Camera 7.7 Update Features

• Improved color balance.
• Improved demosaic for better shadow detail MTF.
• Improved demosaic to reduce moire effects on fine patterns.
• USB-C connection improvements.
• Improved compatibility with ExAscend U.2 disks on URSA Mini Recorder.

 Availability and Price

Blackmagic Camera 7.7 is available now for download, free of charge, from the Blackmagic Design website.

About Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design creates the world’s highest quality video editing products, digital film cameras, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability in post production, while the company’s Emmy™ award winning DaVinci color correction products have dominated the television and film industry since 1984. Blackmagic Design continues ground breaking innovations including 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI products and stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia. For more information, please go to www.blackmagicdesign.com.