Now URSA Mini Pro cameras can be controlled by Bluetooth. Blackmagic just released their new Blackmagic Camera Control which is a free iPad app as well as Camera firmware update 4.4 for URSA Mini Pro cameras. This firmware is necessary to essentially “turn on” the camera’s Bluetooth function. The new firmware also adds some new features to the URSA Mini 4.6K and URSA Mini 4K. Check out the list of added features found below.
30 feet, a distance that does not seem like much. When your camera is on a jib or rigged up and out of reach those 30 feet will be very useful. I can immediately think of several times 30 feet of remote camera control would have made my life little easier. Just being able to press record from 30 feet away will be immediately helpful for me. Once the camera is paired with an iPad shooters can turn the URSA Mini Pro on/off, change all major heads-up display settings like White Balance, ISO, Shutter, Frame Rate, and Aperture. You can also change the metadata using the digital slate.
As I mentioned earlier, Blackmagic not only released Bluetooth capabilities to the URSA Mini Pro but also added features to the camera as well as the URSA Mini 4.6K and URSA Mini 4K. The URSA Mini Pro, 4.6K, and 4K cameras get new preset time code options, added support for the Canon 18-80mm T4.4, improved EF, PL, and B4 lens support, and improved digital slate.
Camera 4.4 Update can be downloaded for free from the Blackmagic’s website. Once shooters have installed the URSA Mini Pro’s new firmware they can then download Blackmagic Camera Control iPad app from the Apple app store and connect the two together.
New features for Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K
- Enabled Bluetooth LE module in URSA Mini Pro.
- Added pairing security passcode in URSA Mini Pro.
- Added ability to control camera settings via Bluetooth.
- Added ability to update metadata features via Bluetooth.
- Added ability to control URSA Mini Pro’s DaVinci color corrector via Bluetooth.
- Added ability to control camera’s lens via Bluetooth.
- Added Bluetooth page in camera setup menu.
- Added Preset record run timecode functionality.
- Added automatic F-stop and T-stop detection for PL and B4 lenses.
- Added iris, focus and zoom control for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 lens via EF mount.
- Added record start/stop for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 with ZSG-C10 hand grip.
- Added support for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 lens image stabilizer.
- Improved lens functionality for EF, PL, and B4 lenses.
- Improved status LED functionality.
- Improved slate functionality.
- Fixed bug where focus peaking button did not function in playback.
- Fixed bug where ProRes 422 color was misinterpreted in some applications.
- Fixed bug where taking ‘Stills’ did not update used space in media status page.
- Fixed bug where heads up display disappeared after turning off Color Bars.
- Fixed bug where scaling on 4” display caused monitoring image artifacts.
- Fixed user interface bug in media status page.
- Fixed bug where XLR Phantom Power pad was displayed incorrectly.
- Fixed bug where UI reported wrong power source when powering up unit.
- Fixed bug where SD card icon did not appear on the external status display.
- Updated screen grabs and servo zoom lens information in URSA Mini Manual.
New features for URSA Mini 4.6K and 4K
- Added safe area guides and false color options to heads up monitoring options.
- Added automatic F-stop and T-stop detection for PL and B4 lenses.
- Added iris control for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 lens via EF mount.
- Added record start/stop for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 with ZSG-C10 hand grip.
- Added support for Canon 18-80mm T4.4 lens image stabilizer.
- Improved Zebras for URSA Mini 4K in low ISO’s when using Video dynamic range.
- Improved lens support for EF, PL, and B4 lenses.
- Improved slate functionality.
- Improved Door LED functionality.
- Fixed bug where ProRes 422 color was misinterpreted in some applications.
- Updated screen grabs and servo zoom lens information in URSA Mini Manual.
Blackmagic Camera Control is available free of charge from the Apple app store. Customers downloading the app must also update their URSA Mini Pro cameras using the free Camera 4.4 Update, which is available for download from the Blackmagic Design website for all existing URSA Mini Pro customers.
