A year has passed since I published my article called Have AJA/Blackmagic forgotten about ABC/Disney/ESPN/FOX?. I wrote that article because at that time, both AJA and Blackmagic had released new cameras, but neither included 720p, even though at least 39 US networks use it. While AJA responded that there were no plans to add 720p to its CION camera, an engineer from Blackmagic said they would look into adding it to the Blackmagic Studio camera. In March 2015, I had a client who wanted to consider using that model for a sports channel (where 720p is favored), so I asked Blackmagic again. There answer was “We still do not support 720p for Studio Cameras”. But then, last week, I noticed a reference to 720p in the Blackmagic Studio Camera manual, so I wrote back for confirmation.

A year has passed since I published my article called Have AJA/Blackmagic forgotten about ABC/Disney/ESPN/FOX?. I wrote that article because at that time, both AJA and Blackmagic had released new cameras, but neither included 720p, even though at least 39 US networks use it. While AJA responded that there were no plans to add 720p to its CION camera, an engineer from Blackmagic said they would look into adding it to the Blackmagic Studio camera. In March 2015, I had a client who wanted to consider using that model for a sports channel (where 720p is favored), so I asked Blackmagic again. There answer was “We still do not support 720p for Studio Cameras”. But then, last week, I noticed a reference to 720p in the Blackmagic Studio Camera manual, so I wrote back for confirmation.

Link to the original article, and a related one.

The original article called Have AJA/Blackmagic forgotten about ABC/Disney/ESPN/FOX? is still available here.

Please also see thhis more recent related article called Why “Full HD” is disparaging, misleading, and quite empty.

What I found in the Blackmagic Studio Camera manual

I wrote back to Blackmagic’s public relations department:

Please re-check about the 720p in studio cameras, since I see it mentioned in the manual. Specifically, on page 63 of the Blackmagic_Studio_Camera_Manual_2014-12-18, I see under Developer information a reference to 720 resolution. Does this mean that your studio cameras do 720p only with a third-party remote control, but not adjustable with the camera’s own menu? If that is the case, do you know of any third-party remote control which as yet implemented this? Will this be added to the camera’s menu soon? The answers to these questions may make or break a sale to any 720p TV station. Thank you! Allan Tépper

Blackmagic responded:

Allan: Good morning. That is a mistake in the manual. The cameras do not work in 720p. I have passed this onto the manual folks to fix.

Why I published this short article now?

I am afraid that other people who are interested in 720p from the Blackmagic Studio Cameras may have seen that in the manual too. (It may or may not be updated by the time you read this.) Of course, I also want to reiterate my suggestion to Blackmagic so they will add a 720/50p and 720/59.94p to their Studio Cameras.

Upcoming articles, reviews, and books

Stand by for upcoming articles, reviews, and books. Sign up to my free mailing list by clicking here.

Si deseas suscribirte a mi lista en castellano, visita aquí. Si prefieres, puedes suscribirte a ambas listas (castellano e inglés).

Follow @AllanLTepper

Books, consulting, articles, seminars & audio programs

Contact Allan Tépper for consulting, or find a full listing of his books, articles and upcoming seminars and webinars at AllanTepper.com. Listen to his CapicúaFM program at CapicúaFM.com in iTunes or Stitcher.

My latest book (paperback + ebook)

My most recent book is available in two languages, and in paperback as well as an ebook. The ebook format is Kindle, but even if you don’t have a Kindle device, you can read Kindle books on many other devices using a free Kindle app. That includes iPad, Android tablets, Mac computers, and Windows computers. Although generally speaking, Kindle books are readable on smartphones like Androids and iPhones, I don’t recommend it for this particular book since it contains both color photos and color comparison charts. The ebook is also DRM-free.

In English:

In English, click here and you will be automatically sent to the closest Amazon book page to you based upon your IP address.

Or request ISBN–10: 1456310232 or ISBN–13: 978–1456310233 in your favorite local bookstore.

En castellano:

En castellano, haz clic aquí para llegar al instante a la página del libro correspondiente a tu zona y moneda en Amazon, según tu dirección IP.

o solicítalo en tu librería preferida con los ISBN–10: 1492783390 ó el ISBN–13: 978–1492783398.

FTC disclosure

No manufacturer is specifically paying Allan Tépper or TecnoTur LLC to write this article or the mentioned books. Some of the other manufacturers listed above have contracted Tépper and/or TecnoTur LLC to carry out consulting and/or translations/localizations/transcreations. Many of the manufacturers listed above have sent Allan Tépper review units. So far, none of the manufacturers listed above is/are sponsors of the TecnoTur programs, although they are welcome to do so, and some are, may be (or may have been) sponsors of ProVideo Coalition magazine. Some links to third parties listed in this article and/or on this web page may indirectly benefit TecnoTur LLC via affiliate programs.

Copyright and use of this article

The articles contained in the TecnoTur channel in ProVideo Coalition magazine are copyright Allan Tépper/TecnoTur LLC, except where otherwise attributed. Unauthorized use is prohibited without prior approval, except for short quotes which link back to this page, which are encouraged!