Blackmagic Camera 8.1 Update & URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF Released

Camera NewsNAB 2023

by Francesco AndreolaApril 16^th, 2023

On Day 1 of NAB 2023, Blackmagic Design just introduced a Camera 8.1 update, which can help you shoot 9:16 vertical content on the BMPCC 4K, 6K, 6K G2 and 6K Pro models. Moreover, a new version of the URSA Mini Pro 12K featuring an optical low-pass filter is now available.

Blackmagic Design kicked off NAB 2023 by releasing major updates for their ATEM product lineup, DaVinci Resolve 18.5 Beta, as well as a Camera 8.1 update. Moreover, they introduced a new variant of their URSA Mini Pro 12K camera.

In this article, we will focus on the camera-related news, but keep an eye on the site for upcoming updates on other topics. So with no further ado, let’s take a closer look at the Blackmagic Camera 8.1 update and the new URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF.

Blackmagic Camera 8.1 update – vertical shooting

The Blackmagic Camera 8.1 update mainly focuses on the Pocket Cinema Camera models (4K, 6K, 6K G2 and 6K Pro) and brings support for vertical aspect ratio shooting. This means that the camera software has been optimized for creating 9:16 content for social platforms such as TikTok and YouTube Shorts. By the way, direct upload to these platforms is now supported by DaVinci Resolve 18.5 Beta.

With the new camera software installed, the UI overlay on the camera’s rear LCD display automatically rotates to adapt to the orientation of the camera. This can come in handy when shooting vertically, but also when rigging the camera upside down.

Information about the camera’s orientation is stored as metadata that can be read by DaVinci Resolve to correctly display the image in its viewers. Finally, you can disable this auto-rotate feature to prevent the UI from accidental rotation.

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K with OLPF

The URSA Mini Pro 12K, which was originally unveiled in July 2020, is now being augmented by a new version known as the URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF. The main difference between the existing model is the addition of an optical low-pass filter and an improved IR filter.

The OLPF should help when dealing with fine details, as well as aliasing and moirè, especially when shooting with very sharp glass. Also, an updated version of Blackmagic RAW (version 3.0) has been released to support footage shot on this ”new” camera model.

On a side note, the company also announced a new ENG Kit for the URSA Broadcast G2, which includes improved mic, light and transmitter mounts, a shield to protect the cooling system of the camera, and other parts.

Price and availability

Blackmagic Camera 8.1 Update is now available to download free of charge from the company’s Support Center. The new Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF is also available now for $6,385, which is the same price as the original model.

For more information and the full software release notes, please visit Blackmagic Design’s website here and here.

Do you often shoot vertical content on your BMPCC? Do you think an OLPF can be useful when shooting on the URSA Mini Pro 12K? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!