Tag Archives: blackmagic design video assist

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I've shown a few different setups with my BMMCC Camera rig a few times, and so I've decided to throw up a breakdown of my BlackMagic Design Micro Cinema Camera build.

As you know, the Micro Cinema Camera doesn't even come with a screen. So you're unable to change any settings until you've added a monitor.


BlackMagic Design Micro Cinema Camera

For a monitor, I've chosen the BlackMagic Design Video Assist 5" LCD which also doubles as a ProRes Video Recorder. It's small, and I can simultaneously record RAW in camera while recording Prores to the BMVA. This is handy if you want a backup recording, or if you want to record proxy files in real time.


BlackMagic Design Video Assist Monitor

Now mounting the monitor meant I needed a cage, and a way to pick up the camera. So my choice was to use the SmallRig BMMCC Cage and Top Handle.


SmallRig Cage for Micro Cinema Camera

Since the sensor is pretty small (cropped view), I've added a metabones MFT to EF Speedbooster. This offers a wider view, and makes your glass a bit faster (better in dim lighting). With the Metabones Speedboster lens adapter, i'm using Rokinon Cine DS Lenses. These lenses are small, affordable, and manual focus lenses which are great for video use.


crystal 800 wireless Rokinon Cine DS Lenses

But adding a full frame Canon EF mount lens ends up being too big for the body, and so you'll need to add some height at the base of the camera. For this i've mounted the cage to a quick release baseplate with 15mm rails. This baseplate works with popular Manfrotto 501PL plates. So I can quickly detach the whole cage from the base if needed and go right to a monopod with a smaller setup, or with the 15mm rails I can add things like a Kamerar Follow Focus or MatteBox.


crystal 800 wireless 501PL QR Baseplate with 15mm Clamps

The whole setup would normally be powered by Canon LP-E6 batteries, but they run down pretty quick. So i've added an IndiproTools V-Mount Plate with Canon Dummy Battery. With a CAME-TV Compact V-Mount Battery, I can power the camera and i've added a separate d-tap cable is used to power the BlackMagic Design Video Assist Monitor.


crystal 800 wireless IndiProTools V-Mount Plate with Canon LP-E6 Dummy Battery

Just to make it easier for handheld work, i've run a single 15mm Rail horizontally over the cage. On the right side i've added a 15mm Handle, and on the left side of the rail i've mounted the Video Assist Monitor using 15mm Pico Plates in such a way that makes it easy to tilt forward and back. That's pretty much the basic setup, if you guys have any questions let me know.


crystal 800 wireless 15mm Pico Plate Clamp

Parts found in this build:
Blackmagic Design Micro Cinema Camera (here)
SmallRig BMMCC Cage (here)
BMMCC Cage Top Handle (here)
Video Assist Monitor/Recorder (here)
V-Mount Plate + Canon Dummy (here)
Compact V-Mount Battery (here)
Quick Release Baseplate w 15mm
Kamerar Follow Focus (here)
15mm Pico plate (here)

The BlackMagic Design Video Assist build quality top notch. A machined aluminum 7" Touch Screen Monitor + 4K Recorder that lets you record from both HDMI and SDI inputs. Display featueres include Histograms, Zebra Overlays, Focus Peaking, Central Zoom, and Timecode over SDI + HDMI. There's a lot to like about this monitor and knocking off 34% OFF is huge. Just $595 right now, but you've got just one more day left (deal ends 6/30).

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Learn-More-sm BlackMagic Design 4K 7" HDMI/6G-SDI Recording Monitor

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Nab2016 BlackMagic Design introduces the new Video Assist 4K Video / Audio Recorder + 7" HD Display. Not only cheaper than some of the Atomos 4K recording products, but you can also record 4K video via SDI (as where Atomos is only HDMI).

1920 x 1080 Touchscreen LCD
Records UHD 4K/HD Up to 30 fps
10-Bit, 4:2:2 ProRes or DNxHD
HDMI and 6G-SDI Video Inputs
Dual SD Media Card Slots Supports UHS-II
Two Mini XLR Inputs with Phantom Power
On-Screen Histogram and Audio Levels
Focus Peaking & Zebra
Dual LP-E6 Hot-Swappable Battery Slots
AC Adapter Included

It's not often Blackmagic Design introduces a new product at an NABShow and has it available shortly afterwards, but the new Video Assist 4K Video Recorder Monitor is available right now (via B&H).

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learn-more-button BlackMagic Design Video Assist 4K Video Monitor Recorder

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At NAB, BlackMagic Design announced two new 'Micro' Cameras. One is the 4K Micro Studio Camera and the other the Micro Cinema Camera. While they may look similar in this new Micro form factor, the 4K Micro Studio Camera is the only one capable of 4K video output (there is no internal recording media). The Micro Cinema Camera might be compared closer to the existing BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera as it is capable of RAW recording but only up to 1080p (no 4K).

blackmagic design micro studio camera

The BlackMagic Design 4K Micro Studio Camera is mainly used in live switching and broadcast where it can be placed (due to it's tiny size) just about anywhere and send a live feed back, but you can attach an external recorder (like Blackmagic Video Assist) to record the 1080p output from the HDMI. (4K can only be recorded via SDI out).

blackmagic design 4k micro studio camera
BlackMagic Design Recording Video Assist 4K micro studio camera

Without getting into too many details about either (if you have questions, leave comments), the 4K Micro Studio Camera is now shipping but currently out of stock at your typical big retailers. I just got news from DVEStore.com that they have already shipped existing pre-orders and have a few left in stock ready to ship right now. So if this is a camera you've been researching for the last 8 months, now's the time to grab one (click here).

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VIEW-ITEM BlackMagic Design 4K Micro Studio Camera In Stock DVEStore

You may also check pricing for this product with:
Amazon | B&H Photo | Adorama | DVEStore | EBAY

 

57 Comments

Someone commented earlier about a problem with the BlackMagic Video Assist Recorder/Monitor stuck capturing only 1080/60p. This is actually a problem I ran into a while ago even on the Atomos Shogun, so the problem is not with the BMVD, it's with the Sony A7RII and Sony A7sII.

Even if you set your HDMI output to 1080/24, it will only output 60p 'if' you have your camera recording set to 4K/24. In order to fix (more like workaround) this issue, you have to change your camera recording to 1080/24, and then your HDMI will output properly.

It's annoying, but not a big deal if you know how to work around the issue. So I just wanted to clarify that the issue is not with the BlackMagic Video Assist Monitor.

The monitor has been great over the last few days, and i'm excited to use it more but my SDXC cards aren't fast enough. I'm getting dropped frames when recording 60p footage. Anyone have suggestions on what you're using for 60p footage?