Blackmagic Studio Camera & ATEM Television Switchers: Overview

Written by Alex Depew
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Published on March 21, 2023
Blackmagic studio camera 6K pro
Blackmagic studio camera 6K pro
Alex Depew
Adorama ALC

Blackmagic has made a name for itself with its consistent release of every improved hardware, including video cameras and switchers.  The amazing features that were introduced in the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro have now been added to its studio line with the new Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro. It has a 6K sensor, EF mount, and built-in ND. Blackmagic has also released two new video switchers: the Blackmagic Design ATEM Television Studio HD8 and HD8 ISO. These switchers are more tactile and resemble switchers broadcast professionals are used to with more physical switches than its predecessor. 

Features of the Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro

  • 6K Super 35 Sensor
  • Up to 60 fps in 4K
  • 13 stops dynamic range
  • Dual Native ISO of 400 and 3200
  • Blackmagic RAW and ProRes Recording
  • Built-in motorized ND filters (2, 4, and 6 stops)
  • Interchangeable lens mount (EF, PL, and Locking EF)
  • 1920×1080 OLED viewfinder
  • Large 7-inch HDR LCD touchscreen
  • Full sided XLR audio inputs with phantom power
  • USB-C Expansion Port
  • Ethernet for remote control and streaming
  • Bluetooth wireless camera control
  • 3D LUT support

What’s New About this Camera?

Super 35 Sensor

The Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro is the latest addition to the Blackmagic Design lineup of professional cameras. This specific camera is designed for studio production, live events, and multi-camera setups. It features a large Super 35 sensor that has 6K resolution, which allows for highly detailed and high-quality video output.

Advanced Color Processing

In addition to its powerful sensor, the Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro also features an advanced color processing system that allows for accurate color reproduction and fine-tuning of color settings. This can help to ensure that footage captured with the camera looks great right out of the box, without extensive post-production work.

Blackmagic studio camera 6K pro
Photo from Blackmagic

HDR LCD Touchscreen

One of the key new features of the Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro is the built-in 7-inch HDR LCD touchscreen that is exceptionally bright. This is great for bright outdoor situations, especially when using the included sun shade. This vibrant screen allows for easy monitoring and control of the camera’s settings. It makes it simple to adjust focus, exposure, and other key settings on the fly. This can be particularly useful for remote camera setups, as it allows operators to easily monitor and adjust camera settings from a distance.

Built-In ND Filter

Another new feature of the Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro is the inclusion of a built-in ND filter. This allows for more flexible shooting in bright environments without having to worry about overexposure or image quality degradation due to harsh lighting conditions. The ND filter can be easily activated using a dedicated button on the camera body. Internal ND is ideal to keep your aperture as open as you like. This allows you to maintain a shallow depth of field when in very bright situations, such as outdoor events. This is a very welcome addition and will hopefully become a standard that other camera manufacturers look at going forward.

Blackmagic studio camera 6K pro
Photo from Blackmagic

EF Lens Mount

The camera’s EF lens mount will allow you to use all your Canon EF lenses. This makes it easy to use a wide variety of lenses with the camera, depending on the specific requirements of the shoot. Additionally, the camera includes built-in motorized zoom and focus controls, so you can adjust these settings without having to physically manipulate the lens.

You’ll also find the Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro includes a dual CFast card slots for high-speed data transfer, 12G-SDI output for easy integration into live production workflows, and support for Blackmagic RAW and ProRes recording formats. These are a godsend when you are editing as it allows for easy manipulation of your files in every editing software while still maintaining a relatively small file size.

Who Should Buy This Camera?

The Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro is a high-end camera designed for professional use in the broadcast and film industries. It is a versatile camera that can be used for a variety of applications, including live broadcasting, studio production, and film production. Here are some potential buyers who might benefit from purchasing the Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro.

Broadcasters

The Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro is an ideal camera for broadcasters who want to capture high-quality video for live events, news broadcasts, and sports coverage. It can be used in a studio setting or in the field, and it has built-in talkback, tally, and remote camera control features.

Event Videographers

The Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro can also be used by event videographers who need to capture high-quality video of conferences, concerts, and other live events. It has an excellent high resolution LCD screen, which makes it easy to see what you’re capturing. It can also be controlled remotely, which is useful for capturing footage from multiple angles.

Video Production Companies

Video production companies that specialize in creating high-quality content for clients can also benefit from the Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro. It can be used in a variety of settings and can capture footage that looks like it was shot with much more expensive equipment.

Overall, anyone who needs to capture high-quality video for live event or broadcast purposes may benefit from purchasing the Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro. With all these features, the Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro is a powerful and versatile tool for professional camera operators and live streamers.

Features of Blackmagic Design ATEM Television Studio HD8 Switcher

  • 8 input live production switcher
  • Support for up to 1080p60 HD video formats
  • Multi-view monitoring of all 8 inputs on a single screen
  • 4 upstream and 2 downstream keyers
  • DVE transitions, including squeeze, push, and swoosh effects
  • 2 media players for graphics and animations
  • Built-in audio mixer with EQ and dynamics processing
  • Support for embedded audio on SDI inputs
  • Ethernet control and configuration via ATEM Software Control or Blackmagic Design SDK
  • USB-C port for recording to external drives and webcam output
  • Direct streaming to popular platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook Live
  • Support for chroma keying and virtual sets
  • Tally support for indicating which camera is on-air
  • Compact and portable design with built-in power supply

What’s New About this Switcher?

Blackmagic also released two new switchers: the ATEM Television Studio HD8 and HD8 ISO PLUS. These models have an updated look for the high-end ATEM switchers moving toward a standard TV studio look. Its previously released high end switcher, the ATEM SDI EXTREME ISO, has 8 SDI inputs. Meanwhile these Television Studio versions new versions have 8 SDI inputs while also having 8 SDI outputs for return feeds for the cameras.

Audio

There is also a new audio section to these switchers. This allows you to control audio functions using physical buttons instead of through the software control. Also, on the audio front, Blackmagic has added one 32-channel MADI digital audio input and one 64 channel output — 50 of which can be active at the same time. This is extremely useful to people working on very large setups. This also means you have many options for bringing audio in and out of this unit.

Blackmagic ATEM television switcher
Photo from Blackmagic

Tactile Display

The biggest change is the ergonomics of these switchers. They have a much more tactile feel and — as it is a bit larger — allows for better visibility.

Connections

Looking at the back of these switchers you will see loads of options and flexibility. Some of the notable connectors aside from the 8 SDI inputs and 8 SDI outputs are the Talkback feature that allows you to connect to systems such as Clearcom or RTS. There is a 4-port Ethernet to connect the switcher to a computer and the internet for streaming. There are two USB-C ports which you can use to connect to either a flash drive or an external hard drive to get a recording directly to a small drive.

Please note: These are pure SDI devices. these are not made for HDMI inputs, though there is one HDMI output so you can view up to 16 video signals on a TV or monitor.

Internal Recording

Blackmagic will also be offering internal storage as an additional paid upgrade. This will allow you to have it be a fully all-in-one device instead of having to attach peripherals. This also allows these units to function as Blackmagic Cloud Store devices. It is basically a network storage device, synching your files into the Cloud. Your files will instantly be available to download to computer for post production.

Who Should Buy This Switcher?

This switcher is great for high-end video professionals who need to switch between high-end cameras that have SDI outputs. These are ideal for multi-camera events, such as live recordings, broadcast studios, remote location work, or any other video production that needs to use multiple cameras to capture the action. It is also perfect for productions that need real-time special effects and transitions.

The ATEM Television Studio HD8 is specifically designed for users who require a comprehensive video switching and production system in a compact form factor. 

Conclusion

Both of these tools are great upgrades to their predecessors and are perfect for people who need versatile, reliable, high-end, and budget-friendly equipment. The Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro is an excellent option for multi-cam recording as well as for outputting your image to the ATEM Television Studio HD8 Switcher. This will give you the power to quickly and easily switch between cameras in a portable setup.

Alex DePew is a freelance Cameraman/Editor and Photographer with over 18 years of experience behind a multitude of cameras. He has worked on projects all around the world and lived in gorgeous New Zealand for 5 years where he worked on many high-end commercials.