Shooting with Blackmagic Cinema Cameras

Course details

The Blackmagic Cinema Cameras are some of the hottest cameras on the market. The ability to shoot both raw video and high-quality production codecs makes these cameras ready for the most demanding jobs. This course reviews the entire workflow for using the Blackmagic Pocket, Micro, and Studio Cinema Cameras—from preproduction to post. Learn how to choose the best Blackmagic camera for your shoot, power your camera and extend its battery life, and attach and swap lens. Plus, learn how to prep SD cards, CFAST cards, and SSDs to record; navigate the Blackmagic menu system; and choose the right settings for common production scenarios. Instructor Rich Harrington also shows how to capture high-quality audio, monitor recording, transfer footage off the camera, and keep your camera up to date.

Learning objectives
Blackmagic camera overview
Attaching and using lenses
Preparing storage
Recording audio
Adjusting camera settings
Monitoring and recording
Transferring footage
Importing footage into video editing software
Keeping the camera up to date

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Shooting with Blackmagic Cinema Cameras
02 - What you should know before watching this course

1. Getting to Know the Blackmagic Cameras

03 - Major benefits of Blackmagic cameras
04 - Multiple cameras, multiple workflows
05 - Choosing the right camera for your shoot

2. Powering the Camera

06 - Powering the Pocket and Micro cameras
07 - Powering the digital film and production cameras
08 - Tips to extend battery life

3. Attaching a Lens

09 - Attaching a lens to the Pocket and Micro cameras
10 - Attaching a lens to digital film and production cameras
11 - Selection criteria for EF lenses
12 - Selection criteria for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lenses
13 - Controlling the lens with the Micro Studio Camera
14 - Keeping the camera sensor clean

4. Storage Requirements for Blackmagic Cameras

15 - Using SD and CFAST cards with Pocket and Micro cameras
16 - Preparing SD and CFAST cards with a computer
17 - Using SSDs with digital film and production cameras
18 - Preparing SSDs for recording with a computer

5. Blackmagic Menu System

19 - Navigating menus
20 - Quick control buttons
21 - Understanding the status strip

6. Advanced Options to Solve Problems

22 - Understanding ISO
23 - Choosing the right white balance
24 - Choosing the right shutter angle and shutter speed
25 - Making adjustments on the lens
26 - Setting focus

7. Capturing Audio

27 - Using the built-in mic
28 - Attaching a microphone
29 - Setting and monitoring microphone levels

8. Adjusting Recording Settings

30 - Choosing a recording format
31 - Shooting - Video dynamic range vs. film dynamic range
32 - Choosing the right frame rate
33 - Shooting a time-lapse movie
34 - Advice for shooting Blackmagic RAW files

9. Monitoring and Recording

35 - Attaching a monitor with HDMI or SDI
36 - Adjusting settings via Bluetooth
37 - Monitoring dynamic range and exposure
38 - Controlling display options
39 - Viewing overlays and focus peaking
40 - Using the built-in slate
41 - Programming focus pulls

10. Transferring and Getting Footage Off the Camera

42 - Transferring files from SSD
43 - Transferring files from SD and CFAST cards
44 - Importing into a nonlinear editor (NLE)
45 - Working with log footage in an NLE

11. Keeping a Blackmagic Camera Up to Date

46 - Downloading the Blackmagic Camera Utility software
47 - Updating your camera

Conclusion

48 - Wrapping up