2.5K BMCC Gets Compressed RAW Recording – How Much Does it Save?

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by Kevin AlexanderMarch 24^th, 2015

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Compressed RAW recording has finally come to the original 2.5K Blackmagic Cinema Camera.

While the other cameras have had the ability to record compressed RAW, the original version of the camera has lagged behind… until now. The 2.1 Firmware update for Blackmagic Cinema Cameras is now available for download, giving original BMCC users the flexibility of recording RAW while increasing recording times.

How much does it save?

After updating my camera I wanted to see the difference in recording time. I shoot onto a 240GB drive, which when shooting uncompressed RAW at 23.976 fps gives me about 30 minutes. But set to compressed RAW I now have about 46 minutes. That’s a nice little boost.

And to be clear, compressed RAW has replaced uncompressed RAW as a recording option. You can’t select between the two.

But compressed RAW recording isn’t the only new feature in the firmware update. One significantly useful feature is the expanded frame guide options. We may instinctively be able to tell where our action safe and title safe guidelines are, but when shooting on more cinematic formats, like 2.35:1, it may be not as instinctive.

The new frame guide options include: Thirds, HDTV, 4:3, 2.40:1, 2.39:1, 2.35:1, and 1.85:1. You can also adjust the opacity of the guides as well. So if you’d like, you can completely black out areas outside of the frame.

Here’s a complete look at all of the updates for the 2.K camera:

• New Blackmagic Camera Setup software
• Adds lossless compressed RAW support
• Adds support for more frame guide options
• Holding down MENU will bypass the Dashboard
• Peaking state is remembered after power cycle

But other cameras received updates as well. Here’s the list of new features on other Blackmagic Cameras:

Improvements for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera:

• New Blackmagic Camera Setup software
• Adds support for more frame guide options
• Adds Japanese and Chinese language menu support
• Holding down MENU will bypass Dashboard and go straight into settings
• Peaking state is remembered after power cycle

Improvements for the Blackmagic URSA:

• New Blackmagic Camera Setup software
• Improved media formatting performance

To download and install the firmware updates visit: blackmagicdesign.com/support/.