New Blackmagic Design Product Announcements

A lot was announced in a short amount of time.

Last Thursday, Blackmagic Design held a live stream to release a series of new products for both HD and 4K live production workflows. As always, while watching the stream, I found myself thinking, "I want all of these!" I’ve put together a summary of these new releases, how they fit into a professional workflow, and a breakdown of the costs.

HyperDeck Studio

Blackmagic announced four new models of the HyperDeck Studio: the HD Mini, HD Plus, HD Pro, and 4K Pro. As you move up the product stack, you gain more features:

• Common Features: Every model includes a USB-C port for SSD recording, dual SD/UHS card slots, timecode/reference in/out, and support for recording in Blackmagic’s H.264 format.
• HD Mini: Features 3G-SDI with single SDI In/Out. It’s perfect for basic production or driving large video walls from an SD card.
• HD Plus: Upgrades to 6G-SDI ports and adds an SDI loop output, a second SDI "B" output (for key and fill), and an HDMI output.
• HD Pro: Builds on the Plus with dual front-loading SSD slots, an improved button layout, and a large metal jog wheel.
• 4K Pro: Features the same hardware as the HD Pro but adds 4K/60fps recording and a redundant power supply.

Studio Cameras

Blackmagic also updated the Studio Camera line with new 4K and 1080p models. Both retain the MFT lens mount and feature dual USB-C ports for SSD recording and accessory connection. They offer improved low-light performance and a 7″ touchscreen with a removable sunshade, peaking knobs, and programmable function buttons.

• Studio Camera 4K Pro: This is a major leap forward. It features an HDMI output, SDI I/O, and 10Gb Ethernet. The Ethernet port allows for single-cable operation—power, video out, program return, and talkback—via the new Studio Converter. It also includes 2x XLR audio inputs and a 5-pin broadcast headset port.
• Studio Camera (HD): Designed for the ATEM Mini range, this model is more streamlined, featuring a power port, HDMI output, dual USB-C ports, and 3.5mm jacks for mic and headphones.

Camera Accessories

Blackmagic also introduced the Focus Demand and Zoom Demand controllers. These connect via USB-C and allow for precise focus and zoom control. Note: While they utilize the MFT mount, you will need to ensure your lenses support electronic zoom for the best results.

Updated Equipment Lists

I have updated my previous ATEM Television Studio 4K and ATEM Mini Extreme ISO kit lists to reflect these new products.

ATEM Television Studio 4K Setup

Product	Qty	Price	Total
Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro	4	£1,602.00	£6,408.00
Blackmagic Zoom Demand	4	£222.00	£888.00
Blackmagic Focus Demand	4	£222.00	£888.00
Panasonic Lumix H-PS45175E-K 25-175mm Powerzoom Lens	4	£349.00	£1,396.00
Blackmagic Studio Converter	4	£695.00	£2,780.00
Samsung T7 Touch Portable 2TB SSD	6	£592.00	£3,552.00
RØDE NTG4 Shotgun Microphone	4	£229.00	£916.00
[Truncated for brevity…]
Total			£52,578.41

ATEM Mini Extreme ISO Setup

Product	Qty	Price	Total
Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Plus	4	£1,170.00	£4,680.00
Blackmagic Zoom Demand	4	£222.00	£888.00
Blackmagic Focus Demand	4	£222.00	£888.00
Panasonic Lumix H-PS45175E-K 25-175mm Powerzoom Lens	4	£349.00	£1,396.00
DataVideo HDMI Cable 100M	4	£636.00	£2,544.00
ATEM Mini Extreme ISO	1	£1,198.80	£1,198.80
[Truncated for brevity…]
Total			£41,503.76

Final Thoughts

The results are remarkable. The new 4K setup is significantly simpler and, in some configurations, more cost-effective. The move to a single-cable Ethernet workflow is a game-changer for small-scale productions like schools, churches, and conferences.

Which of these setups would you be most tempted to use? Let me know in the comments below!