Below, we\u2019ll take a look at these various Blackmagic firmware update features in more detail.<\/p>\n
RGB histogram & color channel clipping<\/h2>\n
Blackmagic update 7.3 implements an RGB histogram with added color channel clipping indicators. It\u2019s a very nice upgrade to the original luminance histogram. Now, whenever you over-expose, these indicators will light up to let you know that you\u2019re clipping. It\u2019s a small touch, but we appreciate it.<\/p>\n
False-color guide<\/h2>\n
False-color view was always an option with previous versions of Blackmagic software, but the 7.3 firmware update finally adds a guide. Previously, there was not really any way of knowing what the colors on screen represented unless you understood Blackmagic software on a deep level. This guide is a very welcome (and oft-requested) addition that helps users easily identify and understand what they\u2019re looking at. It\u2019s a little small on screen, but that too has its benefits, as it doesn\u2019t impair your image.<\/p>\n
Autofocus and active lens control \u2018improvements\u2019<\/h2>\n
In the Blackmagic update announcement\u00a0via Twitter<\/a>, details were a little short, and at this writing, Blackmagic hasn\u2019t provided many more specifics. The autofocus on Blackmagic Pocket Cinema cameras was never great, to begin with, and to be honest, we haven\u2019t been able to tell any difference. Sorry to disappoint here, but we\u2019d still recommend using autofocus only when you\u2019re setting up a static shot and can\u2019t see the screen clearly enough to do manual focus well.<\/p>\n As for lens control improvements, we presume they\u2019ve added compatibility with more lenses, but that remains to be seen.<\/p>\n Similarly, with focus peaking updates, the jury is still out. Users haven\u2019t really noticed much of a difference at all, with some even claiming they preferred it on the previous Blackmagic camera update (v6.9.6).<\/p>\n This is a big one. Many Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera (especially 6K Pro) users have found that sometimes, the image on their screen was way off in terms of colors and white balance. It\u2019s commonly called the \u2018blue tint\u2019 issue. This BMPCC firmware update doesn\u2019t address the \u2018blue tint\u2019 issue directly but instead lets you calibrate the screen as you wish, using the new LCD screen calibration option in the\u00a0Settings<\/strong>\u00a0menu.<\/p>\n Using a few sliders on the touchscreen interface, you can get the \u2018correct\u2019 image on your LCD screen very easily. For further tweaks in future updates, we wouldn\u2019t mind seeing some numbers on the sliders so that if, for whatever reason, you have to reset the camera or calibrate the screen again, you know the exact settings you\u2019re looking to dial in.<\/p>\n Any previously known issues when it comes to importing LUTs and presets into Blackmagic software should now be ironed out. So far, so good. We haven\u2019t encountered any troubles!<\/p>\n In the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema camera update 7.3, there are some further, much-welcomed features and additions for the older 4K and 6K models. These are as follows:<\/p>\n Yep, this BMPCC firmware update delivers Generation 5 color science\u2014pretty big news if you\u2019re using the BMPCC 4K or 6K! We\u2019ve found that with Gen 5, the log image is a lot flatter, allowing you seemingly get \u2018more\u2019 dynamic range. This means more details in the shadows and highlights and, in our opinion, a much smoother highlight roll-off too. All in all, Gen 5 color science means better image quality. If you want to know more about color grading, check out our in-depth article on\u00a0color correction<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n This may not seem like a big deal, but every little thing helps. With the BMPCC 4K firmware update, you can now set your screen to automatically dim after a certain period of time. This applies to the BMPCC 6K firmware update too.<\/p>\n Another handy update for the 4K and 6K BMPCCs is the addition of Q1 and Q3 RAW recording options. This allows you to set up your camera in different ways depending on your storage and quality needs. Q1 records in a range of 144-361 Mbps while Q3 records in a range of 96-241 Mbps.<\/p>\n\t\tFocus peaking visibility<\/h2>\n
LCD screen calibration<\/h2>\n
Importing LUTs and presets<\/h2>\n
Further updates for the BMPCC 4K & 6K<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nSupport for Generation 5 color science<\/h3>\n
LCD screen dimming option<\/h3>\n
Q1 and Q3 Blackmagic RAW recording options<\/h3>\n