Blackmagic releases PYXIS Pro Handle and Pro Grip, Blackmagic Camera 9.5, & more

Blackmagic had an extremely busy NAB with multiple releases of new kit in multiple product categories. Here are the highlights.

While the movement on the pricing down to tariffs became a fascinating thing to track for a few days, the main news out of Las Vegas for Blackmagic was both the launch of the PYXIS 12K camera and the announcement of DaVinci Resolve 20; one a surprise and the other almost a tradition by now. As ever with the company though, there was more to it than just those stories. Here's a quick round up of the rest.

PYXIS Pro Handle and Pro Grip

The Blackmagic PYXIS Pro Handle and Blackmagic PYXIS Pro Grip are two new accessories that flip the new PYXIS into a flexible run and gun camera for broadcast and documentary work. The PYXIS Pro Handle includes an integrated HD OLED viewfinder, stereo microphone, record start/stop and custom function buttons, while the Blackmagic PYXIS Pro Grip is a side grip for video production and includes a zoom rocker and hand strap for secure and comfortable shooting. Both will be available from July priced at $895 for the Handle and $119 for the Pro Grip, with the usual current caveats surrounding pricing.

Cloud Backup 8

Cloud Backup 8 is a new rack mount media backup solution that allows customers to use off-the-shelf computer hard drives to back up media files fast and syncs to Blackmagic Cloud for backing up collaborative projects in DaVinci Resolve. It features a rack mount design with 8 independent hard disk slots, 4 x 10G Ethernet ports for maximum performance with high capacity hard disks, and an HDMI monitor output that shows storage status. Price is listed as $1,495.

Cintel Scanner G3 HDR+ 8/16

The new Cintel Scanner G3 HDR+ 8/16 has been specifically designed to support 8mm HD and 16mm Ultra HD film scanning. Blackmagic says the scanner features a completely new optical assembly that allows customers to get higher resolution image scanning of these smaller formats, perfect for scanning all the archived, historical footage lying around in film vaults around the world. This new model retains the same capstan drives, real time HDR film scanning and includes 8mm and 16mm film gates. It’s available worldwide as of now for $32,045.

Blackmagic Camera 9.5

The main takeaway from this software update is the addition of support for autofocus with continuous object and face tracking on the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K. It also adds support for cloud workflows and direct upload to DaVinci Resolve projects for Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K. In addition, this update adds support for USB-C webcam output, adds a media pool file browser, support for login and secure certificate, REST control API and network time protocol. 

What's new in Blackmagic Camera 9.5

Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K

• Adds beta support for PDAF autofocus.
• Adds beta support for continuous autofocus.
• Adds beta support object tracking autofocus.
• Adds beta support for facial recognition and tracking autofocus.
• Adds support for using camera as a webcam or UVC device.
• Adds media pool file browser.
• Adds clip deletion support.
• Adds Blackmagic Cloud clip uploads.
• Adds direct uploads to DaVinci Resolve projects.
• Adds ability to update and manage camera via ethernet.
• Adds REST control API for remote control.
• Adds login and secure certificate support.
• Adds network time protocol support.
• Adds web media manager support.
• Adds file transfer protocol support.
• Adds SMB file sharing support.
• Adds mobile phone tethering support.
• Improves gyro metadata reliability.
• Improves USB-C drive detection reliability.

ATEM Micro Camera Panel

Plenty of new kit in the live production space from the company, but our pick of them all is probably the  ATEM Micro Camera Panel, a new portable camera control panel with high end broadcast CCU controls for ATEM switchers. Blackmagic knows the importance of a good control surface, and with a large joystick and physical buttons, ATEM Micro Camera Panels lets customers control iris, pedestal, shutter, white balance, master gain, RGB balance and more for up to 8 cameras from a single panel. It features an internal battery, connects via Bluetooth or USB-C, and is coming next month for $595.