AGENDA NEWS
BLACKMAGIC RAWCOMES TO NIKONS Nikon’s Z 7 and Z 6 range of full-frame mirrorless cameras can now output Raw video to Blackmagic Design monitors and recorders via a free firmware update. This allows recording in ProRes Raw and Blackmagic Raw with footage in 12-bit 4K or Full-HD Raw outputted via HDMI. ProRes Raw recorded to Atomos Ninja V is also compatible with the latest ISO settings and colour temperature control features added to Apple’s Final Cut Pro X Version 10.4.9 and later. Support for Raw video output to Blackmagic’s external recorder can be enabled on cameras that have already been upgraded for Raw video by updating the firmware, with no need for an additional service at a Nikon facility. If a camera has not undergone the purchasable Raw upgrade, this needs to be done at a Nikon service centre. Blackmagic Raw is an ideal Raw file for users of DaVinci Resolve as it does not yet support ProRes Raw natively. The Nikon Z 6 and Z 7, in both Mark I and Mark II guises, join Sigma’s fp as the only cameras that can support Blackmagic Raw over HDMI. nikon.com
Radical revamp for UKdrone laws
New UK drone laws mean it is now far easier and cheaper for independent filmmakers to acquire the qualifications that allow them to fly most consumer-type camera drones legally. Until January 2021, to use any drone for commercial use in the UK, such as professional filmmaking, you had to get a formal qualification called Permission for Commercial Operation (PfCO) from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This took significant training and involved passing a theory and flying exam. But new rules are aimed at bringing the UK in line with lots of other European nations. This means commercial operation can be carried out legally without passing the PfCO test, depending on the weight and performance of the drone, the type of work being done and level of risk. It makes drone use for commercial filmmaking cheaper and easier in most cases. And you can also legally fly closer to people in many situations. But of course, the rules are still relatively complex. Most drones are to be classified in C0 to C4 categories, depending on factors like weight, and are going to be permitted to operate in the new ‘Open’ category. This includes aircraft that weigh less than 25kg, fly lower than 120m/400ft and remain in the operator’s line of sight. Drones can be flown higher than this with the relevant permission. The Open category consists of various sub- categories. There’s the A1 class for drones that weigh less than 250g and can’t be flown over groups of people. The A2 class is for drones under 4kg. These can fly a minimum of 30m away from people who aren’t involved with the shoot, or five metres in low-speed mode. The A3 class is ideal for flying drones in areas that are clear of bystanders. This rules out residential, commercial or industrial areas.
So, clearly the A2 class is the most interesting for independent filmmakers. It includes most drones available commercially that come with cameras, from companies like DJI or Yuneec. To fly legally, you don’t need to pass the full PfCO test, but you do need to have completed the A2 Certificate of Competency (CofC) training. This costs about £250, around a quarter of the price of full commercial drone training. The A2 CofC course can be completed online and covers various bits of theory, such as the basic principles of flight, operating in congested areas, how to avoid collisions, battery safety and environmental factors. After the A2 CofC Training course, you have to complete some practical flight training, either with a registered drone training company or under self-monitored circumstances. Following that, there is a short multiple-choice test with 30 questions. The main difference from the PfCO is that there is no flight assessment and no need to write an operations manual. The CofC qualification lasts for five years before you need to renew. For more advanced use of larger drones, there is also the new GVC qualification, which is similar to the older PfCO system. caa.co.uk
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