Your old Android phone just got a video boost thanks to a new Blackmagic Camera update
Last month, digital photography brand Blackmagic Design launched its Blackmagic Camera app on Android, but it was limited to a handful of Galaxy and Pixel phones. On those phones, it gave users access to professional-grade filmmaking tools, and now the company has revealed that it’s expanding the availability of its software to older devices.
The announcement went almost unnoticed, because it was on social media instead of their official blog. According to their post, Blackmagic Camera version 1.1 is now available on the Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, the entire Pixel 6 line, the OnePlus 11, and the OnePlus 12. For non-US users, the app is also available for the Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 14. You can download it directly from the Google Play Store.
To give you an idea of what you get, Blackmagic Camera offers, among other things, “advanced configuration options” to help you get the right shots, tools to control exposure, and support for “different video resolutions.”
There is a requirement that must be met, but fortunately it is not a strict requirement. Android Central indicates that the phone must run Android 13 or higher, which should not be a problem with these models.
New functions
In addition to the expansion, version 1.1 introduces several new features and adjustments to the software. These include, but are not limited to, a general performance improvement, optional image noise reduction, the ability to dim the screen while recording, plus support for 3D LUTs.
The latter refers to 3D lookup tables. These are a collection of color presets that can be added to photos or videos to achieve a certain look. For example, LUTs can help correct the colors in an image, enhance shadows, or add a sepia filter. Groups and businesses should also appreciate the new connection to Blackmagic Cloud for Organizations, a first-party cloud service where people can come together to share files for a project.
As great as smartphone photography is these days, nothing beats a good camera. Check out Ny Breaking’s list of the best cameras for 2024 if you’re looking for recommendations.