12288 x 6480 pixels: this is the incredible definition of the sensor for the new Blackmagic pro camera. What it means ? Quite simply, this is a camera that films not only in 4K or 8K, but in 12K. Enough to blow up some hard drives and other NAS in the process! The camera body of this URSA Mini Pro 12K is derived from the first Ursa Mini Pro which only “4.6” turned. With a few technological adjustments (USAB C 3.1, etc.), the big news is the sensor.
A full-size 24×36 model point from the photo world, this is a “Super 35” cinema sensor measuring 27.03 x 14.25 mm. And not just any sensor since Blackmagic claims to have worked for four years to develop it, because the structure of its photodiodes is unique. Instead of having a conventional Bayer RGB (red / green / blue) structure which includes 50% green for 25% red and 25% blue, this sensor would have the same number of photodiodes of each color. Blackmagic has unfortunately not published more technical details – or images or diagrams – to allow us to better understand its structure.
But it has expanded well on its strengths and performance. Starting with image definition: capable of shooting 12K sequences at 60 frames per second, the URSA Mini Pro 12K dominates Red Minstro 8K VV in this regard. While being six times cheaper. Because one of the peculiarities of Blackmagic is to be able to integrate good technologies at record prices: appearing at € 9,255, it is undoubtedly the cheapest camera of its kind in the world.
Good 12K = excellent 8K = fabulous slow motion 4K
The advantage of shooting in 12K is, for the Blackmagic teams, “ to offer the best possible 8K ” A promise that does not seem vain on paper, because oversampling during filming generally guarantees a higher level of quality in the lower definitions.
In addition, taking advantage of 12K allows you to shoot in a wider shot and crop the scene during editing, which can be very useful for complex action scenes. Finally, the mind-boggling data rate produced by a 12K60p sequence (2.888 GB per second in uncompressed raw video!) Makes it possible to offer even higher frame rates in the lower definitions. The URSA Mini Pro 12K thus shoots 8K sequences between 110 fps and 140 fps and 4K DCI sequences at 220 fps. Enough to offer x9 slow motion in 4K!
The BRAW “miracle”
Blackmagic is not just a company that builds cameras, it is also a champion of video software. And in this game, their new Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) encoding format promises to be a marvel: the 12K sequences would be perfectly editable (with DaVinci Resolve software from Blackmagic, of course) with a simple laptop! Enough to start getting on the plane and end up on his studio workstation.
This “portability” is also felt in the approach to files. Blackmagic seems to want to give all recording options to camera operators since the camera is compatible not only with SDXC UHS-II memory cards (x2 slots), CFast (x2 slots) but also with external SSD disks via a USB socket. C 3.1 Gen 2 … even internal NVMe SSDs via a module which is placed between the camera and its battery.
Incorporating its own neutral density filters, compatible with all types of optics (official adapters for EF, PL, F, B4 mounts optional) and industry standard batteries, the URSA Mini Pro 12K seeks to play the game 12K technology at an “affordable” price. If € 9255 for the naked camera body – to which must be added the optics, batteries, viewfinder, etc. – represents a budget beyond the reach of ordinary people, in the world of cinema and professional video, it is (almost) peanuts.
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