Alongside the new Pyxis 6K full-frame cinema camera, Blackmagic Design also unveiled the Blackmagic Ursa Cine 12K camera. Like the Pyxis, the Ursa includes a full-frame image sensor, but it promises wider dynamic range, higher resolution, improved performance, and more features suited for high-end production. Of course, more and better doesn’t come for free. While the Pyxis 6K is priced at $2,995, making it accessible for filmmakers of diverse levels and budgets, the Ursa Cine 12K is aimed at bigger productions and is priced accordingly — it costs $14,995. Ursa Cine is designed to “meet the demands of any high-end production,” Blackmagic Design promises. The camera is built using a magnesium alloy chassis and carbon fiber polycarbonate, ensuring it is lightweight despite its large footprint. It also sports standard Lemo and Fischer connectors, enabling remote camera power and operation and motor support. It also includes 12G-SDI output, 10G Ethernet, USB-C, XLR audio, and more, including 8TB of built-in high-speed storage. While 8TB sounds like a lot — and it is — high-resolution Blackmagic RAW video is heavy-duty. Users can record more than four hours of 12K Blackmagic RAW footage using the included 8TB of storage.
At the heart of the Ursa Cine 12K is a brand-new full-frame image sensor. While Blackmagic dipped its toes into full-frame cine cameras last year with the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K, the same sensor featured in the new Pyxis 6K, the Ursa Cine 12K is the company’s highest-resolution full-frame offering to date. The 12K sensor promises 16 stops of dynamic range and includes a high-performance optical-low pass filter custom-built for the sensor to improve color response and resolution. The sensor can shoot 12K open gate footage (12,288 x 8,040 pixels), using the entire image sensor. It can also shoot 12K footage in 16:9, 17:9, and 2.4:1 aspect ratios, plus 9K, 8K, and 4K video. Frame rates range from 23.98 to 60p in typical modes, although the camera can shoot full-res 12K 3:2 footage at up to 80 fps in a high-speed mode. Additional high framerate options go up to 224 fps at 4K/8K resolutions. “We wanted to build our dream high end camera that had everything we had ever wanted,” says Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO, “Blackmagic URSA Cine is the realization of that dream with a completely new generation of image sensor, a body with industry standard features and connections, and seamless integration into high end workflows. There’s been no expense spared in designing this camera and we think it will truly revolutionize all stages of production from capture to post!” For complete details on features and specifications, visit Blackmagic’s website. The Blackmagic Ursa Cine 12K is available to order now for $14,995 and it comes in PL and locking EF mounts, with an optional LPL mount also available. Image credits: Blackmagic Design
