Blackmagic Design has announced its first 12K video camera, the Ursa Mini Pro 12K. It is a higher resolution version of the existing Ursa Mini Pro, which shoots at 4.6K; The new model has a 12288 x 6480 Super 35 sensor capable of capturing 12K images at 60 frames per second, 8K at 110 fps, and cropped 4K Super 16 at 220 fps.
The camera uses a PL mount for compatibility with a wide range of high-end cinema lenses, but can be exchanged for Canon EF and Nikon F mounts. Other features include built-in ND filters and a USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 expansion port for faster data transfer to external SSDs.
Obviously, no one owns a 12K TV, so this camera isn’t necessarily designed for projects that will actually be seen in 12K. Instead, Blackmagic says that additional pixels can help produce a cleaner 8K or 4K image through lowering resolution, as well as allowing you to crop in post-production without losing resolution. Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve software is capable of editing 12K images, while the camera’s built-in compression can store 4K, 6K, and 8K versions at once for instant export.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20088783/Blackmagic_URSA_Mini_Pro_12K_Rear_Angle.jpg)
It’s a similar approach to Blackmagic’s Pocket Cinema Camera 6K, which also uses a high-resolution Super 35 sensor but is designed for 4K or HD projects. The Ursa Mini Pro 12K is a much more expensive camera, of course, and it sits firmly in the area of products that only film and television professionals would consider buying or renting.
That said, at $ 9,995, the price is not astronomical for something that a direct competitor really doesn’t have. Blackmagic says it will be available worldwide later this month.
