The newly announced Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Pro 12K can be easily utilized for IMAX filmmaking. Its new 12K sensor can sort you out to get your independent film to the huge canvas. Thus, it can be titled as the world’s most affordable “IMAX camera”. Read on.

The technicals

Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Pro 12K

Yesterday Blackmagic Design announced another new camera. The URSA Mini Pro 12k which is a new “digital film camera” (as defined by Blackmagic) with an advanced 12,288 x 6,480 12K Super 35 image sensor, 14 stops of dynamic range and high frame rate shooting at up to 60 frames per second in 12K at 80 megapixels per frame, 110 fps in 8K and up to 220 fps in 4K Super 16. The URSA Mini Pro 12K features an interchangeable PL mount, built-in ND filters, dual CFast and UHS-II SD card recorders, a SuperSpeed USB-C expansion port, and more.

Editing 12K on a laptop

According to Blackmagic, the URSA Mini Pro 12K sensor and Blackmagic RAW were designed in synergy to make 12-bit RAW workflows in 12K effortless. As stated by Blackmagic: “As an incredibly efficient next-generation codec Blackmagic RAW lets customers shoot 12K and edit on a laptop, a capability that simply isn’t possible with other codecs”.

As an incredibly efficient next-generation codec Blackmagic RAW lets customers shoot 12K and edit on a laptop, a capability that simply isn’t possible with other codecs.

Blackmagic Design

Pick your resolution: From 4K to 12K

The URSA Mini Pro 12K can shoot standard resolutions and frame rates in 4K, 8K, and 12K. Furthermore, shooters have the option to capture stills and motion shots at the same time. The shooting options are 60 fps in 12K 12,288 x 6480 17:9. For higher frame rates, filmmakers can shoot 110 fps at 8192 x 4320, 140 fps at 8192 x 3408, and even window the sensor to Super 16 to capture 4K 220 fps at 4096 x 2160 DCI.

Bit-rates, connectors, and media

URSA Mini Pro 12K shooters can get dual built-in CFast and UHS-II SD card recorders, and a SuperSpeed USB-C expansion port for recording to fast SATA and NVMe drives. With “Record RAW on 2 Cards” turned on, URSA Mini Pro 12K can record simultaneously across two cards up to an incredible 900MB/s to 2 CFast cards, or 500MB/s to 2 UHS-II SD cards. The SuperSpeed USB-C expansion port on the rear can record to USB-C flash storage up to 900MB/s as a third recording option. For comparison, the 4.6K G2 model features USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 which operates at up to 5 Gb/s, while the new 12K model has a USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 for a blistering 10 Gb/s.

Interchangeable mounts

The camera features an interchangeable lens mount. Filmmakers can switch between PL, EF and F mount lenses on the URSA Mini Pro 12K, as well as B4 lenses on the URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2. That means customers can work with high-quality large PL cinema lenses, EF or F mount photographic lenses, and B4 broadcast lenses.

Blackmagic Generation 5 Color Science

Blackmagic Generation 5 Color Science features a new film curve designed to make full use of the massive amount of color data from the new URSA Mini Pro 12K sensor. This supposed to deliver even better color response for more pleasing skin tones, and a better rendering of highly saturated colors such as neon signs and car tail lights in high contrast scenes. Generation 5 Color Science informs complex Blackmagic RAW image processing, with color and dynamic range data from the sensor preserved via metadata for use in post-production. Compatible with all previously shot Blackmagic RAW files, Generation 5 Color Science lets you take advantage of the new film curve even with your existing work.

Lightweight, Portable Design

The camera body is made from lightweight, robust magnesium alloy. Buttons, switches, and dials are laid out in a logical order that makes them easy to find by feel while using the viewfinder. An external backlit LCD status display lets you view critical information. Plus there’s a 4″ fold-out touchscreen for reviewing shots and accessing the menu settings. You get connections such as 12G‑SDI in and out, USB‑C, 48-volt phantom power XLR audio, timecode, and reference in. The optional Blackmagic Shoulder Mount Kit lets you go from tripod to handheld immediately. The design is very much like previous URSA Mini Pro models so there is no difference in the look of the camera.

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K key features 

• 12,288 x 6480 12K Super 35 sensor.
• Use for feature films, VFX, and high-end TVC’s.
• 14 stops of dynamic range and native 800 ISO.
• New Blackmagic RAW for real-time 12K editing.
• Blackmagic RAW optimized for Metal, CUDA, and OpenCL.
• Generation 5 Color Science with a new film curve.
• Shoot up to 60 fps in 12K, 110 fps at 8K, and 220 fps at 4K.
• Dual card CFast recording at up to 900MB/s.
• PL mount included EF and F mount available.
• SuperSpeed USB-C for recording to external disks.
• Includes DaVinci Resolve Studio for post-production.
• Compatible with new Blackmagic URSA Mini Recorder

With Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K we have advanced imaging technology into a new generation where new styles of shooting will be possible”, said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. “It’s not just the 12K sensor, but there are so many other innovations in this camera. From the Generation 5 Color Science, the in sensor scaling, new symmetrical color pattern, full RGB quality, and of course the 12K resolution, it’s going to be exciting to see what DOPs do creatively with this technology!”

It’s not just the 12K sensor, but there are so many other innovations in this camera. From the Generation 5 Color Science, the in sensor scaling, new symmetrical color pattern, full RGB quality, and of course the 12K resolution, it’s going to be exciting to see what DOPs do creatively with this technology!

Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design

Price and availability

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K will be available in July 2020 from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide for US$9,995. The camera can be preordered on the B&H website.

Interpretations

The G2 model was developed with the focus of enhanced and improved electronics. However, the URSA Mini Pro 12K has developed almost from scratch. According to Grand Petty, Blackmagic founder, and CEO, the company has put a lot of research into this new model, stating that there is a lot of new technology and patents implemented in this camera. For instance, the sensor is brand new and was entirely designed by Blackmagic. Petty says that the sensor was developed to maximize the utilization of the BRAW (Generation 5 Color Science). The sensor structure is made of symmetrical color pattern and not like a regular Bayer filter. That unique characteristic allows full RGB quality for high-end applications.

Why full RGB?

Well, according to Petty, a lot of broadcast professionals prefer full RGB to reduce distortions, and the combination of 12K sensors with lower dynamic range (compared to the other URSAs) would be optimal with a full RGB sensor. So if we read between the lines, or between Petty’s words, there’s might be an indication here for a camera that aims for broadcasters. Nevertheless, another positive side effect resulted from this new sensor design is the ability to shoot different resolutions without cropping or changing the field of view.

The name “IMAX” is mentioned once in the URSA Mini Pro 12K press release. Indeed, Blackmagic has developed the first consumer camera that can meet IMAX requirements regarding resolution.

Paving the way for independent IMAX productions

The name “IMAX” is mentioned once in the URSA Mini Pro 12K press release. Indeed, Blackmagic has developed the first consumer camera that can meet IMAX requirements regarding resolution (unofficial statement). The huge canvas has a resolution that is equivalent to 11K. Although there are cameras that shoot for IMAX that are in a much lower resolution besides IMAX cameras (for instance, ALEXA 2.8K that was upscaled to IMAX screening in Skyfall), a 12K would be the ideal execution (Make sure to read our article about IMAX filmmaking: IMAX Filmmaking: What is it like to Shoot on an IMAX Film Camera?). Therefore, the new Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K is the world’s most affordable “IMAX camera”, and that concept can open a lot of doors for independent productions that are eager to get their film screened at IMAX theaters.

Let’s know your insights about this new URSA Mini Pro 12K. How would you utilize this ultra high resolution in your films?