Although there are many RED VS Blackmagic comparisons out there, we found this video very simple, straightforward, and honest which deals with the basics. The video below summarizes the key points that can be compared between the RED DSMC2 8K Helium, and the Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K.

RED VS Blackmagic: The never-ending debate

First of all, it must be noted, that it’s not a fair fight. A ready to shoot RED costs more than double than ready to shoot URSA. The price is a huge factor, for better and worse. RED is widely being used by acclaimed cinematographers in high-end productions, which means there are more resources to utilize the camera and suck from it the best images. On the other hand, the URSAs haven’t been penetrating into Hollywood (for some reason), however, there are independent filmmakers that can do magical things with them. In fact, a lot of cinematographers compare the URSA Mini Pro to ALEXA in terms of imagery and cinematic look. Furthermore, if we focus on technology, some declare that the URSA is superior compared to RED DSMC2. The bottom line says that it depends on who is using the camera and what he can get out of it! The other bottom-line claims that there is no room for comparison. In spite of that, we’ve decided to share this very straightforward and friendly comparison between the newly announced URSA Mini Pro 12K, to one of RED’s DSMC2 flagship, the Helium, which is being extremely popular among professionals.

Helium 8K VS URSA 12K

This video comparison (done by the “Threefold” production company, is pretty dry, and that’s a good thing. The video focuses on the essentials: Build Quality, Form Factor & Modularity, Boot Up Time, UI & Software, Fan Noise, Battery Life, Built-In ND Filters, BRAW, Recording Media Options, Frame Rates, Sensor Size, Image Quality & Test Footage, Dynamic Range, 3rd Party Support, Repairs & Support, Community & Forum, and Final Thoughts. Furthermore, the video is totally unbiased. Actually, the reviewer is a RED Helium owner for years, that has been shooting with the URSA 12K for about two weeks. For those who are less familiar with the cameras, this is one of the first comparisons you should check. Watch it below:

Interpretation

Both cameras are great. It’s not a question of which is better. Nowadays, Blackmagic has closed the gaps by developing its own BRAW which can compete for one on one with the REDCODE, which is the main advantage of RED cameras. The image quality, credibility, robustness of these products are very much similar. However, the main keyword is Marketing, or should I say BizDev (business development). RED knows how to invade Hollywood and Netflix. Contrary, Blackmagic has done a good job with its post-production products but hasn’t cracked the cinematography layers on high-end productions. Nevertheless, this is a comparison and not a contest. There’s no winner here, just an educational bonus.