Blackmagic updates its URSA Mini Pro cinema camera with a sensor rated for up to 12K native recording

Blackmagic Design has announced an update to the URSA Mini Pro for 2020. This refreshed digital film camera has a "completely redesigned" 17:9 Super 35 (or APC) sensor that can support formats from between 4K and 12K in resolution. It does so via Blackmagic RAW, which the OEM touts as relatively easy on free storage (for example, even the "largest" 12,288 x 6480 5:1 option records at 578 megabytes per second (MB/s)).

The new URSA Mini Pro does so using CFast 2.0 or SD UHS-II cards. This version also has a USB type C port, a fresh external media option. It also has a PL lens mount for the first time, although it is still compatible with ones for EF or F lenses instead. There is also a 4-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen and digital film camera, a built-in four-position neutral-density (ND) filter and a 3.5mm jack in evidence here.

Blackmagic asserts that this 2020 URSA Mini Pro offers improved skin-tone accuracy; high roll-off; 3D LUT consistency, and color-grading abilities in editing thanks to its new Generation 5 color-science panel, which is also apparently optimized for DaVinci Resolve. Then again, it does not exhibit inbuilt color correction, meaning it might be better for film production rather than studio recording.

This updated camera remains compatible with all the current Blackmagic UltraStudio accessories its enthusiast or professional audience might already have. Alternatively, their new generations, launched alongside the refreshed unit, are now compatible with Thunderbolt 3. This allows the user to view or save their potential 12K video directly to a notebook with this connectivity.

All these new possibilities has B&H Photo Video considering this URSA Mini Pro 12K as its "camera of the year" already. It has been set at a price of US$9,995 and will be available through this retailer from August 2020.