Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K: The Future is Modular
The world of cinema is constantly evolving. What was once the exclusive domain of major studios with unlimited budgets is becoming increasingly accessible to independent filmmakers, thanks to companies like Blackmagic Design. The Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K Body is a powerful tool that puts cinematic quality within reach without breaking the bank. This is a continuation of what Blackmagic has been doing for years, democratizing the filmmaking process.
Blackmagic Design’s new URSA Cine 12K Body offers filmmakers unprecedented customization and value. But what about the full camera system? Stay tuned for Filmmakers Academy’s exclusive review with Shane Hurlbut, ASC, and colorist David Cole, coming this March, where we’ll put the complete URSA Cine 12K through its paces!
DOING MORE WITH LESS: A NEW PARADIGM FOR INDIE FILMMAKERS
For years, independent filmmakers have been masters of ingenuity, finding creative ways to stretch their limited resources. The URSA Cine 12K Body embodies this spirit, offering a “body only” option that allows filmmakers to customize their camera setup precisely to their needs. This means you’re not paying for accessories you already own or don’t require for your specific shooting style.
This is ideal for experienced cinematographers with a collection of lenses, monitors, and power solutions. The URSA Cine 12K Body presents an incredible value proposition. You get the heart of a high-end cinema camera — the exceptional 12K sensor, the renowned Blackmagic color science, and the robust build quality — without the added cost of redundant accessories.
This “body only” model is listed at US$6,995 (excluding local duties and taxes), a significant savings compared to the fully kitted version.
THE EDUCATIONAL ANGLE: EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION
At Filmmakers Academy, we’re passionate about empowering filmmakers at every stage of their journey. The URSA Cine 12K Body is not just a new camera; it’s a powerful educational tool. It highlights the importance of understanding your gear, your needs, and your budget. It encourages a modular approach to filmmaking, where you build your kit piece by piece, learning the nuances of each component along the way.
This camera body is also an excellent upgrade path for existing Blackmagic Design camera owners. If you’ve honed your skills on a Pocket Cinema Camera or an earlier URSA model, the URSA Cine 12K Body offers a seamless transition to a more advanced system, leveraging the accessories and knowledge you’ve already acquired. This could be especially true for filmmakers who began with the BMPCC 4K, and can now upgrade to 12K while maintaining a similar camera language and color science they are already comfortable using in their workflow.
UNPACKING THE TECH: A DEEP DIVE INTO CINEMATIC EXCELLENCE
Let’s not forget what makes the URSA Cine 12K so special in the first place. At its core lies a groundbreaking 12K full-frame sensor, a marvel of engineering that delivers stunning image quality, exceptional dynamic range (16 stops!), and unparalleled flexibility in post-production. But it’s not just about resolution; it’s about the quality of those pixels.
MULTI-SCALE SENSOR DESIGN
One of the most innovative features of the URSA Cine 12K is its multi-scale sensor. This allows you to shoot in 12K, 8K, or 4K at the full sensor size, without cropping. This is a game-changer for filmmakers who need to deliver in multiple formats or want the flexibility to reframe in post without sacrificing resolution.
You can even shoot in Super 35 or Super 16 modes, adding even more flexibility to your lens choices. This enables documentary filmmakers to shoot in 8K or 4K for faster data rates and longer record times while enabling VFX plates to be shot in the full 12K resolution.
BLACKMAGIC COLOR SCIENCE
Blackmagic Design’s color science, honed through years of experience with DaVinci Resolve, is legendary in the industry. The URSA Cine 12K’s sensor is specifically designed to work seamlessly with Resolve, resulting in images that are rich, nuanced, and incredibly pleasing to the eye.
The camera features the latest Blackmagic color science with specially chosen color filters to match DaVinci Resolve’s image science and processing.
HIGH FRAME RATE CAPABILITIES
The URSA Cine 12K is no slouch when it comes to slow motion. It can shoot up to 80 fps in 12K, 144 fps in 8K, and a whopping 240 fps in 4K. This opens up a world of creative possibilities for capturing dramatic action sequences or ethereal, dreamlike imagery.
You can also shoot at 224 fps in 8K 2.4:1 or 144 fps in 8K 3:2 open gate. Even at its highest resolution, you can still shoot 120 fps in 12K 2.4:1.
ANAMORPHIC SHOOTING
For those who crave the classic widescreen look, the URSA Cine 12K supports anamorphic shooting with a range of de-squeeze factors (1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.66, 1.8, and 2x). This allows you to create cinematic images with that signature anamorphic bokeh and flare.
What an amazing feature for the cost, as anamorphic shooting has typically been reserved for higher-end and more expensive cinema cameras.
BUILT-IN OLPF (OPTICAL LOW-PASS FILTER)
An often-overlooked but crucial element, the OLPF helps to reduce moiré and aliasing, ensuring your images are clean and free of unwanted artifacts.
The URSA Cine 12K’s OLPF is specifically matched to the sensor and features updated IR filtering for improved far-red color response.
MULTIPLE RECORDING OPTIONS
The URSA Cine 12K Body includes a dual CFexpress media module, allowing you to record to industry-standard CFexpress cards. These cards offer fast data rates and are readily available.
For those who need even more storage capacity, Blackmagic Design offers an optional 8TB Media Module.
BLACKMAGIC RAW
This proprietary codec offers the perfect balance of image quality and file size, giving you incredible flexibility in post-production. You can adjust white balance, exposure, and other parameters in DaVinci Resolve without any loss of quality.
This is particularly helpful in run-and-gun situations where you are unable to do a custom white balance for each shot.
PROXY WORKFLOW
The URSA Cine 12K can simultaneously record a small H.264 proxy file alongside the Blackmagic RAW footage. This proxy file can be quickly uploaded to Blackmagic Cloud, allowing your editor to start working on the footage almost immediately, even while you’re still on set. This is a massive time-saver for fast-turnaround projects.
CONNECTIVITY AND WORKFLOW: DESIGNED FOR THE MODERN SET
The URSA Cine 12K is not just about image quality; it’s also about a streamlined workflow. It’s packed with industry-standard connections, including Lemo and Fischer connectors for remote control and powering accessories, 12G-SDI outputs, 10G Ethernet, USB-C, and XLR audio.
BLACKMAGIC CLOUD INTEGRATION
This is a game-changer for collaborative workflows. You can record directly to Blackmagic Cloud, allowing your team to access the footage from anywhere in the world. This is perfect for remote editing, color grading, and VFX work.
LIVE STREAMING
The URSA Cine 12K has a built-in hardware streaming engine that supports RTMP and SRT protocols. This means you can live stream directly from the camera to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, or even directly to clients.
The live streaming feature has obvious applications for live events, but it can also be used for remote monitoring or even as a high-quality webcam for virtual meetings.
DUAL MONITORING OPTIONS
The camera features a large 5″ fold-out HDR touchscreen on one side and a color status LCD on the other. Additionally, there’s a dedicated assist station with a second 5″ HDR touchscreen, allowing multiple crew members to monitor the image simultaneously.
There’s even a dedicated focus puller’s mode to help achieve perfect focus.
OPTIONAL EVF
For those who prefer a more traditional shooting experience, Blackmagic Design offers an optional URSA Cine EVF. This high-quality OLED display provides a clear and accurate view of the image, even in bright sunlight.
It features a built-in proximity sensor, a 4-element glass diopter, and a digital focus chart for precise focusing.
BLACKMAGIC MEDIA DOCK
This accessory allows you to mount up to three Blackmagic Media Modules, providing high-speed access to media from multiple cameras. This is a huge time-saver in post-production, allowing you to quickly ingest and start working on your footage.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: DEMOCRATIZING FILMMAKING
The Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K Body is more than just a camera. It’s a symbol of a larger trend in the filmmaking industry. Technology is breaking down barriers, making it possible for independent filmmakers to compete with major studios on a visual level. This democratization of filmmaking is not just about affordability. It’s about empowering a new generation of storytellers to share their unique perspectives with the world.
By offering a customizable, high-quality camera at a competitive price, Blackmagic Design is not only providing a valuable tool but also championing a more inclusive and diverse filmmaking landscape. It’s a reminder that great stories can come from anywhere, and that the tools to tell those stories are becoming increasingly accessible to everyone.
GET READY FOR AN IN-DEPTH LOOK: FILMMAKERS ACADEMY REVIEWS THE URSA CINE 12K
But the exploration of the Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K doesn’t stop here! The “body only” configuration of the URSA Cine 12K is just one piece of this exciting puzzle. There’s so much more to unpack about this camera’s full capabilities.
That’s why we at Filmmakers Academy are thrilled to announce that we’ll be releasing an exclusive, in-depth review of the Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K camera system, coming this March!
Join cinematographer Shane Hurlbut, ASC, and expert colorist David Cole as they put this groundbreaking camera through its paces.
Shane and David will dive deep into the URSA Cine 12K’s features, image quality, workflow, and real-world performance. This will provide you with the expert insights you need to decide if this is the right camera for you.
They’ll be testing the full camera system, exploring its dynamic range, color science, high frame rate capabilities, and how it integrates into a professional post-production pipeline using DaVinci Resolve. Plus, they will be able to give exclusive insight into how they use the camera to tell a story.
This is a review you won’t want to miss! Make sure you’re subscribed to the Filmmakers Academy blog. Follow us on social media to be the first to know when our in-depth Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K review goes live.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The URSA Cine 12K Body is an invitation to explore, experiment, and push the boundaries of your creativity. It’s a reminder that you don’t need a Hollywood budget to create cinematic magic. With the right tools, a bit of ingenuity, and a lot of passion, you can bring your vision to life and share your stories with the world.
So, whether you’re an experienced cinematographer looking to upgrade your kit or an indie filmmaker taking your first steps into the world of high-end cinema, the Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K Body offers an exciting opportunity to do more with less and to be a part of the ongoing democratization of filmmaking.