Black Magic Launches 12K Video Camera

2020.07.16

Now that 4K is relatively common, given that it only requires 12 MP for resolution, camera makers have been trying get ahead. Last year, the 6K Panasonic Lumix S1H debuted with the highest video-resolution on the market. Then, just last week, the Canon EOS R5 skipped ahead to 8K which requires a 45 MP sensor to have enough resolution for 8K video.

Today, Black Magic just flew past everyone else with the announcement of the URSA Mini Pro 12K. This professional video camera is dedicated to capturing the most detailed video ever. Its sensor packs a whopping 80 MP into a wide aspect-ratio 17:9 Super 35 area which is roughly comparable to an APS-C sensor. The sensor outputs an incredible 12288 x 6480 resolution using a symmetric color-filter-array that lets it output oversampled 8K, 6K and 4K video with minimal artifacts. When outputting 4K, it provides full-color data on every pixel since 12K is exactly 3X wider.

This professional-grade camera feature an interchangeable lens-mount, multiple builtin ND-filters and dual CFast and SDXC UHS-II memory-card slots! Using two CFast cards, it can store video at 900 MB/s. While a pair of SDXC cards make it possible to write at 500 MB/s. The resulting files can assembled into a single video stream by computer. It can also record externally via standard USB-C port. An add-on accessory allows the Black Magic URSA Mini Pro 12K to record directly into a standard SATA 2.5" SSD. By default, the cinema-friendly PF-mount is supplied but that can be swapped out for a Canon EF or Nikon F mount.

A new type of sensor provides 14 EV of dynamic-range starting at its native ISO 800 sensitivity. The throughput of this sensor is simply unbelievable as the video camera can capture 12K video at 60 FPS, 8K at 110 FPS and 4K at 220 FPS, all unprecedented speeds for that resolution. Although it supports multiple codecs with from 5:1 to 18:1 compression, the URSA Mini Pro 12K also provides RAW output, even at 12K @ 60 FPS.

After reading about such ground breaking features, it is surprising that this camera sells for only $10,00 USD. Adorama already is accepting pre-orders.