An underrated camera at a great price
By Shawn
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2024-09-19
After wrapping a fast-paced, five-day shoot with the Blackmagic Ursa Mini 12K OLPF, I can confidently say this camera exceeded expectations. The natural color reproduction is spot-on—skin tones and environmental shots felt true to life, with minimal adjustment needed in post. The highlight roll-off was beautifully smooth, and we were really happy with the latitude the camera captured. It handled multiple lighting setups with ease, maintaining detail in both the shadows and highlights.
The OLPF was a game-changer. We didn't experience any IR pollution or moiré, even in scenes with fine patterns and tough lighting conditions. The camera gave us clean, detailed images throughout the shoot.
The Blackmagic OS was another big plus, making it quick and easy to change camera settings on the fly. This really sped up our workflow, especially with so many different setups. It was also incredibly intuitive, allowing our first camera assistant to get up to speed with the camera in minutes.
In post-production, Blackmagic RAW was a dream to work with. We shot in 2.4:1 at 8:1 compression, and the footage held up perfectly, even when we pushed the image during color grading. Plus, the camera ships with the studio version of DaVinci Resolve, which adds even more value by giving you a powerful color grading and editing tool that’s fully integrated with the Blackmagic RAW workflow.
Value for Money
What really stands out about the Blackmagic Ursa Mini 12K OLPF is the value it offers. You’re getting industry-standard quality and performance at a price point that is significantly more accessible compared to other high-resolution cameras on the market. The 12K resolution, combined with the versatility of Blackmagic RAW and the efficiency of the Blackmagic OS, provides a level of flexibility that would usually come at a much higher cost. The fact that it includes the studio version of DaVinci Resolve only enhances that value, as it gives filmmakers a full post-production suite right out of the box. It’s a camera that easily competes with higher-end systems, making it an exceptional tool for filmmakers who want cutting-edge quality without breaking the bank. The combination of stunning image quality, a robust feature set, and affordability makes the Ursa Mini 12K OLPF a solid investment for any serious filmmaker.
This is the best bang for buck 100%
By Joseph
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2024-03-05
Bought this camera right when it released, after renting and testing several cameras in the $4000-$16,000 price range, I have settled on the 12k to be the absolute best bang for the buck for sure. It covers almost every important base. It has the resolution, I only use it at 4k and 8k, and the 4k on this camera is insane, I can easily match it to my rented Alexa Mini footage. Internal ND, It has frames rates, all that you’ll ever need - 160fps in 8k. It has an incredibly powerful codec, which is 100% the most important purchasing factor on a digital camera to me - I have wasted money too many times on cameras with good sensors and bad codecs - I will never do that again. This camera is 12bit log, don’t be fooled by some of these cheaper cameras claiming 16bit, they are referring to 16 linear bits, they are no more than 12bit log camera themselves - so no bit rate disadvantage. All the professional i/o needed on a movie set - time code in, multiple SDI, usbC recording, dual cast and dual SD, V-mount battery, dual XLR and dual internal scratch mic, super fast boot up, and fast navigating menus. The low light performance is excellent, even bested my friends FX6 - shot tons of 3200-6400 footage and is has a barely noticeable, beautiful tight grain that feels natural. This camera works great on my Ronin RS3 and Crane 3S Pro.
I took this camera to Puerto Rico for 3 weeks shooting everyday in the blistering sun all day long and it never even flinched.
All my peers on other camera systems have now seriously considered switching from their Sonys, Canons, and Reds after seeing what I capture with this camera - makes me happy that all the time spent testing all these cameras helped me make a good decision. It’s the first time I bought a camera, and felt like I don’t need anything more, even if I upgrade later, I’m keeping this powerhouse.