What are the differences between the URSA Mini and URSA Mini Pro?
The URSA Mini is available with the choice of 4k or 4.6k sensor, while the URSA Mini Pro is only available with the 4.6k sensor. Additionally, the URSA Mini Pro has a full set of camera controls on the side of the body, built in ND filters, dual SD card slots, and user-interchangeable lens mounts.
What kind of storage media do the cameras use?
The Studio and Micro Studio cameras have no on-board recording capability. The URSA Mini uses CFast 2.0 cards. The URSA Mini Pro, URSA Broadcast, and Pocket Cinema 4k cameras have both CFast 2.0 and SD card slots. The URSA Mini Pro and URSA Broadcast can also record on SSD’s using an optional accessory.
What lens mounts do the cameras have?
The Pocket Cinema 4k, Studio, and Micro Studio cameras have a micro4/3 mount. The URSA Mini has an EF mount. The URSA Mini Pro comes with an EF mount but can be changed to PL, B4, or Nikon mount with optional accessories. The URSA Broadcast comes with a B4 mount but can be changed to PL, EF, or Nikon mount with optional accessories.
What codecs do the cameras use?
All cameras use ProRes and CinemaDNG codecs for recording. What resolutions and frame rates are available depend on codec, camera, and media being used. For a full breakdown see the camera comparison page.
The newly introduced BlackmagicRAW will soon be available for URSA Mini and URSA Mini Pro cameras.
What is Blackmagic RAW?
Blackmagic RAW is a new capture method developed by Blackmagic to optimize image quality as well as performance. It uses a unique balance of in camera processing and metadata to retain the full RAW flexibility, while accelerating the ability of a computer to playback in real time.
Blackmagic RAW is 12-bit non linear capture that retains full control of ISO, white balance, exposure, contrast, saturation and more in post.
There are 6 flavors of Blackmagic RAW that suit a wide range of needs. There are 4 constant bitrate options, giving you predictable file sizes with a tradeoff of potentially compressing information. There are also 2 constant quality options that do not limit the bitrate of the recording with the tradeoff of potentially very large files.
How do the cameras do slow motion?
On the cameras where slow motion capture is possible, users select their base frame rate (24, 30, 60 etc) and then select an “off-speed” frame rate. Clips shot “off-speed” will play back at the base frame rate, saving users the extra work of changing the playback speed of the clips in post production.
Can I use SSD drives to record?
The URSA Mini Pro and URSA Broadcast have an optional accessory that mounts to the camera that allows for recording directly to SSD drives. The Pocket Cinema 4k can use SSD drives via its USB-C connection.
What are the recording times for the cameras?
Recording times will vary quite a bit based on codec selected, resolution, and frame rate. Below is a chart broken down by codec, resolution and recording in 30p.
Do Blackmagic cameras have Log shooting modes?
Blackmagic has 3 gamma profiles for their cameras, although not all 3 are available on every camera. “Video” offers users a ready to use Rec.709 image. “Film” unlocks the full dynamic range of the sensors, from 12-15 stops depending on model. “Extended Video” offers a wider dynamic range than basic “Video” but not as much as “Film.”
Do Blackmagic cameras have LUTs?
Cameras that have a “Film” gamma setting come preloaded with a number of LUTs for monitoring purposes. These are “Film to Video” for monitoring in Rec.709 space, “Film to Extended Video” for a monitoring with more dynamic range, “Film to Rec.2020 Hybrid Log Gamma” for HDR monitoring and “Film to Rec.2020 PQ Gamma” for a different HDR processing.
The cameras can also be loaded with custom 17 or 33 point 3D LUTs.
LUTs are never “baked in” to the recording.
