RED DSMC2 8K VS URSA 12k!! - Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12k Review

In this video we talk about the Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K that we got in the mail less than two weeks ago. We go over some of our first impressions and opinions on how this camera compares to the RED DSMC2 cameras. We also do some side by side tests to see how these two sensor's images compare. What's your thoughts on the new URSA 12k? Let us know in the comments below!

0:00 Intro
1:21 Build Quality
2:00 Form Factor & Modularity
3:48 Boot Up Time
4:51 UI & Software
5:50 Fan Noise
7:00 Battery Life
7:54 Built In ND Filters
8:30 BRAW
9:56 Recording Media Options
12:50 Frame Rates
13:27 Sensor Size
13:50 Image Quality & Test Footage
16:49 Dynamic Range
17:18 3rd Party Support
17:37 Repairs & Support
18:24 Community & Forum
18:39 Final Thoughts

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[travisminneapolis]

18:59 Crazy that Blackmagic now has a camera that is comparable or better than the 8k Red. Regardless of price.

[mrwayne]

2020 was like:
Red Komodo 6K...
Canon R5 8K...
Blackmagic: Hold my beer...

[joenicklo]

Speaking of modular, I'm PRAYING that within the next few months Blackmagic announces a cube form factor BMPCC :D

[goodeggproductions]

My experience with BlackMagic repair and support was very good. Somehow, my DC input got blown out on my PCC4K and would only work with the battery. They responded to my repair questions the next day and all I had to do was send the camera to their U.S. service center. The repair was covered under warranty and was sent back to me within 7 days.

I'd say that's pretty darn good customer service. So I bought a second camera! Can't see me ever needing a 12K, but I'm really glad that BlackMagic exists. They are putting real film making tools into the hands of average people. If the footage looks as good as a RED or an ALEXA, but for 1/2 to 1/10 of the price, that's good for everyone.

Maybe next year, they'll bring out a LF sensor camera.

[TylerEdwards]

The 12K looks to be a great camera. I ended up cancelling my pre-order and swinging for the G2. I like having a ProRes option for when that is needed and had a few extra pennies to allocate towards lights :)

[ashtonhealan]

I use the URSA as my A camera for almost every shoot and I would recommend it over a red any day. The form factor is absolutely limiting but it’s a trade off for price which tbh the Ursa saves you money from all the headaches you’ll have with a red.

[jambononi]

RED create great looking images, but their overall business approach is creating fandom and then basically ripping people off with accessories and repairs etc. It's borderline a scam in my opinion. Blackmagic has proved that for a fraction of the price you can get nearly the same results. Which means surely RED could produce an SSD that's not $1500, or a top handle under $500 or maybe a UI that works properly. As much as large film companies can accept the downsides and buy 4 RED cameras because one will probably crash, the writing is on the wall, and I wonder if RED can stay alive as they bring the Komodo onto the market as an answer to the competition.

[jamesepiclight]

Great comparison! Its pretty Amazing what Blackmagic has accomplished at this price point.

[snowguy]

The older BM cameras I used had too many issues but I own the 6kPro now and love it, the 12k URSA is definitely my next purchase. It's amazing you can even try to compare a 5000 dollar camera and a 17000+ dollar camera.

[NathanMillerVisuals]

As both a RED and Blackmagic URSA Mini 4K user I have opinions based off experience. Comparing a $19K RED Epic MX DSMC 1 from 2014 to a $3K URSA Mini from 2016. Footage looks nearly identical in daylight and sunset. I like the options the URSA provides for recording media, I mainly use the SSD recorder for regular 2.5" SSD which is very nice for long productions. URSA is more reliable on a production for it's boot time alone, I have literally missed live shots because the RED errored out, battery was dead too fast, or even it's 1 minute boot time. And finally customer support.... I have had two products from Blackmagic repaired quickly and for reasonably cheap. My OG BMPCC and URSA Mini 4K from water damage. Now the RED is eternally fucked now because the audio no longer works at all and RED straight up refused to fix the camera because they dropped repair support for DSMC 1 in 2018. My 1996 4Runner gets support still!! There's no excuse RED.

[greghuglin]

Thanks for the video! I've had a RED Epic since 2011 and now find that RED will not service it if it breaks. Kind of like buying a new Mercedes and having them stop repairing them after 9 years. It doesn't make me very loyal to RED even though I have paid about $55, 000 for their equipment. I also managed to have paid for my RED a week before they dropped the price by 50%. I just got the BMCC 12k last week and while changing the mount from PL to EF, I was unable to remove the little black baffle. Called them up and they immediately allowed me (at my expense) to send the camera back to them (I now live in Australia). I only had the camera for 48 hours, but I was impressed that they responded so quiickly. A few years ago I got a small waterdrop on my RED sensor while changing lenses on a boat while filming surfing in Tahiti. Called my RED 'rep' and he told me I couldn't clean it myself, it had to be shipped back to California. Since I had to shoot the next morning, I breathed on the sensor and carefully wiped it with a lens tissue, problem solved. Just like everyone that ever operated 16 or 35mm film cameras did in the past. Yes, I'm that old and have operated cameras from Super8 to 35mm Arris. So I'm hoping that BlackMagic turns out to be better to deal with than RED..we'll see. And now I'm gonna look for some way to keep that USB-C cable from moving! On my RED Epic both the HDMI output doesn't work any longer and neither does the SDI output. And, of course if I was really stupid I'd send it all the way back to RED and wait until they fixed it. OH NO, they won't fix it....and I'm not going to ever buy a RED again.

[TheToneWork]

Great comparison!

What you didn't mention in the video is the price difference. For $15k you can be shooting with everything you need for the Ursa 12k. The body alone for the RED is $25k without a monitor or any rigging. For that reason alone, I can't imagine why someone would buy the RED now.

[funguy]

Excellent review. I’m thinking about buying this camera. Now I have the information I need in making my decision.

[ethangeiger]

I have had great experience with the support of my black magic pocket cinema camera 4K. I screwed up my camera It was totally my fault and black magic design knew this but they fixed it under warranty for me anyway and I got it back within a week It was pretty epic.

[ScottBalkum]

Overall, I’d say this was a pretty fair video. You could dive into nit-picks but it wouldn’t change the results at this point. Your gripes about the RED are all pretty accurate. Boot up time has always been one of my biggest gripes as well. To be fair, Helium is 4.years old, today. BM 12K is couple of months old now. When DSMC3 is launched, it will be a more fair comparison. In the end, the truth is, either camera will do an amazing job. I personally wouldn’t shoot at 12K on BM just because it just doesn’t look right to me (opinion). I feel like the 12K was design to shoot a beautiful 4K image and that’s what I tell people as well. With 12K worth of pixels and subsampling, it can make a beautiful 4K image. But over all, I think you did a fine job and I think the BM will serve you well. I also suspect you won’t be selling your Helium anytime soon either... well... until DSMC3 is announced. Nice job!

[PointsFilms]

I think people have this thing in their mind about Red being like a lambo of cameras, always thinking you really really want one, but in this day and age the images produced by low priced cameras are just as good. Changed my mind about purchasing the red komodo, going to either buy a BM pocket6k again or wait for their next small camera. I might get hate for this, but global shutter IMO isn't a good enough of a reason/difference to justify paying 3 times as much plus taxes and import duties. I'm not going to be recording guitar strings any time soon, despite what Jarred Land might think

[thegospelcallTGC]

Thank you for an unbiased video and I appreciate your opinions about both cameras. Although ai am personally going to get an ursa myself. God bless you.

[loudandclearmedia]

Thanks for the comparison! My biggest reservation about the 12K Ursa would be it's low light capability or lack thereof. Yes, the Helium isn't exactly a great low light cam either, but I've seen Ursa 12K footage that was quite noisy even at low ISO values. That makes sense logically because of how tight the pixel pitch must be to have that resolution on a small sensor, but has it been an issue for you?

[ndavies]

Awesome straightforward review. When price is factored ; BMD is the smart and superior choice.

[StreamVirtual]

The form factor is why I would want it, a little box isn't really ready to shoot without adding a bunch of crazy rigging which can be expensive as well.