GEAR
BLACKMAGIC URSAMINI PRO 12K
“The smaller sensor is packed with very tiny photosites, which is where themagic happens”
resolution on a smaller, Super 35 CMOS sensor of its own, unique design that has a modest maximum ISO of 3200. So when this is downsized to 4K, the resolution is still very impressively detailed. But, of course the smaller sensor is packed with very tiny photosites, which Blackmagic claims is where the actual magic happens. These smaller photosites may not have the best high-ISO performance, but when there is plenty of light, then the highlight roll-off and colour gradation are much more akin to film. And skin tones are beautiful. The look is more closely aligned with the CCD sensors of earlier- generation digital cameras, rather than the current CMOS chips. These CCD sensors are often praised for giving a more organic look to the image, which is often because they used three distinct colour sensors – one to record red, one blue and one green. Many TV and film cameras had three different sensors, one for each RGB colour, which were all combined in the final footage.
using Log, which is then opened and edited in DaVinci Resolve using the latest fifth-generation colour technology. This careful management of the footage at all steps of the process means the camera can be relied on to produce a beautifully detailed and filmic look – just as the manufacturer intended. And it really works. The dynamic range of 14 stops at the base ISO of 800 gives a lot of shadow and highlight detail, and the colours are very filmlike and not too oversaturated. There is a very nicely controlled roll-off to the highlights, and having all the information from a proper 12-bit Raw file
CMOS chips typically use a Bayer sensor in a 2:1:1 formation, where there are two green sensor sites for every one red and blue, so the colours have to be carefully combined to create a natural colour, and this means it’s very difficult to get the colours right. Many people see sensors like this as having a ‘digital’ look, says Blackmagic. The Ursa Mini Pro 12K uses Blackmagic’s own sensor, which has symmetrical 1:1:1 sampling of red, green and blue for a more truthful representation of colours. And instead of recording in a variety of codecs – which can all affect the look – the only option is to record in Blackmagic Raw
BELOW All the traditional cinema camera controls are there, such as the ND filter wheel
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