Blackmagic Design just announced a new camera called Blackmagic PYXIS 12K. Combining the full-frame RGBW 12K sensor from the URSA Cine with the compact body of the Blackmagic PYXIS, the camera will be available starting July 2025 at $4,995.
Blackmagic Design CEO Grant Petty has traditionally introduced new products in a livestream shortly before the NAB Show. We divided this up into three articles:
- Blackmagic Design hardware news – ATEM, HyperDeck, etc
- Blackmagic Design camera news – PYXIS 12K
- Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve 20
In this article, we will focus on the new camera updates. If you are interested in the other news, feel free to click on the corresponding link. Now, let’s take a quick look at what is new with Blackmagic Design cameras.
Firmware updates for Blackmagic cameras
Firstly, Grant Petty talked about new firmware updates for selected BMD cameras.
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The Blackmagic camera 9.5 update will bring better AF capability with continuous AF, object tracking AF, and face tracking AF to select cameras. In fact, the public beta of the 9.5 update is now available for download for the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K. The company promised to bring this to more camera models in the near future.
Another firmware update is the camera 9.6 update. This will initially come to the PYXIS and URSA Broadcast G2 cameras. It adds the pre-record feature. This can be either always-on or activated each time with a long press of the record button.
Finally, the third upcoming camera 9.7 update will bring support for the Blackmagic PYXIS monitor to be used on the Blackmagic Micro Studio 4K camera G2. The connection will be provided by the camera’s USB-C port, so just like with the PYXIS, both image and power can be transferred with one cable. This will enable interesting clean rigs, in my opinion.
Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K body
Also unsurprising, considering it follows the earlier announcement of the URSA Cine 12K body-only announcement from a while ago. The URSA Cine 17K camera will now also be available as a body-only option. This time, however, the camera still comes with the 8TB media module with the built-in 10G ethernet port.
The camera will be priced at $21,995, and it is available for pre-order now.
Blackmagic PYXIS 6K broadcast accessories
Before talking about the whole new camera model, Grant Petty introduced a set of new accessories for the PYXIS 6K camera aimed at ergonomics for broadcast use.
- There is a new Blackmagic PYXIS Pro Handle that includes a built-in EVF at the back as well as a microphone at the front, along with controls and rockers. The handle will be available in June 2025 for $895.
- Another new accessory is the Blackmagic PYXIS Pro Grip, which attaches to the right side of the camera and brings a zoom rocker along with a record button and a strap. The Pro Grip will cost $119 and will be available in June 2025 as well.
Blackmagic PYXIS 12K
Finally, the new camera model is called Blackmagic PYXIS 12K, and it brings the full-frame RGBW 12K (12288 x 8040) sensor from the URSA Cine into the smaller PYXIS body. The available frame rates, however, are a bit limited compared to the URSA Cine.
The PYXIS 12K can record the following framerates and resolutions:
- 12K (3:2 open gate) up to 40 fps
- 12K (16:9) up to 45 fps
- 12K (17:9) up to 50 fps
- 12K (2.4:1) up to 60 fps
- 12K (6:5) up to 40 fps
- 9K (3:2 Super 35) up to 50 fps
- 9K (16:9 Super 35) up to 65 fps
- 9K (17:9 Super 35) up to 65 fps
- 9K (2.4:1 Super 35) up to 80 fps
- 9K (6:5 Super 35) up to 50 fps
- 8K/4K (3:2 open gate) up to 72 fps
- 8K/4K (16:9) up to 84 fps
- 8K/4K (17:9) up to 90 fps
- 8K/4K (2.4:1) up to 112 fps
- 8K/4K (6:5) up to 72 fps
The advantage of the RGBW sensor is that it offers full-frame mode in lower resolutions, too.
As Grant Petty also told us, the USB-C port at the back of the camera is now faster, so it supports recording of the high-resolution high-bitrate modes straight to a compatible SSD drive.
Otherwise, the camera body is identical to the PYXIS 6K model, including the touchscreen monitor on the side, multiple rigging points, dual CFexpress B slots, and so on.
Just like the PYXIS 6K, the new 12K camera comes in either EF, PL, or L Mount version.
Price and availability
The Blackmagic PYXIS 12K camera will be available starting July 2025, and it will cost $4,995 regardless of the lens mount version.
Do you have experience working with the original Blackmagic PYXIS 6K camera? What do you think about the new 12K model? Can you imagine adding this new model to your kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section underneath the article.
