Blackmagic Design URSA Cine 12K for $7K Launched

Camera News

by Nino LeitnerToday

Blackmagic Design has unveiled a stripped-down version of their flagship large format cinema camera, the URSA Cine 12K LF Body, priced at $6,995. This strategic move appears aimed at experienced cinematographers and rental houses who already possess their own camera rigging solutions, while also providing a more accessible entry point to their 12K ecosystem.

The new body-only variant maintains the core specifications of its fully-equipped sibling, including the 12K large format RGBW sensor (36 x 24mm) with its 14.5 stops of dynamic range (measured at SNR = 1 in our CineD Lab Test of the camera). What sets this version apart is what’s been removed rather than what’s included: gone are the shoulder mount, handles, multiple lens mounts, battery plates, power supply, and the 8TB media module that shipped with the original package.

No high-capacity media module, but dual CFexpress Type B slots

Instead of the 8TB media module, Blackmagic has included a dual CFexpress card module, providing a more standard – if less capacious – storage solution. The camera ships with an (locking) EF mount as standard, with PL and LPL mounts available as separate purchases.

The timing of this release is particularly interesting, as it comes when many production houses are weighing their options for high-resolution acquisition. While 12K might seem excessive for many current delivery formats, the ability to shoot in multiple resolutions (12K, 8K, or 4K) at full sensor size offers significant flexibility. The camera’s impressive frame rates – up to 80 fps at 12K 3:2, 144 fps at 8K 3:2, and a whopping 224 fps at 8K 2.4:1 – position it as a serious contender in the high-end production space.

Is the URSA Cine 12K LF Body a reaction to the ARRI ALEXA 35 Base Model?

In light of ARRI’s recent announcement of the ARRI ALEXA 35 Base Model, which also offers a lower-priced entry point into the ARRI ecosystem (albeit considerably higher at about €50K!), one wonders if Blackmagic’s move can be seen as a reaction to ARRI, or a further sign of a slow cinema market in which either companies are longing for higher amounts of sales of their inventory. The answer might be a combination of those two factors, but we will never know.

What else is missing from the standard set?

However, potential buyers should factor in additional costs. While the $6,995 price point is attractive, building out a fully functional camera package will require significant investment in accessories. The body-only approach means everything from power solutions, rigging to monitoring options needs to be sourced separately, though this could be advantageous for operators who already have preferred solutions for these components. It’s still surprising that essentially, you’re saving more than 50% over the standard purchase price of the full Ursa Cine 12K set and still get the fully featured camera.

Is the URSA Cine 12K (Body) the capable camera for lowest price?

The introduction of the URSA Cine 12K LF Body seems to be another smart move to “drop the price without dropping the price” of a camera. In a slow cinema market with shrinking budget, a clearly very capable camera such as this one might raise some eyebrows inside feature film / scripted series production companies that might face a choice between renting an ARRI ALEXA, or owning this new Blackmagic Ursa Cine.

Only yesterday, we released a guest post by Leon Barnard who produced an in-depth video and article about the (what he calls) “revolutionary” 12K sensor of the URSA Cine 12K LF – go check it out in case you missed it!

Whether this stripped-down approach will resonate with their target market remains to be seen, but it certainly offers an intriguing option for productions looking to access high-resolution acquisition capabilities without the full kit’s overhead.

The camera is available immediately through Blackmagic Design’s global reseller network, priced at $6,995, excluding local duties and taxes.

Available through B&H and CVP shortly

At the time of writing, neither B&H nor CVP had the body-only version of the URSA Cine 12K listed – check back soon for the buy links. In case you are in the market to order the camera, we always appreciate you using our links – it doesn’t cost you a penny more, but we get a small commission which helps keep the lights on at CineD. We appreciate it!

What’s your take on Blackmagic Design’s latest price-breaking move? Let us know in the comments below.