Review: Blackmagic URSA Mini 4.6K

We needed to use the Sony Alpha a7s II for the Ronin shots. The a7s II does not shoot in 4K for slow-motion shots; you can judge the results for yourself by watching the clip below. I would have preferred to use the URSA Mini on the Ronin, but sometimes you just have to figure out a way to take the shot.

Elite Brand Story from Brand Story Experts on Vimeo.

The rest of the b-roll was filmed on the URSA Mini. I found that the URSA Mini didn’t handle low light well. We light most of our scenes, so this wasn’t too problematic, but it’s nice to have the flexibility to shoot low light if necessary. This means we can travel with fewer, lightweight lights.

All in all, the URSA Mini 4.6K wasn’t a great fit for me. I want a camera that I can operate instinctively and that I feel is a part of my storytelling. I loved the Ultra HD image, but ultimately the camera’s negatives outweighed its positives. And even with its relative low cost ($4,995), the camera still requires larger sliders, tripods, and costly CFast cards. You will also need a matte box and filters, the viewfinder, and shoulder mount accessories. These expenses add up.

The Blackmagic URSA Mini 4.6K: The Good and the Not-So-Good

The Good

• Super 35 sensor size
• Four models: 4K and 4.6K sensors in both EF and PL lens mounts
• Up to 15 stops of dynamic range
• Selectable global or rolling shutter (at a price)
• Up to 60fps at 4K raw, 160fps at 1080p
• Multiple recording formats: compressed and uncompressed raw, all flavors of ProRes
• Great on-the-shoulder form factor

The Not-So-Good

• Records to dual CFast 2.0 cards (good media, but still very expensive)
• No sensor upgrades
• EVF and shoulder kit available (for $1,500 and $400, respectively)
• No built-in ND filters
• No LUT-send-to-EVF
• Clunky touchscreen
• Menu On/Off button behind LCD display
• Requires matte box
• Requires larger accessories such as sliders and tripods
• Weak low-light performance