Used Blackmagic Design URSA Mini 4.6K Camera with EF Mount (No Dongle)

2017-01-27T09:45:58

For those complaining about this camera because of no ND's, C-Fast, etc. ENOUGH ALREADY! This camera is ridiculously good. Yes, I have to put ND's on (I use series 9 filters I've been carrying around since owning by 35mm Arri BL II.) Yes, you need an IR Filter with ND's. Yes, you'll need to grade in post. YES, YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. If you do, you won't get a better camera for ($). I'm using 500GB SSD's with a C-fast to sata-II cable and yes, it works. I usually shoot 4.6K RAW 4 to 1 compression (1 hour record time on 500GB) or 422 4k (2 hr. record time on 500GB). I bought a BM 4k production camera to test the work flow of RAW first. Once comfortable with grading, etc. I bought the 4.6k. No regrets. I shoot with the Sigma Art 18-35 1.8 and 50-100 1.8. Look forward to picking up some Xeen lenses in the future. The only changes I would ask for are an external power button, and flip to front monitor. I also have the BM Viewfinder. Buy it. I consider this a Digital Motion Picture/Film camera. It's not really a video camera. I treat it like one of my old motion picture film cameras. Only, I don't have to get the film developed, or pay for it. Dream come true. Love it.

David S.

2016-12-17T14:33:49

Great Camera!  be prepared to buy add ons especially for run and gun.  image is superb and much better overall experience than the original ursa and the production camera. check out my video review on youtube via techjmedia https://youtu.be/3otgjcTa-bE?t=4s

JOSE M.

2016-12-16T08:34:25

Beyond happy with this camera. It solved everything I wasn't excited about with the URSA. It cut down on the weight, the 4.6K sensor makes deals with a lot of the crops I was getting with my previous 4K footage, and the interface is easier To navigate thanthe previous BlackMagic cameras I have used. Best camera purchasebi have ever made.

Barbara M.

2016-12-14T10:40:40

After doing loads of research into which camera I would purchase next, I decided on the Ursa Mini 4.6k from Black Magic Design. Why, you ask? For the type of filming I do, this camera is perfect: It's a 4K cinema camera (actually 4.6K, but who's counting) that has an EF lens-mount - so you can find a ton of lenses that will work with it. Also, you have the ability to select from a gajillion* (*not a real number) different codec/resolution settings is a huge benefit. The other major plus for me is the camera's form factor - it's not like a little handheld DSLR, it's got some weight to it (but not too much) so you can really get those nice, steady, shoulder-mounted shots. With this camera, you're getting about $20,000 worth of value for a quarter the price. It's really quite a little powerhouse!

TOVEN S.

2016-12-07T14:50:06

Great camera for the price

Tanner H.

2016-11-27T14:20:55

At a ($) price point you won't find a better camera. With the EVF/shoulder rig/batteries/memory cards the camera can bump up significantly in price. Even then, it's still worth it. The image out of the URSA Mini 4.6K in film mode is very cinematic, on par with offerings that cost 2 to 5 times as much. Pros and cons are listed below. Pros 1) Unbelievable image at this price compared to similar cameras. 2) The ability to shoot RAW or ProRes in high resolutions makes my post workflow very flexible for color grading. 3) The 120FPS slow motion is excellent with good light. 4) 4.6K scaled down to UHD/4K or 1080p HD looks amazing, amazing..... 5) A free copy of Davinci Resolve. Resolve has helped me get better looks with my color grading. It's not as snappy handling footage from other cameras but the color grading abilities of Resolve are excellent. A $1,000 value just for buying the camera. Cons 1) Big and bulky, the LCD screen doesn't rotate around completely; it definitely should. 2) 120FPS video is pretty soft at 800 ISO, unusable at 1600 ISO from what I've shot. 3) RAW and ProRes files are massive. I shot a talking head interview yesterday and burned through over 200GB's on an SSD shooting in UHD ProRes HQ. Prepare to have large amounts of storage. Blackmagic needs to make a 4K or 5K pocket camera with a similar sensor and better low light capabilities. It would sell even better than the 4.6K which has sold very well.

Jason F.

2016-10-27T22:42:14

This is an incredible camera. I was trying to get my hands on it since the beginning of the year and I finally start to have fun with it. If you are a videomaker or a filmmaker you will be very satisfied with the image quality you can get from it.

Jose M.

2016-10-14T11:28:05

Not only is this one of the best quality cameras I have used but BlackMagic's customer service support team is by far the best! You get a live person that picks up the phone instead of an operator. Even better, they are here in the states instead of another country that is hard to understand. The reason why I had contacted BlackMagic was for a few questions I had on the new Firmware 4.0 upgrade. Low and behold, they answered all my questions and even followed up with an email documenting our conversation. I will continue to purchase BlackMagic products moving forward.

Craig B.

2016-10-05T12:08:33

With the new software update from black magic this has become my favorite camera to use. It puts the the equipment I previously used to shame. Can't argue with the price either.

Micah J.

2016-09-19T21:50:03

Honestly, I was really hesitant about this camera. Not from the AMAZING footage it shot, but by the onslaught of negative reviews that suddenly popped up (in small places and small amounts). I've now owned it for a month and my jaw is constantly on the floor in amazement. It is a remarkable beast of an artistic machine. The images are insanely good. I have the new beta firmware in it, have zero magenta issues - and I could not be happier. To think that I can shoot a feature film on this camera for ($) and compete with Arri and Red camera is just awesome. Do yourself a favor and get one. Also, I might add that this is excellent in low light. It's not like a DSLR or Sony A7S, but that is because this is a FILM CAMERA. You need to have some light for sure, but you'd be surprised as to how little you actually need. I'm now officially BMD Ursa Mini 4.6K obsessed.

Tony S.

2016-09-14T02:52:21

The best camera I've ever owned! The quality of images from this camera are amazing! And it's so easy to use. If you're on a quick turnaround, shoot in one of the ProRes flavors. But if you want cinematic images rivaling cameras costing much more, then light your scene the way you want it, shoot in RAW, and bring the footage into DaVinci Resolve for grading. It's amazing what you can create with this camera and DeVinci Resolve. This is the perfect affordable camera to own. No need to rent cinema cameras. I can shoot high end footage any time, on my schedule. Highly Recommended!

Troy T.

2016-09-13T13:54:26

I was very hesitant to buy this camera because of all the issues people had been reporting. Upon getting the camera I installed the latest beta firmware, which gave the camera a much more professional interface. I began rigorous testing for all of the sensor issues that have been reported, and I was happy to find none of them. Instead what I found were beautiful images that look almost ALEXA like in their movement (yes I have worked with ALEXA cameras). The moire and rolling shutter that were so pronounced on the older cameras Blackmagic made were not an issue to the point where production had to be altered. This review has four stars because when you shoot in low light the fixed pattern noise is REAL! Light your scenes well when shooting with this camera folks.

RICHARD C.

2016-06-20T20:17:05

Before I purchased the Ursa Mini 4.6, I bought the Sony FS5 because it seemed like Blackmagic was taking forever to release the ursa mini 4.6. I had the Sony FS5 for a few weeks and thought it was pretty good, but wasn't totally satisfied with the dynamic range and the noise coming out of the FS5 was unacceptable. After checking back every few days with Adorama, I was finally able to order the Ursa mini 4.6 when it was in stock and I was so happy I sent back the Sony FS5. The Ursa mini 4.6 has an amazing image that blows the Sony FS5 away. The colors and dynamic range are on another level and surprisingly it has much less noise than the FS5. The highlight rolloff is very good too and the image looks filmic. I have not had any issues with low light because I don't typically shoot in low light anyway and always have lighting with me. I have shot with iso 1600 and it's been fine with a very usable image. The magenta thing is so overblown it's really a non issue for me and honestly, I didn't notice until I shot at f16 which I never shoot at anyway. I just happened to forget my ND filter one day when I was testing the limits of the camera outside. The magenta was easily fixed in post and was not a problem at all. Overall, I am very happy with this purchase! It was worth the wait and once the new os is released this summer, it's going to be even better. You won't find a camera in this price range with better dynamic range or a better image. I never review anything, but with this purchase, I had to!

MATTHEW V.

2016-05-04T12:27:39

You need to to know what you're doing, but the images coming out of this thing stand up to cameras in the 30K range.

Steven T.