Blackmagic Design introduced the
Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2
in March of 2019, which was a signifi-
cant update from the original URSA
Mini Pro, which was announced two
years earlier, in March 2017.
Here’s a brief description of it from
Blackmagic Design's website: “The
URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 is a next-
generation digital film camera with
updated electronics and a high perfor-
mance 4.6K HDR image sensor for
shooting at up to 300 frames per sec-
ond. You get a Super 35mm 4.6K sensor
with 15 stops of dynamic range, built in
optical ND filters, interchangeable EF
lens mount that can be swapped for
optional PL, B4 or F mounts, Black-
magic RAW and ProRes recording to
dual CFast or dual SD cards, and an
innovative USB-C expansion port for
recording directly to external disks.
In addition, URSA Mini Pro 4.6K
G2 features a massive set of external
broadcast style controls, backlit status
display, foldout touchscreen monitor
and more!”
The UMP G2 includes additional
features as well, including a variety of
shooting resolutions, including 4.6K
(4608 x 2592), 4K DCI, UHD, 3K Ana-
morphic, 2K DCI and 1080; high-speed
frame rates, including Blackmagic
RAW (8:14.6K full—up to 120 fps);
UHD Windowed (up to 150 frames
per second) and HD Windowed (up to
300 fps). The camera also includes the
ability to shoot ProRes 422, up to HQ
codec. It has a built-in four-position
ND-filter wheel, with clear two-stop,
four-stop and six-stop ND filters. It
comes with autofocus (when using
compatible lenses, iris control, a 4-inch
LCD capacitive touchscreen, a highly
accurate time-code clock, an SDI 12G
output and dual XLR audio inputs).
Plus, on the main products page of
the website, the new model is described
as “three cameras in one” because, the
site says, it combines high-end digital
film quality with the features and con-
trols live broadcasters want. And just
below that, the website refers to the
camera as also being “ideal for any kind
of work from high-end feature films,
television shows and commercials, to
independent films, broadcast news, and
even studio and live production.”
After doing my research, I believed
that Blackmagic Design was position-
ing the UMP G2 as an all-around pro-
fessional digital camera. But that was
just an educated guess—to get a better
sense of this camera, I’d need to do two
more things: Do some hands-on tests
with the camera and look at pricing.Top: You can tell the URSA Mini Pro G2’s
interface was carefully designed. For
instance, controls are placed in convenient
locations for shoulder-mounted shooting.Bottom: The UMP G2 features 12G SDI input
and output as well as TC input, perfect for
multiple-camera shoots. digitalphotopro.com January/February 2020 | 51