“Bear” is a fitting name for the beast that is Blackmagic Design’s Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K G2, the company’s flagship cinema camera. But it’s a well-trained bear. Where other such machines appear terrifying in their complexity, the Ursa is docile. I’ve never been so dumbfounded by how easy a camera makes professional-caliber shots. It feels like cheating, really. Turn it on, point it at something, press record, and out comes a shot ready for the big screen. If you know how to use a DSLR, you can figure out the Ursa in minutes. Well, OK, it takes a little more work than that. You have to first decide which record button to press — there are, like, four of them. But once you’ve settled on your favorite, there’s nothing else in the way of living out your directorial dreams. From a technical standpoint, anyway. Despite my techno-lust, the Ursa remains out of my league — and yet, not outlandishly beyond my budget. At a fiver under $6,000, I won’t be buying one anytime soon, but it’s a heck of a ...
Blackmagic RAW codec; 120 fps 4.6K; Approachable user interface; Built-in ND filters;
Awkward iris dial placement; Some nickel-and-diming for accessories;