Blackmagic Design PYXIS 12K

The Blackmagic PYXIS 12K puts the full-frame 12K RGBW sensor of the URSA Cine 12K LF into a compact box body. It is designed as the core of a rig rather than a handheld camera, and our set comes rigged accordingly: cage, V-mount plate, PYXIS monitor and PL adapters are included. Use it for commercials, music videos, narrative and documentary work when you want maximum resolution and plenty of room to reframe or stabilize in post.

Sensor and image

The sensor records 12,288 x 8040 pixels with 16 stops of dynamic range, with a single native ISO of 800. Thanks to its RGBW design, 8K and 4K are also captured from the full sensor area instead of a crop, so your full-frame lenses keep their field of view at every resolution. For Super 35 lenses there is a 9K Super 35 mode, and a 6:5 mode is available for anamorphic lenses.

Recording and workflow

The PYXIS records Blackmagic RAW only, either at a constant bitrate (3:1 to 18:1) or at constant quality (Q0 to Q5), to two CFexpress Type B slots or directly to an external SSD via USB-C. There is no ProRes, so plan your post in DaVinci Resolve or other software that reads Blackmagic RAW. An H.264 proxy in 1080p is recorded alongside, which is handy for quick edits and can be uploaded to Blackmagic Cloud via Ethernet or a phone connected over USB-C. Pre-record captures 5 seconds to 10 minutes of footage before you hit record. The camera also stores gyro data, which DaVinci Resolve can use to stabilize handheld shots.

Frame rates

• 12K open gate 3:2 up to 40 fps, 2.4:1 up to 60 fps
• 9K Super 35 3:2 up to 50 fps, 2.4:1 up to 80 fps
• 8K and 4K open gate 3:2 up to 72 fps, 17:9 up to 90 fps, 2.4:1 up to 112 fps

Good to know: the sensor reads out in about 24 ms in 12K open gate and about 13.5 ms in 8K or 4K open gate. For fast pans and action, 8K or 4K shows less rolling shutter. In very quiet rooms the fan can be audible.

Our rental package

The camera sits in a Kondor Blue cage with two Nitze rod mounts and a Tilta PD V-mount plate, so you can power it from V-mount batteries for a full day. The 5" PYXIS monitor with 1500 nits and a foldable sun hood mounts on the articulating arm and connects with a single USB-C cable for picture, power and control. Three assignable buttons give you quick access to camera functions. The camera has an L-mount. For PL lenses you can choose between the DZOFILM PL adapter and the MOFAGE POCO drop-in filter adapter, which takes the included variable ND filter (0.3 to 2.4) or the clear filter. With the ND, you can shoot wide open outdoors. The original AC adapter powers the camera in the studio. With PL lenses, focus is manual anyway.

Power and connections

The body weighs about 1.6 kg and takes Sony BP-U batteries directly, or 12 to 18 V via a locking 2-pin connector. For monitors and wireless video there is a 12G-SDI output up to 2160p60. Timecode and reference inputs help on multicam shoots, and for sound you have a mini XLR input with phantom power, a 3.5 mm stereo input and a headphone jack. A 10G Ethernet port is available for fast offloading and camera control.

In the Case

• PYXIS monitor (incl. foldable sun hood)
• 30cm USB-C cable
• Kondor Blue cage system (8 parts, 20x screw)
• Tilta PD V-Mount plate (2 parts, 3x thumb screw)
• 2x Nitze rod mount
• MOFAGE POCO drop-in filter adapter sandard kit PL Mount (incl. front cap)
• MOFAGE variable ND filter (0.3 - 2.4)
• MOFAGE clear filter
• Transparent filter case
• DZOFILM PL mount adapter (incl. front cap, rear cap)
• 1x magic arm
• Original ac adapter
• Original sensor cap
• Hard case

Don't forget to book V-mount batteries, CFexpress Type B cards and PL lenses.