Blackmagic PYXIS 12K Camera: A Deep Dive into its Revolutionary Features

Blackmagic Design's PYXIS 12K camera is making waves in the cinema tech world. The camera, which shares its body design with the PYXIS 6K, boasts a full-frame 12K RGBW sensor derived from the URSA Cine 12K, priced at $6,595.

Key Highlights of the PYXIS 12K:

• RGBW Sensor Technology: The PYXIS 12K utilizes an RGBW sensor, enabling uncropped internal Blackmagic RAW video recording across resolutions from 12K to 4K. This design ensures complete sensor readout, delivering more detailed 4K images compared to traditional line-skipping methods found in Bayer sensors.
• Versatile Recording Options: The camera supports various resolutions and frame rates, with options to exclude sections of the sensor for even higher speeds, accommodating aspect ratios from open gate to 2.4:1.
• Readout Speed: While slightly reduced compared to the URSA Cine 12K due to processing and cooling differences, the PYXIS 12K still offers impressive readout speeds. It manages 24.12-15.34ms in 12K and 13.51-8.59ms in 8K and 4K, varying with aspect ratio.
• Design Considerations: The PYXIS 12K retains the original PYXIS 6K body, forgoing internal ND filters to maintain its form factor and cost-effectiveness. It includes an Optical Low-Pass Filter (OLPF) to minimize moiré and an IR cut filter optimized for the 12K sensor.
• Autofocus Development: Building on the autofocus capabilities introduced in the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K, Blackmagic Design aims to integrate continuous phase-detection AF into more cameras. Implementing this technology in the PYXIS 12K, which uses RGBW sensor, requires substantial engineering work.
• Power and Media: The camera consumes 60-80W, irrespective of the recording resolution, as it operates in 12K scan mode. It features dual CFexpress slots and a USB-C port for external SSD recording. High bitrates in the least-compressed 12K mode necessitate fast media to prevent dropped frames, with a built-in feature to halt recording if frames are dropped.
• Audio and Stabilization: The PYXIS 12K includes a single-channel audio input for scratch audio and a BNC timecode input. A built-in gyroscope records stabilization data directly into the footage metadata.

The Blackmagic PYXIS 12K is set to ship in July 2025, with pre-orders now available.