My Ursa Mini 4K Review including preamp/mic tests

http://bitly.com/ursamini4kreview

Thought i'd post it here also since some people aren't over at bmcuser. I'll put up another one with a comparison against the BMCC. I already shot the footage for that but this one took a bit more time than I thought.
Some stills from it:

Lots of work here, Note; much appreciated. Looking forward to the next instalments.


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Indeed. One could say this is very....NOTE-worthy.

P.S. if you start a blog, that would be a great name for it.

Lots of work here, Note; much appreciated. Looking forward to the next instalments.


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Thank you Rick.

Indeed. One could say this is very....NOTE-worthy.

P.S. if you start a blog, that would be a great name for it.

I probably will in the next year
And yes I'll use that name

I've UPDATED the review. There are 2 technical issues the camera has.

Thanks Note. Always appreciate your reviews.

Hi,

Really thank you for this. Please notify us when comparison between BMCC and Mini 4k will be up. I have the BMCC but I am in the market for Mini 4k, but I dont know if is a good upgrade. If anybody else thinks I am wrong in any direction PLEASE correct me.

Thanks again,

have a nice day.

A Note about audio delay in monitoring that Note noticed. If you are monitoring the audio from the camera as it,is recorded (pre recorded signal) delay will be minimal, and not noticeable. But, if audio is monitored after it has been recorded (post recorded audio) then you will hear some delay, but this is the best way to monitor audio, so you know what has been recorded.

Used to be, you could switch between the two modes as needed, audio delay is a result of analog sound being sampled and converted to a digital signal, this process takes a few ms to do, and will create a 1-2 frame delay, which the camera corrects to sync the audio and video back together. If the delay causes the audio to be out of sync with the video, then you do have a real problem. But the monitored audio and video display,should be in sync.

Best way to eliminate the echo between real time sound and the recorded audio, is good headphones with sound blocking muffs around your ears, this is what the sound recordist usually wears, for this very reason, to kill ambient sound and any echo, so he can hear the "Recoorded" audio accuractely.

Hi,

Really thank you for this. Please notify us when comparison between BMCC and Mini 4k will be up. I have the BMCC but I am in the market for Mini 4k, but I dont know if is a good upgrade. If anybody else thinks I am wrong in any direction PLEASE correct me.

Thanks again,

have a nice day.

I have an URSA Mini 4K coming in tomorrow. I currently have a BMPCC and BMCC and I am going to sell my BMCC. I just don't find a big enough difference in color/IQ between the BMPCC and BMCC and I don't need 3 cameras for my type of work.

In many ways, the mini 4K will be an upgrade to the BMCC depending on your type of shooting. For most shooting, the improved audio (pre's and inputs), improved ergonomics, and more frame rates make it a good upgrade IF you don't mind taking that one-stop hit on DR and different color science. Obviously, a truer upgrade would be to the 4.6K (budget allowing).

IQ/color science-wise, I don't think the Mini 4K is an upgrade, but rather a companion tool to the BMCC/BMPCC. There are BMPC4K vs BMCC videos out there that should help you make the judgement if it is an upgrade in IQ/color for your type of work.

Obviously opinions, like mine here, are just that; opinions. If you will be selling your BMCC for the UM4K, it might be wise to rent the UM4K for a day or two and do your own comparisons so that you can make the best decision based on your findings/tests. Sure rental fees will be an added cost, but it may save you $3-$4K on the UM4K+accessories if you decide it isn't the right camera for you.

Excellent advice, Tyler.


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Hi,

Really thank you for this. Please notify us when comparison between BMCC and Mini 4k will be up. I have the BMCC but I am in the market for Mini 4k, but I dont know if is a good upgrade. If anybody else thinks I am wrong in any direction PLEASE correct me.

Thanks again,

have a nice day.

I have an URSA Mini 4K coming in tomorrow. I currently have a BMPCC and BMCC and I am going to sell my BMCC. I just don't find a big enough difference in color/IQ between the BMPCC and BMCC and I don't need 3 cameras for my type of work.

In many ways, the mini 4K will be an upgrade to the BMCC depending on your type of shooting. For most shooting, the improved audio (pre's and inputs), improved ergonomics, and more frame rates make it a good upgrade IF you don't mind taking that one-stop hit on DR and different color science. Obviously, a truer upgrade would be to the 4.6K (budget allowing).

IQ/color science-wise, I don't think the Mini 4K is an upgrade, but rather a companion tool to the BMCC/BMPCC. There are BMPC4K vs BMCC videos out there that should help you make the judgement if it is an upgrade in IQ/color for your type of work.

Obviously opinions, like mine here, are just that; opinions. If you will be selling your BMCC for the UM4K, it might be wise to rent the UM4K for a day or two and do your own comparisons so that you can make the best decision based on your findings/tests. Sure rental fees will be an added cost, but it may save you $3-$4K on the UM4K+accessories if you decide it isn't the right camera for you.

Thanks for quick response. I mainly looked into Mini 4k for frame rates and bigger sensor and XLRs, but would love to keep DR. It will be best to rent the Mini.

Thank you again, truly good people on this forum.

A good review.

The shots included were great. I know the 4K Ursa Mini is playing second fiddle to the 4.6K, but that shouldn't really make anybody think it can't make some great looking images, it's still a very capable camera.

A good review.

The shots included were great. I know the 4K Ursa Mini is playing second fiddle to the 4.6K, but that shouldn't really make anybody think it can't make some great looking images, it's still a very capable camera.

definitely I agree and thank you very much.
I've updated/process of updating some of the images to make them a bit more to my liking.
New


vs old

I recognize that park... apparently we're nearly neighbors!

I recognize that park... apparently we're nearly neighbors!

Rakesh do you have a 645Z or am I thinking of somebody else in Seattle?

I had one, but I sold it because it was heavier and bulkier than my 4x5.

I recognize that park... apparently we're nearly neighbors!

Haha it seems we are. Long's 48HFP.

Here is footage I just uploaded. Will probably change music later but I'm in rush to finish something.

Thought i'd post it here also since some people aren't over at bmcuser. I'll put up another one with a comparison against the BMCC. I already shot the footage for that but this one took a bit more time than I thought.

Yeah, some dribbling monkeys over there. Have they cleaned that place out yet.

Gawd I love global shutter!

Agree: GS + HFR = Lust


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I finished writing the comparison between the 2.5k and 4K. There's a LOT of direct comparison images. But I'm going to wait till some footage (including gimbal is finished rendering).

Haha it seems we are. Long's 48HFP.

Yep

The 4K version gets touted as not being a "low-light" camera, however, there are many beautiful low-light shots that Note recorded, and they look really good ?!!

I finished writing the comparison between the 2.5k and 4K. There's a LOT of direct comparison images. But I'm going to wait till some footage (including gimbal is finished rendering).

Top is 2.5K and bottom is 4K I'm guessing?

I finished writing the comparison between the 2.5k and 4K. There's a LOT of direct comparison images. But I'm going to wait till some footage (including gimbal is finished rendering).

Top is 2.5K and bottom is 4K I'm guessing?

Both 4K on a Letus Helix.
The comparison images are direct (someone looks straight at the camera with different settings. Up very soon.

Cool, so it does well on a Helix. That's the main reason that I've been so much more keen on the MIni instead of on the Ursa.

Note, which Helix are you using: Jr or Sr ? Could you please do a demo / review video of URSA Mini & Letus Helix working together? It would a great help for many that are interested in using the Mini on a gimbal. Great shots from your test.

I'm guessing that it's a Helix rather than a Junior. It might be possible to get an Ursa Mini working on a Junior, but not with a wireless transmitter and follow focus, which are required if you're using a gimbal... unless you only shoot with super wide lenses outdoors and stopped way down...

Yep it's a Sr.
You'll need to get the Heavy Duty Plate to use larger batteries since the tight is fit (and you can't pan up though that's for me a very rare move). I used the standard plate.

I'm stabilizing the footage in post since 2 things happened, my monitor batteries (yep 2) died so I had to fly with the 5" monitor out (yes it does work) but the balance was a bit off and the configuration for the settings was for a rigged bmcc.

In essence I didn't plan on getting footage but due to the weather, got some. I'll post it with the new comparison very soon. There's import error in Premiere.