Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive Camera Debuts at SXSW 2025

The Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera is a sight to behold in person. Nestled into the middle of the Austin Convention Center in the downtown hub of the SXSW Conference and Festivals, Blackmagic Design’s booth featured an array of the latest and greatest Blackmagic cameras.Along with the likes of the URSA Cine 12K and the Pocket Cinema 6K Pro, a very similar-looking camera body with some peculiar dual lenses stands out. With the same body as the URSA Cine cameras, the URSA Cine Immersive fits right in—except for how it doesn’t.Blackmagic Design was on hand to show off the new URSA Cine Immersive as well as give some insights into how immersive video is future tech that’s already here today. First Look at the Blackmagic URSA Cine ImmersiveSo, putting your hands on the URSA Cine Immersive for the first time really drives home how similar the camera is to the rest of the Blackmagic URSA Cine—and Blackmagic cameras in general—lineup. It doesn’t stand out being too much bigger, although the dual custom lenses for shooting Apple Immersive Video for the Apple Vision Pro protrude enough for you to certainly notice them.It’s really the 180-degree video that the URSA Cine Immersive produces that makes the camera unique. Previewing its display to a monitor nearby, you can obviously tell that you’re dealing with a different beast than the other cinema and broadcast cameras nearby.Packed with dual 8160 x 7200 58.7MP sensors capable of capturing immersive 8K images at up to 90 fps and with a versatile 16 stops of dynamic range, the URSA Cine Immersive feels like its raring to go with its full range of connectivity options, including 12G-SDI, 10G Ethernet, USB-C, and XLR for high-quality audio capture.Up Close ImmersionPutting your hands on the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive is a nice and familiar feeling. Honestly, this is what Blackmagic is obviously going for here. Unlike other 180-degree cameras (or 360-degree cameras, which this isn’t) or the put-together bespoke cameras capable of high-end immersive video recording, the URSA Cine Immersive is just another BMD camera.If you’ve shot on Pocket Cinema 4Ks or 6Ks in the past, or any URSA cameras, or even just use the Blackmagic Camera app for iPhones or Androids, you’ll probably know your way around the URSA Cine Immersive a lot more than you’d think.The fold-out 5" touchscreen monitor with HDR support is there for you to check your footage (or take selfies of the format for fun), and the set of antennas is included for high-speed Wi-Fi capability or quick transfer to DaVinci Resolve. What to Expect with the URSA Cine ImmersiveUltimately, the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera is quite impressive and a sight to behold, but it will be defined by what it creates—immersive video. While the Apple Vision Pro had quite a buzz when first released, its sales have slowed, and its cultural impact hasn’t been iPhone-level by any means.But it also hasn’t gone away. Immersive video might be early, but it’s certainly not wrong, as the technology is undoubtedly going to evolve. Much of the conversation with the Blackmagic Design team centered on how immersive video, and specifically narrative immersive video, is on the way.If you’re a filmmaker who’s at all interested in understanding this technology and exploring the immersive video format, there are obviously some cheap and easy ways to get started. However, to upgrade to cinema-level capture for 180-degree video, you’re going to need to either go with bespoke options with lots of variables, or you’re going to need to look into renting a camera that’s part of a familiar and trusted ecosystem and ready to go.We’ll find out more about the URSA Cine Immersive at NAB this year when Blackmagic expects to show off its full workflow for filmmakers and video pros. Until then, it’s an exciting new camera that represents an exciting new technology that will most likely be here sooner than you’d think.

Mar 12, 2025 - 18:30

Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive Camera Debuts at SXSW 2025

The Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera is a sight to behold in person. Nestled into the middle of the Austin Convention Center in the downtown hub of the SXSW Conference and Festivals, Blackmagic Design’s booth featured an array of the latest and greatest Blackmagic cameras.

Along with the likes of the URSA Cine 12K and the Pocket Cinema 6K Pro, a very similar-looking camera body with some peculiar dual lenses stands out. With the same body as the URSA Cine cameras, the URSA Cine Immersive fits right in—except for how it doesn’t.

Blackmagic Design was on hand to show off the new URSA Cine Immersive as well as give some insights into how immersive video is future tech that’s already here today.

First Look at the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive

So, putting your hands on the URSA Cine Immersive for the first time really drives home how similar the camera is to the rest of the Blackmagic URSA Cine—and Blackmagic cameras in general—lineup. It doesn’t stand out being too much bigger, although the dual custom lenses for shooting Apple Immersive Video for the Apple Vision Pro protrude enough for you to certainly notice them.

It’s really the 180-degree video that the URSA Cine Immersive produces that makes the camera unique. Previewing its display to a monitor nearby, you can obviously tell that you’re dealing with a different beast than the other cinema and broadcast cameras nearby.

Packed with dual 8160 x 7200 58.7MP sensors capable of capturing immersive 8K images at up to 90 fps and with a versatile 16 stops of dynamic range, the URSA Cine Immersive feels like its raring to go with its full range of connectivity options, including 12G-SDI, 10G Ethernet, USB-C, and XLR for high-quality audio capture.

Up Close Immersion

Putting your hands on the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive is a nice and familiar feeling. Honestly, this is what Blackmagic is obviously going for here. Unlike other 180-degree cameras (or 360-degree cameras, which this isn’t) or the put-together bespoke cameras capable of high-end immersive video recording, the URSA Cine Immersive is just another BMD camera.

If you’ve shot on Pocket Cinema 4Ks or 6Ks in the past, or any URSA cameras, or even just use the Blackmagic Camera app for iPhones or Androids, you’ll probably know your way around the URSA Cine Immersive a lot more than you’d think.

The fold-out 5" touchscreen monitor with HDR support is there for you to check your footage (or take selfies of the format for fun), and the set of antennas is included for high-speed Wi-Fi capability or quick transfer to DaVinci Resolve.

What to Expect with the URSA Cine Immersive

Ultimately, the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera is quite impressive and a sight to behold, but it will be defined by what it creates—immersive video. While the Apple Vision Pro had quite a buzz when first released, its sales have slowed, and its cultural impact hasn’t been iPhone-level by any means.

But it also hasn’t gone away. Immersive video might be early, but it’s certainly not wrong, as the technology is undoubtedly going to evolve. Much of the conversation with the Blackmagic Design team centered on how immersive video, and specifically narrative immersive video, is on the way.

If you’re a filmmaker who’s at all interested in understanding this technology and exploring the immersive video format, there are obviously some cheap and easy ways to get started. However, to upgrade to cinema-level capture for 180-degree video, you’re going to need to either go with bespoke options with lots of variables, or you’re going to need to look into renting a camera that’s part of a familiar and trusted ecosystem and ready to go.

We’ll find out more about the URSA Cine Immersive at NAB this year when Blackmagic expects to show off its full workflow for filmmakers and video pros. Until then, it’s an exciting new camera that represents an exciting new technology that will most likely be here sooner than you’d think.