Blackmagic
URSA Mini Pro 12K
12K Super 35 cinema camera with interchangeable PL mount and BRAW recording.
$9,995
Released Jul 2020
Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Z9 is 1.3 years newer.
Wins
URSA Mini Pro 12K
Wins
Z9
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BZ9 has lower AF low-light limit (-8.5 EV vs 0 EV)
- BZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 0)
- AURSA Mini Pro 12K has higher Burst (mechanical) (12 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 200 frames)
- BZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 30 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
URSA Mini Pro 12K
138 × 98 × 88 mm
520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
URSA Mini Pro 12K is 11mm narrower, 52mm shorter, and 3mm thinner than Z9.
URSA Mini Pro 12K is 820 g lighter than Z9.
Depth (front-to-back): 88mm URSA Mini Pro 12K · 91mm Z9
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
URSA Mini Pro 12K
138 × 98 mm
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
URSA Mini Pro 12K
138 × 88 mm
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Sensor size, to scale
URSA Mini Pro 12K
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
URSA Mini Pro 12K: mount data unavailable
Z9
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
URSA Mini Pro 12K
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Burst (mechanical)
12 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264, ProRes
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138, 98, 88
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B, SD UHS-II
Weight
520 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Resolution
80 MP vs 45.7 MP — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs 0 EV — lower is better
AF points / zones
493 vs 0 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 200 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 120 fps
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
URSA Mini Pro 12K
Pros
- ✓12K BRAW
- ✓Pro cinema workflow
- ✓Interchangeable mount
Cons
- –Very expensive
- –Huge files
- –Not handheld friendly
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, URSA Mini Pro 12K or Z9?
URSA Mini Pro 12K scores 10.0/10 versus 5.5/10 for Z9 — 30fps burst captures fleeting moments.
What's the resolution difference between the URSA Mini Pro 12K and Z9?
URSA Mini Pro 12K is 80 MP and Z9 is 45.7 MP, so the URSA Mini Pro 12K captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the URSA Mini Pro 12K and Z9 have in-body image stabilization?
URSA Mini Pro 12K has 8-stop in-body image stabilization, while z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the URSA Mini Pro 12K or the Z9?
URSA Mini Pro 12K reaches 30 fps electronic. Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the URSA Mini Pro 12K and Z9?
URSA Mini Pro 12K weighs 520 g and Z9 weighs 1340 g, so the URSA Mini Pro 12K is 820 g lighter.
Do the URSA Mini Pro 12K and Z9 record 4K video?
URSA Mini Pro 12K: 8K / 6K (max), 4K up to 120p. Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the URSA Mini Pro 12K and Z9 weather sealed?
URSA Mini Pro 12K: Yes. Z9: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 520 shots (CIPA) for the URSA Mini Pro 12K and 740 shots for the Z9, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
URSA Mini Pro 12K launched at $9,995 and Z9 at $5,899. The Z9 is $4,096 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Blackmagic and Nikon press materials.