Blackmagic
URSA Mini Pro 12K
12K Super 35 cinema camera with interchangeable PL mount and BRAW recording.
$9,995
Released Jul 2020
Sony
Alpha 7 IV
33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.
$2,499
Released Oct 2021
Alpha 7 IV is 1.3 years newer.
Wins
URSA Mini Pro 12K
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
6 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 IV has lower AF low-light limit (-4 EV vs 0 EV)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 0)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF frame coverage (94 % vs 0 %)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher RAW buffer depth (828 frames vs 200 frames)
- AURSA Mini Pro 12K has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 10 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)
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
URSA Mini Pro 12K is 7mm wider, 2mm taller, and 8mm thicker than Alpha 7 IV.
URSA Mini Pro 12K is 138 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 88mm URSA Mini Pro 12K · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Sensor size, to scale
URSA Mini Pro 12K
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
Alpha 7 IV
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
Alpha 7 IV
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
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
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138, 98, 88
Burst (electronic)
30 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Resolution
80 MP vs 33 MP — higher is better
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only URSA Mini Pro 12K supports it
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 60 fps — higher is better
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B
EVF resolution
5,760,000 vs 3,686,400 — higher is better
Codecs
Adds ProRes
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 IV
AF low-light limit
-4 EV vs 0 EV — lower is better
AF points / zones
759 vs 0 — higher is better
AF frame coverage
94 % vs 0 % — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8
RAW buffer depth
828 frames vs 200 frames — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
AA filter
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
Subject recognition
Adds Insect, Car/Train, Airplane
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 51,200
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Max video bit rate — Both 600 Mbps
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
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
Alpha 7 IV
Pros
- ✓33MP — more detail for cropping and print
- ✓10-bit 4K 60p (Super35 crop) / 4K 30p full-frame
- ✓Full-size HDMI port
- ✓759 phase-detect AF points
Cons
- –4K 60p requires Super35 crop
- –10fps burst lags behind R6 II at 40fps
- –Complex menu system
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, URSA Mini Pro 12K or Alpha 7 IV?
URSA Mini Pro 12K scores 9.5/10 versus 7.5/10 for Alpha 7 IV — 8K recording for future-proof footage.
What's the resolution difference between the URSA Mini Pro 12K and Alpha 7 IV?
URSA Mini Pro 12K is 80 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the URSA Mini Pro 12K captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the URSA Mini Pro 12K and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
URSA Mini Pro 12K has 8-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the URSA Mini Pro 12K or the Alpha 7 IV?
URSA Mini Pro 12K reaches 30 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the URSA Mini Pro 12K and Alpha 7 IV?
URSA Mini Pro 12K weighs 520 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the URSA Mini Pro 12K is 138 g lighter.
Do the URSA Mini Pro 12K and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
URSA Mini Pro 12K: 8K / 6K (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the URSA Mini Pro 12K and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
URSA Mini Pro 12K: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 520 shots (CIPA) for the URSA Mini Pro 12K and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the Alpha 7 IV the edge.
How much does each cost?
URSA Mini Pro 12K launched at $9,995 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The Alpha 7 IV is $7,496 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Blackmagic and Sony press materials.