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Is the Blackmagic PYXIS Worth the Investment in 2025?

Blackmagic's PYXIS Cinema Camera is known for its great footage and low price point. But is it still worth its price?

Jourdan Aldredge • Mar 17, 2025

There are few cinema cameras that are more affordable than the Blackmagic PYXIS.

While there are plenty of great cinema camera options from Sony, Canon, and others that might be comparable, it’s rare to find many high-quality cinema cameras that are cheaper than many of the higher-end mirrorless cameras these days.

Yet, brands like Blackmagic Design consistently find ways to break the mold and provide very capable cinema cameras, such as the PYXIS 6K, for solo videographers and small production crews.

Let’s look at the Blackmagic PYXIS 6K and explore what it has to offer for you and your filmmaking needs.

The Blackmagic PYXIS 6K Cinema Box Camera

While it won’t rival an ARRI ALEXA 35 or a Sony VENICE, the PYXIS 6K is a very capable box-style cinema camera that complements all the other great cameras in Blackmagic Design’s ecosystem.

The PYXIS sits nicely above the Pocket Cinema Cameras Blackmagic is known for, but it’s also a nice stepping stone well below the Blackmagic URSA Cine line, which now includes 12K footage and a $17,000 starting price point.

PYXIS’ chief calling card is its ability to capture rich colors and enhance skin tones. The PYXIS also boasts a wand with a 13-stop dynamic range and an expanded 36-second recording that allows for recording both Blackmagic RAW and H.265 proxy files directly to the cloud.

High-End Footage on a Budget

Ideal for small production teams or solo videographers who know their way around a cinema camera rig but perhaps don’t want to make the extra investment in the top-of-the-line cameras, the PYXIS could be a nice fit for the right team.

With the capability to film up to 6K Open Gate 3:2 video at 36 fps or 6K Anamorphic 6:5 video at 60 fps, among other selectable resolutions, you’ll be hard-set trying to find more bang for your buck with recording specs.

Footage should look great, too, with the PYXIS equipped with a massive 24 x 36mm full-frame sensor with a native 6048 x 4032 resolution, making it 3x larger than a Super 35 sensor. This should allow shooters to film with a shallow depth of field or use anamorphic lenses without cropping for a truly cinematic look.

Should You Invest in the Blackmagic PYXIS

The biggest criticisms of the PYXIS mostly concern the aspects that make it unique. It’s not quite a pick-up-and-shoot camera with its box-style design. However, it’s not quite as capable and modular as its higher-end cinema counterparts.

Yet, if you’d like to invest less than $3,000 in what seems like a perfectly capable high-end cinema camera that will look great and help you learn to handle high-end cinema production work and projects, the PYXIS would be worth your consideration.

Check it out yourself, though. Here are the full specs and purchase options.

  • Full-Frame 6K Sensor

  • Up to 6K36 fps Open Gate / 6K Anamorphic

  • 13-Stop Dynamic Range, Dual-Native ISO

  • Canon EF Lens Mount

  • 4" HDR LCD Touchscreen

  • Records Blackmagic RAW and H.264 Proxies

  • Built-in streaming via Ethernet or 4G/5G

  • Switchable Side Plates, Mounting Threads

  • Two CFexpress Card Slots, USB-C Port

  • Ethernet and 12G-SDI Ports

Price: $2,995

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