Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K recording time and file size
How much fits on each card, for all 32 recording modes Blackmagic Design publishes. Bitrates checked November 11, 2026.
Ask about the Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K
Key facts
- Recording media
- CFexpress Type B / USB-C disk
- Published recording modes
- 32 normal
- Highest bitrate
- 2,960 Mbps: Blackmagic RAW 3:1 at 30p (RAW)
- Lightest 4K mode
- 280 Mbps: Blackmagic RAW 12:1 at 30p (RAW)
- Card for the top mode
- CFexpress
- 128 GB card at 4K 30p
- 41 min in Blackmagic RAW 12:1 at 30p (RAW, 392 Mbps)
- Top frame rate (normal video)
- 30p at 6K, 6K, 6K, DCI 4K, DCI 4K, DCI 4K, 2K and 1080p
- Slow motion (in camera)
- Not published by Blackmagic Design
Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K
"4K 30p" means the highest-bitrate 4K UHD mode at 29.97p or 30p that a V30 card can record (240 Mbps or less). If there is no 30p, we use 25p, then 24p.
Quick answer
A 128 GB card holds about 41 min of Blackmagic RAW 12:1 at 30p (RAW, 392 Mbps) on the Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K. The heaviest mode, Blackmagic RAW 3:1 at 30p (RAW, 2,960 Mbps), uses 1,332 GB per hour, so the same card lasts 5 min. The lightest 4K mode (280 Mbps) fits 57 min.
Open the Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K in the calculatorSet your shoot length, number of cameras and upload speed to see total storage and cards needed.
Recording time by mode
Every normal recording mode Blackmagic Design lists, grouped by resolution and frame rate. Times are continuous recording on one card.
| Format | Color | BitrateMbps | Per hourGB | 64 GBcard | 128 GBcard | 256 GBcard | 512 GBcard | Card speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6K 6048x4032 | ||||||||
| 30p | ||||||||
| Blackmagic RAW 3:1 | RAW | 2,960 | 1,332 | 2m | 5m | 10m | 21m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 5:1 | RAW | 1,784 | 803 | 4m | 9m | 18m | 36m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 8:1 | RAW | 1,120 | 504 | 7m | 14m | 28m | 57m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 12:1 | RAW | 752 | 338 | 10m | 21m | 43m | 1h 26m | CFexpress |
| 6K 6048x3200 | ||||||||
| 30p | ||||||||
| Blackmagic RAW 3:1 | RAW | 2,360 | 1,062 | 3m | 6m | 13m | 27m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 5:1 | RAW | 1,416 | 637 | 5m | 11m | 22m | 45m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 8:1 | RAW | 888 | 400 | 9m | 18m | 36m | 1h 13m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 12:1 | RAW | 600 | 270 | 13m | 27m | 54m | 1h 48m | V90 |
| 6K 6048x2520 | ||||||||
| 30p | ||||||||
| Blackmagic RAW 3:1 | RAW | 1,864 | 839 | 4m | 8m | 17m | 34m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 5:1 | RAW | 1,120 | 504 | 7m | 14m | 28m | 57m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 8:1 | RAW | 704 | 317 | 11m | 23m | 46m | 1h 32m | V90 |
| Blackmagic RAW 12:1 | RAW | 472 | 212 | 17m | 34m | 1h 8m | 2h 17m | V60 |
| DCI 4K 4832x4032 | ||||||||
| 30p | ||||||||
| Blackmagic RAW 3:1 | RAW | 2,376 | 1,069 | 3m | 6m | 13m | 27m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 5:1 | RAW | 1,432 | 644 | 5m | 11m | 22m | 45m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 8:1 | RAW | 896 | 403 | 9m | 18m | 36m | 1h 12m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 12:1 | RAW | 600 | 270 | 13m | 27m | 54m | 1h 48m | V90 |
| DCI 4K 4096x3072 | ||||||||
| 30p | ||||||||
| Blackmagic RAW 3:1 | RAW | 1,536 | 691 | 5m | 10m | 21m | 42m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 5:1 | RAW | 928 | 418 | 8m | 17m | 34m | 1h 9m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 8:1 | RAW | 584 | 263 | 13m | 27m | 55m | 1h 51m | V90 |
| Blackmagic RAW 12:14K 30p pick | RAW | 392 | 176 | 20m | 41m | 1h 22m | 2h 45m | V60 |
| DCI 4K 4096x2160 | ||||||||
| 30p | ||||||||
| Blackmagic RAW 3:1 | RAW | 1,088 | 490 | 7m | 14m | 29m | 59m | CFexpress |
| Blackmagic RAW 5:1 | RAW | 656 | 295 | 12m | 24m | 49m | 1h 38m | V90 |
| Blackmagic RAW 8:1 | RAW | 416 | 187 | 19m | 38m | 1h 17m | 2h 35m | V60 |
| Blackmagic RAW 12:1 | RAW | 280 | 126 | 28m | 57m | 1h 55m | 3h 51m | V60 |
| 2K 2112x1184 | ||||||||
| 30p | ||||||||
| Blackmagic RAW 3:1 | RAW | 320 | 144 | 25m | 50m | 1h 41m | 3h 22m | V60 |
| Blackmagic RAW 5:1 | RAW | 192 | 86.4 | 42m | 1h 24m | 2h 48m | 5h 37m | V30 |
| Blackmagic RAW 8:1 | RAW | 128 | 57.6 | 1h 3m | 2h 6m | 4h 13m | 8h 26m | V30 |
| Blackmagic RAW 12:1 | RAW | 88 | 39.6 | 1h 32m | 3h 4m | 6h 8m | 12h | V30 |
| 1080p 1920x1080 | ||||||||
| 30p | ||||||||
| Blackmagic RAW 3:1 | RAW | 264 | 119 | 30m | 1h 1m | 2h 2m | 4h 5m | V60 |
| Blackmagic RAW 5:1 | RAW | 160 | 72 | 50m | 1h 41m | 3h 22m | 6h 45m | V30 |
| Blackmagic RAW 8:1 | RAW | 104 | 46.8 | 1h 17m | 2h 35m | 5h 11m | 10h | V30 |
| Blackmagic RAW 12:1 | RAW | 72 | 32.4 | 1h 52m | 3h 45m | 7h 30m | 15h | V30 |
GB per hour = bitrate in Mbps x 0.45. Card times use 95% of the labelled size (formatting and file overhead). Card speed: V30 up to 240 Mbps, V60 up to 480, V90 up to 720, CFexpress above that. * Blackmagic Design's stated minimum for that format, which is stricter than the bitrate alone needs. Scroll the table sideways on a phone.
Memory cards
- Card types
- CFexpress Type B / USB-C disk
- Blackmagic Design's card requirements
- Not published by Blackmagic Design
Blackmagic Design's card requirements
Recommended cards for the Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K
Blackmagic Design's own or recommended cards first, then the most-reviewed cards on B&H for this camera's media. SD cards show how many of this camera's modes they can record; for other cards, compare the speed with the requirements above.
- CFexpress Type BLexar 512GB Professional DIAMOND CFexpress 4.0 Type BSpeed: CFexpress 4.0 Type B, VPG400 (3700 MB/s read / 3400 MB/s write)
- CFexpress Type BProGrade Digital 512GB CFexpress 4.0 Type B GoldSpeed: CFexpress 4.0 Type B, VPG200 (3400 MB/s read, 850 MB/s minimum sustained write)
- USB-C SSDSamsung 1TB T7 Shield Portable SSD (Black)Speed: USB 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 1050 MB/s read / 1000 MB/s write)
We earn a commission if you buy through these store links, at no extra cost to you. It doesn't change which cards we list.
Slow motion
Not published by Blackmagic Design
Questions
How long does a 128 GB card last in the Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K?
From 5 min in its heaviest mode to 3 hr 45 min in its lightest. In Blackmagic RAW 12:1 at 30p (RAW, 392 Mbps) it holds about 41 min. Times use Blackmagic Design's published bitrates and 95% of the card's labelled size.
What memory card does the Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K need?
It records to CFexpress Type B / USB-C disk. For its top mode (2,960 Mbps) you need CFexpress. Lighter modes work with slower cards; the table on this page lists the card speed for every mode.
How much storage does an hour of 4K take on the Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K?
Between 126 GB and 691 GB per hour, depending on the format and bitrate. Blackmagic RAW 12:1 at 30p (RAW, 392 Mbps) uses 176 GB per hour.
Can the Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K record slow motion in camera?
Blackmagic Design does not publish an in-camera slow-motion mode for the Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 6K.
Sources
- Bitrates and card requirements
- blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagiccinemacamera/techspecs
documents.blackmagicdesign.com/UserManuals/BlackmagicCinemaCamera6KManual.pdf - Checked
- November 11, 2026
- How we calculate
- GB per hour = Mbps x 0.45. Card time = 95% of the card size / GB per hour. Real files can differ by a few percent (audio track, file overhead, card format).
Spotted a wrong number? Tell us and we'll check it against Blackmagic Design's documents.