Pre-orders Open for Blackmagic’s New 8K Camera Designed for Apple Immersive Video at $30,000

Blackmagic Design has just unveiled the full specifications and details of their new URSA Cine Immersive camera. This cutting-edge device is designed specifically for capturing 8K VR180 footage, tailored for the Apple Immersive Video format. While pre-orders are now being accepted at a price point of $30,000, eager customers can expect shipments to begin in the first quarter of 2025. Additionally, Blackmagic is preparing an update for DaVinci Resolve Studio, which will introduce new editing tools designed to support Apple Immersive Video, including calibration data integration directly from the camera.

For those unfamiliar, Apple Immersive Video is a 180-degree 3D video format optimized for viewing on the Apple Vision Pro. It’s likely that the initial models of Blackmagic’s URSA Cine Immersive were used to produce the immersive content that’s currently available on the headset. Now, this impressive camera is being offered to the public, with a price tag that, while steep, falls in line with other premium cinema cameras on the market.

The URSA Cine Immersive is engineered specifically for capturing immersive experiences with its dual 180-degree stereo lenses. Each lens captures a stunning 59MP image, which translates to a resolution of 8,160 x 7,200 pixels, paired with 16 stops of dynamic range. The camera is capable of shooting up to 90 FPS in Blackmagic RAW format, embedding unique calibration data that’s crucial for producing high-quality, stable footage during the editing process.

The upcoming update to DaVinci Resolve Studio will introduce features that are tailor-made for processing footage captured by this new camera. These features include:

– Immersive Video Viewer: This allows users to pan, tilt, and roll clips either on 2D monitors or directly within the Apple Vision Pro interface.
– Seamless Transitions: It offers a way to create clean master files using metadata-based transitions that are optimized for Apple Vision Pro.
– Export Presets: These presets simplify the delivery process for packages ready to be played on Apple Vision Pro devices.

The collaboration between Blackmagic and Apple aims to simplify the workflow for filmmakers, encouraging the production of content in the Apple Immersive Video format. What’s still uncertain, however, is whether the camera and its associated editing tools will be equally adept at capturing VR180 footage for playback on other platforms or headsets. There may be unique aspects to the Apple Immersive Video format that could complicate multi-platform compatibility and releases.