Blackmagic Unveils 8K Camera for Apple Immersive Video, Now Available for Pre-order at $30,000

Blackmagic Design has just rolled out the complete specifications for its latest creation, the URSA Cine Immersive camera, designed specifically for shooting 8K VR180 footage tailored to the Apple Immersive Video format. Starting now, eager filmmakers can place their pre-orders for this impressive $30,000 camera, with the first shipments expected in the first quarter of 2025. Additionally, an upcoming update for DaVinci Resolve Studio, another product from Blackmagic, promises new editing tools that cater to Apple Immersive Video, supporting the use of calibration data from the camera.

Apple Immersive Video is a unique 180° 3D video format developed for immersive experiences on the Apple Vision Pro. It’s widely believed that the prototype versions of Blackmagic’s URSA Cine Immersive have already been used to shoot some of the content available on the headset today.

With the camera now available for purchase, albeit at a hefty price tag of $30,000, it’s targeting the high-end cinema market, aligning with similar offerings in its class. The URSA Cine Immersive stands out with its dual 180° stereo lenses. It captures an impressive 59MP (8,160 x 7,200) per lens, and offers 16 stops of dynamic range. The camera supports shooting speeds of up to 90 FPS in Blackmagic RAW, embedding exclusive calibration data for each camera, which enhances precision and steadiness during the editing phase.

The eagerly anticipated update to DaVinci Resolve Studio’s editing software will introduce several new features specifically designed for working with footage captured by this camera:

• Immersive Video Viewer: This allows you to pan, tilt, and roll clips on traditional 2D displays or directly on the Apple Vision Pro.
• Seamless Transitions: Helps ensure clean master files by using metadata to manage Apple Vision Pro transitions.
• Export Presets: Simplifies the process of preparing content for the Apple Vision Pro, making it easier to deliver polished immersive videos.

Both Blackmagic and Apple are optimistic that the release of this camera, coupled with a more efficient editing process, will enable filmmakers to effortlessly produce and distribute content in the Apple Immersive Video format.

However, there remains a question mark over whether this camera and the editing suite will perform equally well in capturing VR180 content for other platforms or headsets. It’s yet to be seen if the Apple Immersive Video format includes proprietary elements that could limit compatibility across different platforms.