Blackmagic Unveils URSA Cine Immersive Camera for Apple Immersive Video

Blackmagic Design has officially announced the full specifications and details of its new URSA Cine Immersive camera, a groundbreaking tool designed to shoot 8K VR180 footage tailored for Apple’s Immersive Video format. Pre-orders for the camera are now open, with a price tag of $30,000, and shipping is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025.

The URSA Cine Immersive is engineered specifically for Apple’s Vision Pro headset, which supports the Apple Immersive Video format. Early iterations of this camera were likely used to produce the Immersive Video content currently available on the Vision Pro, and now the technology is commercially available for professional filmmakers.

Designed with stereo 180° lenses, the camera captures two simultaneous 59MP images at a resolution of 8,160 x 7,200. With 16 stops of dynamic range, it delivers high-quality footage suitable for immersive 3D video. It supports frame rates of up to 90 FPS and records in Blackmagic RAW format. Notably, the footage includes embedded calibration data unique to each camera, streamlining the editing process and ensuring precision and stability.

To accompany the new hardware, Blackmagic Design will release a significant update to DaVinci Resolve Studio, its professional video editing software. The update introduces tools specifically designed for Apple Immersive Video workflows:

• Immersive Video Viewer: Allows filmmakers to pan, tilt, and roll clips on standard 2D monitors or directly within Apple Vision Pro.
• Seamless Transitions: Enables cleaner master files using metadata-based bypasses for Apple Vision Pro transitions.
• Export Presets: Simplifies the process of delivering content in Vision Pro-ready formats.

The collaboration between Blackmagic and Apple aims to lower the barriers for filmmakers looking to create content in the Apple Immersive Video format, offering a streamlined workflow from production to editing and delivery.

While the camera’s compatibility with other VR180 platforms and headsets remains uncertain, its proprietary design may limit straightforward multi-platform releases. Nonetheless, the URSA Cine Immersive represents a major step forward in the production of high-fidelity immersive video content.

With a $30,000 price tag, the camera aligns with other high-end cinema tools, targeting professional filmmakers seeking to pioneer immersive storytelling for Apple’s ecosystem.