Blackmagic’s New 8K Camera for Apple Immersive Video is Pre-ordering Now for $30,000

Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive Camera Revealed for Apple Immersive Video

Blackmagic Design has unveiled the full specifications and details for its new URSA Cine Immersive camera, specifically designed to capture 8K VR180 footage for the Apple Immersive Video format. Pre-orders for the $30,000 camera are now open, with shipping scheduled for the first quarter of 2025. A forthcoming update to DaVinci Resolve Studio, also developed by Blackmagic, will introduce editing tools tailored for Apple Immersive Video, including support for calibration data from the camera.

Apple Immersive Video is a 180° 3D video format intended for viewing on Apple Vision Pro. It is likely that early versions of Blackmagic’s URSA Cine Immersive cameras were used to film the Apple Immersive Video content currently available on the headset.

The URSA Cine Immersive is specifically designed to capture Apple Immersive Video, featuring a pair of 180° stereo lenses that capture 59MP (8,160 x 7,200) each, with 16 stops of dynamic range. The camera can record up to 90 FPS in the Blackmagic RAW format, embedding calibration data unique to each camera for more precise and stable footage during the editing process.

The upcoming update to DaVinci Resolve Studio will include features tailored for editing footage from the URSA Cine Immersive camera:

• Immersive Video Viewer: Allows for panning, tilting, and rolling of clips on 2D monitors or directly on the Apple Vision Pro
• Seamless Transitions: Enables clean master files using metadata-based bypass for Apple Vision Pro transitions
• Export Presets: Facilitates streamlined delivery of Apple Vision Pro-ready packages

Blackmagic and Apple aim for the release of the camera and enhanced editing workflow to simplify the process for filmmakers to capture and release content in the Apple Immersive Video format. It remains uncertain whether the camera and editing software will be equally effective for capturing VR180 footage for playback on other platforms and headsets, or if there are proprietary elements of the Apple Immersive Video format that could hinder compatibility and multi-platform releases.