Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive will capture Apple Vision Pro content with two 8K image sensors

The forthcoming Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive is the first commercial camera system designed to capture Apple Immersive Video.

As part of last night’s WWDC 2024, Apple announced that its Apple Vision Pro headset will be available in eight more countries by mid July, dramatically expanding the market for the device. One of the keys to any eventual success it might have after what has to be admitted to be a slow start is probably going to be Apple Immersive Video, its new storytelling format that leverages 8K, 3D video with a 180-degree field of view, and Spatial Audio.

Which brings us to the astonishing looking Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive. Blackmagic Design is first out of the gate with a new camera and workflow to support all this. Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive and a new version of DaVinci Resolve that supports Apple Immersive Video for Apple Vision Pro will be released later this year for an as yet unspecified price.

Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive Features

• Dual custom lens system for shooting Apple Immersive Video for Apple Vision Pro.
• 8K stereoscopic 3D immersive image capture.
• 8160 x 7200 resolution per eye with pixel level synchronization.
• Massive 16 stops of dynamic range.
• Lightweight, robust camera body with industry standard connections.
• Generation 5 Color Science with new film curve.
• Dual 90 fps capture to a single Blackmagic RAW file.
• Includes high performance Blackmagic Media Module 8TB for recording.
• High speed Wi-Fi, 10G Ethernet or mobile data for network connections.
• Optional Blackmagic URSA Cine EVF.
• Includes DaVinci Resolve Studio for post production.
• DaVinci Resolve Immersive Features
• Support for monitoring on Apple Vision Pro from the DaVinci Resolve timeline.
• Ability to edit Blackmagic RAW Immersive video shot on Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive.
• Immersive video viewer for pan, tilt and roll.
• Automatic recognition of Apple Immersive Video (left and right eye) for dual file stereo immersive content.
• Option to bypass transitions rendered by Apple Vision Pro.
• Export and deliver native files for viewing on Apple Vision Pro.

The camera features a fixed, custom lens system pre-installed on the body, which is designed specifically for Apple Immersive Video. The sensor delivers 8160 x 7200 resolution per eye with pixel level synchronization and a whopping 16 stops of dynamic range, so cinematographers can shoot 90fps stereoscopic 3D immersive cinema content to a single file. The custom lens system is designed specifically for URSA Cine’s large format image sensor with extremely accurate positional data that’s read and stored at time of manufacturing. This immersive lens data — which is mapped, calibrated and stored per eye — then travels through post production in the Blackmagic RAW file itself.

The camera body is built with a robust magnesium alloy chassis and lightweight carbon fiber polycarbonate composite skin to help filmmakers move quickly on set. Customers also get 12G‑SDI out, 10G Ethernet, USB-C, XLR audio, and more. The fold out monitor has a large 5″ HDR touchscreen on one side and an external color status LCD on the other. The right side of the camera features a dedicated assist station with a second 5″ HDR touchscreen that allows crew to work around the camera without needing external monitors.

An 8-pin Lemo power connector at the back of the camera works with 24V and 12V power supplies. It also comes with a massive 250W power supply and B mount battery plate, so customers can use a wide range of high voltage batteries from manufacturers such as IDX, Blueshape, Core SWX, BEBOB, and more. Customers will also receive a top handle, antennas for high speed Wi-Fi, baseplate, 24V power supply and high voltage B mount battery plate for quick set up.

It features 8TB of high performance network storage built in, which records directly to the included Blackmagic Media Module, and can be synced to Blackmagic Cloud and DaVinci Resolve media bins in real time. This means customers can capture over 2 hours of Blackmagic RAW in 8K stereoscopic 3D immersive, and editors can work on shots from remote locations worldwide as the shoot is happening.

Blackmagic also says it's the first commercial, digital film camera with ultra fast high capability Cloud Store technology built in. The high speed storage lets customers record at the highest resolutions and frame rates for hours and access their files directly over high speed 10G Ethernet. The camera also supports creating a small H.264 proxy file, in addition to the camera original media when recording. This means the small proxy file can be uploaded to Blackmagic Cloud in seconds, so media is available back at the studio in real time.

The new Blackmagic RAW Immersive file format is designed to make it simple and easy to work with immersive video within the whole post production workflow, and includes support for Blackmagic global media sync. Blackmagic RAW files store camera metadata, lens data, white balance, digital slate information and custom LUTs to ensure consistency of image on set and through post production.

Alongside all this an updated version of DaVinci Resolve will introduce new features to create a comprehensive workflow for immersive video on Apple Vision Pro. Blackmagic customers will be able to edit Apple Immersive Video shot on the URSA Cine Immersive camera. A new immersive video viewer will let editors pan, tilt and roll clips for viewing on 2D monitors or on Apple Vision Pro for an even more immersive editing experience. Transitions rendered by Apple Vision Pro will also be able to be bypassed using FCP XML metadata, giving editors clean master files. Export presets will enable quick output into a package which can be viewed directly on Apple Vision Pro.

“We are thrilled to announce the first-ever commercial camera system and post-production software that supports Apple Immersive Video, giving professional filmmakers the tools to create remarkable stories with this powerful new format pioneered by Apple,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “Built on the new URSA Cine platform, URSA Cine Immersive features a fixed, custom, stereoscopic 3D lens system with dual 8K image sensors that can capture 16 stops of dynamic range. With this innovative system, filmmakers can record remarkable moments like action-packed scenes, unique perspectives, stunning landscapes, intimate performances, and more, all with incredible fidelity, offering viewers an unparalleled sense of realism and immersion.”