Blackmagic Design has announced pre-orders for its groundbreaking Blackmagic Ursa Cine Immersive camera. This innovative system is the first commercially available camera designed specifically to capture Apple Immersive Video for Apple Vision Pro, with deliveries expected to begin in early 2025.
The complete workflow will be enhanced by a DaVinci Resolve Studio update, slated for early next year. This update will provide professional filmmakers with a comprehensive toolset for creating Apple Immersive Video. Apple Immersive Video, a 180-degree format, uses ultra-high-resolution immersive video and Spatial Audio to fully immerse viewers.
“We are excited to begin accepting pre-orders for the new Blackmagic Ursa Cine Immersive camera and preview a true end-to-end workflow for Apple Immersive Video with DaVinci Resolve,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “We are looking forward to working closely with filmmakers and production companies on the Blackmagic production workflow for Apple Immersive Video before releasing the camera to a wider audience later in 2025. We can’t wait to see the amazing action, drama, concerts, sports and other incredible experiences our customers will capture in this powerful new format pioneered by Apple.”
The Ursa Cine Immersive boasts a pre-installed, custom lens system optimized for capturing Apple Immersive Video. Its sensor delivers an impressive 8160 x 7200 resolution per eye, along with pixel-level synchronization and a remarkable 16 stops of dynamic range, enabling cinematographers to shoot 90fps 3D immersive cinema content to a single file.
The camera’s custom lens system is designed for Ursa Cine’s large format image sensor. The lens's positional data, calibrated and stored during manufacturing, is integrated into the Blackmagic RAW file, ensuring accurate data throughout post-production. A new DaVinci Resolve Studio version, releasing in Q1 2025, includes features for editing, color grading, and producing Apple Immersive Video footage. These features include an immersive video viewer for panning, tilting, and rolling clips, and the ability to bypass Apple Vision Pro transitions using FCP XML metadata for cleaner master files. Export presets allow for quick output directly viewable on Apple Vision Pro.
The Ursa Cine camera platform is known for its robust design. All models use a magnesium alloy chassis and a lightweight carbon fiber polycarbonate composite skin. Connectivity includes 12G-SDI, 10G Ethernet, USB-C, and XLR audio. The camera features a 5″ HDR touchscreen monitor and a dedicated assist station with a second 5″ HDR touchscreen.
Powering the camera is a 250W power supply and B-mount battery plate, compatible with various high-voltage batteries. The package includes a top handle, antennas, baseplate, 24V power supply, and a high-voltage B-mount battery plate. Built-in 8TB of high-performance network storage records directly to the included Blackmagic Media Module, enabling real-time syncing to Blackmagic Cloud and DaVinci Resolve media bins. This allows for over 2 hours of 8K stereoscopic 3D immersive Blackmagic RAW recording and remote access.
The new Blackmagic RAW Immersive file format simplifies immersive video post-production, supporting Blackmagic global media sync and storing essential metadata. Blackmagic Ursa Cine Immersive includes ultra-fast Cloud Store technology, enabling high-resolution recording and access via 10G Ethernet. It also generates a smaller H.264 proxy file for quick cloud uploads. The Blackmagic Media Dock further streamlines post-production, allowing simultaneous access for multiple workstations.
The Blackmagic Ursa Cine Immersive is available for pre-order at $29,995 (US), with deliveries starting in late Q1 2025. Reseller availability follows later in the year.