Sony Electronics Inc. is launching its first camera tracking system, Ocellus (ASR-CT1), designed to simplify and facilitate augmented reality (AR) and virtual production applications in broadcast and cinema by providing marker-free camera tracking through multiple sensors. Ocellus is camera agnostic and can be used with both cinema and broadcast cameras. “The growing market for virtual production and augmented reality demands simpler, more efficient workflows. Metadata like camera position, orientation, and lens values are crucial throughout the production lifecycle,” said Theresa Alesso, President of Imaging Products and Solutions Americas, Sony Electronics. “Our new camera tracking system, Ocellus, delivers valuable, real-time data, enhancing efficiency based on insights from professionals worldwide.”
Ocellus, perfectly suited for virtual production such as In-Camera VFX and AR, sends the camera position and orientation data while the camera is shooting. The system comprises a sensor unit, a processing box, and three lens encoders, and can be used with Sony Cinema Line cameras, system cameras, and non-Sony cameras. With the five image sensors and Sony’s Visual SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology, the system creates a reference map, enabling stable marker-free tracking both indoors and outdoors. When using Sony cameras, metadata regarding focus, iris, and zoom values from the camera and lens can be obtained via the camera’s SDI output and transmitted in real-time to external devices via Ethernet cable. If the lens does not support metadata acquisition through the camera, lens encoders can be attached to the lens to obtain this metadata. The acquired metadata can then be used for virtual production and AR.
The system also supports the recording of tracking data, camera/lens metadata, timecode and file name, which can be used for the post-production workflow. Sony continues its unwavering support for creators in the virtual production and AR space, with tools ranging from acquisition to display screens, such as the Crystal LED Verona, and software-based solutions, such as the Virtual Production Tool Set. Compact and lightweight sensor unit with five image sensors: Processing Box: Lens Encoder: The camera tracking system Ocellus (ASR-CT1) will be exhibited at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Show 2025 in Las Vegas, USA, starting April 6, 2025, in the Sony booth N439.