Nokia Launches £40,000 Virtual Reality Camera

Nokia has today put its OZO virtual reality camera up for sale in Europe, but the device will set budding VR filmmakers back 55,000 euros (£43,000).

The device isn’t targeted at regular consumers, though. Instead, the OZO is designed for professional filmmakers and directors who want to make their work stand out in virtual reality.

360-degree

The OZO records audio in 360-degree surround sound, with full stereoscopic 3D playback for VR headsets. The device has eight cameras that capture footage all around a sphere, alongside its eight microphones.

“OZO enables the creation of immersive virtual reality experiences that actually move us emotionally, and move us to act,” said Ramzi Haidamus, president of Nokia Technologies.

“Through OZO we can feel more present in the lives of people we’ve never met, and widen the circle of empathy in ways we could never have imagined before. Technology that moves us this deeply is technology that moves us all forward.”

The Finnish firm also announced two post-production partnerships for the device in Europe to help filmmakers take advantage of the device’s capabilities.

Post-production company Deluxe will provide post-production services for OZO VR content, including editorial, stitching and colour. Post-production software tools from London-based The Foundry, including NUKE, will also soon support 3D content created with OZO.

Last September, GoPro unveiled its 16-camera Odyssey camera rig that’s selling for $15,000 (£10,000). Marketed at “professional content creators”, producers have to submit an application to be able to purchase the device.

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