Volumetric video will soon be a bit more accessible for professional content creators.
During day 2 of F8, Facebook announced two new volumetric video cameras, the x24 and x6. The cameras can capture 360-degree video with depth information, allowing viewers to move their heads forward, backward and side to side, in addition to being able to look in every direction. This is made possible by the careful design and orientation of the cameras and special software.
The x24 and x6 cameras, so named for the number of onboard sensors, are about 10 inches and 5 inches in diameter, respectively. As the next stage of Facebook’s Surround 360 initiative, they’re significantly smaller than the first camera iteration called Open Edition.
Facebook announced its new volumetric video cameras at day 2 of its F8 annual developers conference April 19, 2017.
According to Facebook, both cameras capture full RGB and depth at every pixel. The x24 oversamples by 4x, and the x6, by 3x.
Facebook is also working with post production companies and VFX studios—including Adobe, Otoy, Foundry, Mettle, DXO, Here be Dragons, Framestore, Magnopus and The Mill—to establish tools and workflows for footage from these new cameras.
The cameras are expected to launch later this year, but pricing information has yet to be announced. Facebook plans to license the camera designs to select manufacturers, each of which will independently set their own prices.
Facebook also announced the release of React VR, which allows developers to create VR experiences using only JavaScript. That means a user could type in a web address, put on a headset, and be in a virtual world—simple as that.
To learn more about F8 announcements, visit Facebook’s newsroom.
