VR movies are going to be big in the future. The technology isn’t quite there but Google is preparing for it with new hardware in the form of cameras and new tools for creators like their new Jump Start program to get them creating great new content.
The Yi Halo is the second generation of Jump cameras, which started with the GoPro powered Odyssey. The Yi Halo is filled with Yi Halo 4K-capable cameras from Xiaomi and as with the GoPro Odyssey, the price won’t be cheap with the VR camera priced at $16,999USD. It’s high resolution, with the potential to shoot stereoscopic video in 8K resolution at 30 frames per second, or you can opt for 60fps at a “lowly” 5.8K resolution.
The camera can shoot for up to 100 minutes on its external battery, with a charger allowing for a second battery to be charging while you’re shooting the video.
The camera is controlled from an Android smartphone app, it’s a simple interface with a live preview that let’s creators get to shooting the content without having an over the top learning curve for setting up the equipment.
The camera will be available to purchase from late Summer, but at nearly $17K USD, it’s not for everyone. That’s where Google’s Jump Start program comes in. As well as offering access to the software which includes both Jump Assembler and Jump Manager software, the Jump Start program will supply up to 100 filmmakers with access to a Jump camera. Applications for creators to take part in the Jump Start program are open from today until May 22nd.
If you’ve got a great idea for a VR movie, you can apply through the Jump Start website. If you’re interested in learning more about the Yi Halo, you can check it out on their website.
I wonder why it is so expensive? At most I can see it might have 18 cameras which you can get for about $300 each. Sure there is a lot of other things that is stitching the image together in real-time but I am I could see it could be very possible to build your own for ~$7000 if not less. I am not even sure why there are that many cameras they are using to start with as each camera has a field of view of 160 you should only need 5 or 6 to achieve the same result.