Last May, Facebook & Red Digital Cinema announced a collaboration to build the world’s first end-to-end solution for 3D and 360 video capture. Recently, they also announced a partnership with Lucid to build an 8K 3D/4V camera for the Hydrogen One which has the all-new holographic screen so it’s no wonder that RED is collaborating with a number of companies to get as many people creating content in the 3D/360/VR space.
HOW IT WORKS
Manifold captures multiple camera angles simultaneously from within a given volume, enabling infinite perspectives to be generated from any direction within a field of view. Using RED’s best-in-class camera sensor design and image processing pipeline, filmmakers get superior image quality when shooting their projects, from live and avant-garde performances to big-budget spectacles. Facebook’s industry-leading depth estimation technology captures 3D information from any scene—like characters, props, and everyday backgrounds—resulting in high-quality video bursting with enhanced volumetric detail and movement.
A major part of producing 360/VR content is the post workflow, Facebook360 and RED are working with Adobe, Foundry & OTOY to optimise and streamline the workflow for fast delivery.
Filming the Future with RED and Facebook 360
Last May, Facebook and RED Digital Cinema announced a collaboration to build the world’s first end-to-end solution for 3D and 360 video capture. Today, we’re excited to reveal a first-look at the Manifold camera. Read more about it here: http://facebook360.fb.com/2018/09/26/film-the-future-with-red-and-facebook-360/
Posted by Facebook 360 on Wednesday, September 26, 2018
A key component of the workflow with this camera is a familiar yet powerfully robust post-processing toolset from our partners at Adobe, Foundry, and OTOY. Together with the Manifold camera, it’s everything creators need to ship their projects and we’re optimizing for premium immersive output for Facebook and VR.
The Manifold uses 16 RED Helium 8K sensors to capture high-quality 6DoF capture. Manifold can record RAW from all 16 sensors running 8K at 60fps simultaneously using custom built 8mm f/4.0 180-degree fisheye lenses built by Schneider. The camera uses a single SMPTE 304M cable for power. The camera control unit & storage device can be located up to 100m from the camera head with five 12G SDI outputs for monitoring or third-party stitch processing. No details for sure on whether it will use the proprietary and expensive RED mag media but they state that there will be multiple third-party storage device choices providing 1 hour or more record time.
Filming the Future with RED and Facebook 360 – Manifold in Action
Manifold captures multiple camera angles simultaneously from within a given volume, enabling infinite perspectives to be generated from any direction within a field of view. Read here: http://facebook360.fb.com/2018/09/26/film-the-future-with-red-and-facebook-360/
Posted by Facebook 360 on Wednesday, September 26, 2018
There are no details of when Manifold will be available but you can expect it to be targeted at high-end studio work seeing that a single RED DSMC2 Helium Brain costs $24,500 and the Manifold has 16 of these sensors.
Tech Specs
SENSORS
- 16 RED(R) Helium 8K(R) Sensors arranged to allow full 360 6DoF capture
- Record raw from 16 cameras running 8k @60 fps simultaneously
OPTICS
- Custom Schneider 8mm, F4.0, 180 degree fisheye lenses
I/O CONNECTIONS
- Single SMPTE 304M cable for power, control and data
- Camera Control Unit and storage device may be up to 100 meters from Camera Head
- 5, 12g SDI outputs for monitoring or third party stitch processing
- Multiple third party storage device choices providing 1 hour or more record time
ACCESSORIES
- Front of lens ND filters available
- Quick release handles for maneuvering and setup
UI/UX
- Web app based control interface for flexibility of user interface device choice
- SDK provided for post processing
