Jaunt Unveils First professional 360-level VR digicam constructed From the ground Up

nowadays, Jaunt VR, a Palo Alto, California-based totally startup, unveiled what it stated is the arena’s first pro-grade camera designed from the bottom up to shoot cinematic digital-fact content material.

called the Neo, it is supposed for use together with Jaunt’s existing hardware and device VR film production gadget, and supplants the company’s earlier-technology digital camera—which was essentially a closely modified set of GoPros with a different casing.

Jaunt is hoping to turn out to be the platform of possibility for the filmmakers, advertisers, entertainers, and others who are an increasing number of producing videos and films the usage of 360-level virtual fact. among individuals who have used the corporate’s know-how are musician Paul McCartney, movie director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, spy), and The North Face apparel firm.

The Neo comes at a time when cinematic VR is gaining a much bigger foothold throughout a lot of industries—it’s been used to shoot the whole thing from concerts to adventure sports to brief narrative tales. After April’s catastrophic earthquake in Nepal, a dramatic VR film shot via the media firm RYOT and narrated via Susan Sarandon showcased the medium’s storytelling doable by way of letting viewers see the impact of the catastrophe on the Himalayan nation.

The Neo hopes to make VR even more regular, and is designed with a variety of professional-level options including a big-layout, excessive-speed picture sensor that can shoot in low mild, and the flexibility to shoot in sluggish motion. These bells and whistles have already got some professionals eagerly looking forward to the digital camera.

“I’m excited,” said Christina Heller, the CEO of VR Playhouse, which produces quick digital-reality motion pictures. “we will certainly use [the Neo] if it provides what it’s promising. i believe like if there’s an organization that can pull it off, it may well be Jaunt, because they’ve a lot of money, and so they’ve been engaged on this for a very long time.”

VR Playhouse is within the means of finishing up a brief-VR-movie collection called First person, and Heller said the company has been looking in all places for a high-notch, digicam-device aggregate.

“Making 360 [degree] video, especially premium, fine quality 360 [degree] video, is a problem,” Heller stated. “It takes so long, and it’s just a massive ache . . . so far, we haven’t seen, haven’t put our palms on and tried, a solution that is real.”

final month, at its annual builders event, Google introduced plans for its personal VR digicam system. Heller was that know-how as neatly, however said on the time that she was once involved it lacked the flexibility to shoot anything happening above or under it.

by using comparability, she mentioned, the brand new Jaunt digicam deals full 360-level coverage.

although they’re both providing VR filmmakers digital camera programs, however, Google and Jaunt are not opponents in each facet. prior this month, the two corporations announced a collaboration through which Jaunt will produce cinematic VR content for Google’s platform.

now not A camera company

notwithstanding the truth that Jaunt is asserting its all-new VR digital camera, Arthur van Hoff, the corporate’s CTO and founder, stated it isn’t in fact a digital camera firm.

Jaunt fashions itself as far more a platform, and sees the digicam as just one new piece in its end-to-end device. That gadget comprises Jaunt Studios, a l. a.-based totally manufacturing studio available to promising VR filmmakers.

at the same time, Van Hoff mentioned Jaunt has no plans to sell the Neo. as a substitute, it will rent or rent the cameras to filmmakers after they transform to be had this summer time. Jaunt will make as many as one hundred Neos by next year, all of for you to be available to the company’s filmmaking partners.

high Design

perform is one thing, but kind is every other. looking to steer clear of the “cobbled-collectively” appear of earlier camera incarnations, the Neo used to be meant to bring excessive design, the entire higher to appeal to professionals.

Jaunt commissioned San Francisco’s Lunar to provide you with the Neo’s industrial design, which Van Hoff stated is essential to the corporate’s image transferring forward.

It was once essential that the camera have an “iconic design,” in line with Van Hoff. “as a result of this digicam’s going to be on stage with a variety of artists, and on the field [during sporting events]. It’s going to be very recognizable. preserve your eyes peeled. i think it going to be on television [a lot] this year.”