Announced at a Nokia media event last night in Los Angeles, the company has finally put a price to OZO, it’s professional grade 360-degree camera rig revealed back in July. Nokia is asking an upfront deposit of $5,000 for the $60,000 camera array. We hope it comes with a carrying case.
Pre-orders are now open for Nokia’s futuristic-looking 360 camera, a rig that boasts eight synchronized 2K x 2K sensors capable of 30FPS spherical and stereoscopic video capture with on board eight-microphone spatial audio array—all this and more in a beautifully milled aluminum alloy body for the low low price of $60,000. Did we mention that an extra ‘digital cartridge’—a rechargeable battery and 500GB SSD combo—is going to cost $5,000?
Price aside, Ozo is pushing some pretty compelling features, like instant video feed stitching for real-time VR preview, and wireless operation via its on board 802.11 Wifi module. To demonstrate the wireless capabilities of Ozo, the media event featured a live performance by LA rock duo Best Coast, and broadcast the concert playing from the roof of the Capitol Records tower in Hollywood—a site seven miles away the Ozo event itself—in 3D 360 over the Internet.
To inspire future Ozo-owners yet further, the rig was on show strapped into a drone suspended from the roof of the venue.
President of Nokia Technologies Ramzi Haidamus says that Ozo is “designed for the professional creators who will answer the most exciting and intriguing questions about the possibilities for virtual reality.” The emphasis is on ‘professional’ here, as the pre-order page requires a US-based company and US-issued tax ID number to proceed with checkout.
Our executive editor Ben Lang went hands-on with some test footage captured by Ozo at the big reveal in July, saying that it’s “up there with the best 3D VR video capture I’ve seen…”