At an event in Los Angeles on Monday, Nokia announced the Ozo VR camera, and its price: $60,000. The company also announced that it is taking pre-orders and that the cameras will start shipping in the first quarter of 2016.
The camera first appeared in July, and is capable of shooting and broadcasting live 3D and 360-degree video.
It has eight image sensors and an equal number of microphones, eliminating the need for editing footage. This allows for real-time previews without the need to edit scenes.
Of course, with this price, Ozo doesn't seem to be aimed at the general public, but at film studios. It's no coincidence that the presentation of the new device took place in Los Angeles.
However, Nokia intends to make VR technology more accessible to the general public.
Ramzi Haidamus, president of Nokia Technologies, announced to The Verge:
We will make Ozo available for rent, in order to make it affordable, and of course we need to start thinking about how we can make it more affordable for professional consumers. Such a version should have a lower cost, and that is something we need to start thinking about right from the product line.
You're going to be at the top of the pyramid in terms of quality. When a product is there (free translation) there's no need for any fuss. You'll be able to just take the device as is, stick it somewhere, press record, and let it write.
It should be mentioned that Nokia's new camera has a serious advantage over its rivals: real-time scene preview. Time will tell if the device manages to become a global standard for 360-degree cameras.
