Blackmagic Design has officially opened pre-orders for its highly anticipated Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera. Priced at $29,995, the cutting-edge 8K 3D immersive camera is set to begin deliveries in late Q1 2025. Blackmagic Design made the announcement through its official channels, positioning the camera as a competitor in the growing market of 8K immersive 3D content. Pre-orders are already live, signaling the company’s readiness to engage early adopters, and maybe to compete directly with Apple’s new immersive 8K Cinema Camera. 

The Race for Immersive Cinema Domination

The URSA Cine Immersive enters a competitive field dominated by tech giants like Apple, which introduced its 8K 3D Cinema Camera earlier this year. Blackmagic’s strategic launch highlights its ambition to carve out significant space in the immersive cinema landscape, an arena where Apple tries to make waves. Apple’s 8K camera, unveiled to significant industry buzz, has positioned itself as a key player in immersive content creation, particularly in synergy with its Vision Pro headset. The camera offers 8K resolution and is specifically optimized for capturing immersive stereoscopic 3D content. This positions it as a key tool for creating next-generation VR and AR experiences, powered by Apple’s ecosystem. However, Apple’s focus on prosumers and general audiences may limit its appeal to professional filmmakers. While its Vision Pro headset provides a stunning way to experience immersive 3D content, the production workflows required to fully utilize Apple’s 8K camera are not as tightly integrated or specialized compared to Blackmagic’s approach. Apple has also faced challenges. As reported in Why Apple Has Failed with the Vision Pro, limitations in audience adoption and developer support have restricted Vision Pro’s success. These factors may indirectly impact the adoption of Apple’s 8K 3D camera, as the two devices are positioned to work hand-in-hand.

The Blackmagic Advantage: From Camera to Post-Production

Blackmagic’s approach with the URSA Cine Immersive, however, offers a distinct advantage: complete ecosystem control. By integrating its immersive camera with DaVinci Resolve, Blackmagic Design ensures a seamless workflow from capture to post-production. The company emphasized this strategy in its announcement, stating:

“This will let us work with initial customers to develop the post-production pipeline with DaVinci Resolve and then Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive will be available via Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide, which we expect to be later in the year.”

Blackmagic Design

This tight integration could give Blackmagic a significant edge over Apple, as filmmakers increasingly seek turnkey solutions for complex immersive productions. Here’s BM’s complete statement below: 

Today we announced Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive is now available to pre-order direct from Blackmagic Design offices worldwide for US$29,995. Delivery will start in late Q1 2025. This will let us work with initial customers to develop the post production pipeline with DaVinci Resolve and then Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive will be available via Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide, which we expect to be later in the year.

We are excited to begin accepting orders for Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive, which is the world’s first commercial camera system designed to capture content for Apple Vision Pro and preview a true end-to-end workflow for Apple Immersive Video and DaVinci Resolve. An updated version of DaVinci Resolve Studio with new editing features for Apple Immersive Video will also be released early next year. As this workflow is very new, we are looking forward to working closely with initial URSA Cine Immersive filmmakers and production companies to refine the production workflow for Apple Immersive Video before releasing URSA Cine Immersive to a wider audience in 2025.

Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive features a fixed, custom lens system pre-installed on the body and dual 8K sensors for stereoscopic 3D immersive image capture, which are designed specifically to capture Apple Immersive Video for Apple Vision Pro. The sensor delivers high resolution per eye with an incredible 16 stops of dynamic range, so cinematographers can shoot 90 fps 3D immersive cinema content to a single Blackmagic RAW file. The custom lens system is designed for URSA Cine’s large format image sensor with extremely accurate positional data that’s read and stored at time of manufacturing. This immersive lens data is mapped, calibrated and stored per eye, so it can then travel through post production in the Blackmagic RAW file itself.

The new DaVinci Resolve Studio supporting immersive video will complete the workflow so filmmakers edit, color grade, and produce Apple Immersive Video shot on the URSA Cine Immersive camera for Apple Vision Pro. Key features include a new immersive video viewer, which will let editors pan, tilt, and roll clips for viewing on 2D monitors, or on Apple Vision Pro for an even more immersive editing experience. Additionally, transitions rendered by Apple Vision Pro will also be able to be bypassed using XML metadata, giving editors clean master files. To complete the workflow, export presets will enable quick output into a package which can be viewed directly on Apple Vision Pro.

Blackmagic Design

The Growing Immersive 3D Market

The URSA Cine Immersive is also part of a larger trend: the race to dominate immersive 3D content. With devices like the Apple Vision Pro and Canon’s emerging AR/VR glasses, immersive experiences are becoming the next frontier for cinema technology. While Apple has struggled to position the Vision Pro as a tool for professionals, Blackmagic’s focus on filmmakers could give it a competitive advantage. The URSA Cine Immersive’s capabilities—notably its 8K resolution and 3D capture—align with the industry’s growing demand for ultra-high-definition immersive content. These features also directly compete with Apple’s offering and solidify Blackmagic’s positioning as a leader in professional cinema tools.

Late Q1 2025: A Strategic Timeline

Blackmagic’s choice to deliver the URSA Cine Immersive in late Q1 2025 is strategic. Blackmagic can assess market response and optimize its own offering. This timeline also allows Blackmagic to collaborate with early adopters, refining both hardware performance and the post-production pipeline with DaVinci Resolve.

Blackmagic’s Cinematic Ecosystem vs. Apple’s All-in-One Strategy

Apple’s ecosystem—centered on hardware like the Vision Pro—targets a broader consumer and prosumer audience. However, Blackmagic’s URSA Cine Immersive focuses specifically on filmmakers, providing a dedicated tool for immersive cinematic storytelling. As explored in Can the Apple Vision Pro Be Utilized in Moviemaking?, Apple’s generalist approach may not meet the rigorous demands of professional filmmakers. Blackmagic, on the other hand, has a proven track record of delivering cinema-focused solutions. The integration of URSA Cine Immersive with DaVinci Resolve highlights a more specialized approach, catering directly to professional workflows.

Final Thoughts: The Battle for Immersive Content Supremacy

Blackmagic’s announcement of the URSA Cine Immersive is a bold statement. Priced at $29,995, it directly challenges Apple’s ambitions in the 8K immersive cinema market. By leveraging its expertise in professional tools and its integrated ecosystem with DaVinci Resolve, Blackmagic is positioning itself as a serious contender for the future of immersive content. As filmmakers and content creators look for tools to bring 8K 3D cinema to life, the competition between Blackmagic Design and Apple will only intensify. Blackmagic’s focus on workflow optimization and professional collaboration could prove to be its winning edge. For early adopters eager to shape the future of immersive cinema, pre-orders are now open. The stage is set for a new era of 8K 3D storytelling—and Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive is ready to lead the charge.