Facebook and RED team up on Manifold 3D VR camera

The new Manifold 360-degree VR camera is set to completely redefine immersive story telling experiences. What sets the device apart from other similar products that have come to market is its support for a full 6DOF (six degrees of freedom). When viewed through headsets that support the content like the newly announced Oculus Quest, it will create a movie experience more akin to what you would see in a sci-fi movie than even what 3D movies can currently do.  

Imagine, for a moment, being able to watch a 3D movie, but also being able to look around you as you can in a VR environment. Manifold will make this a reality -- virtually. It is able to accomplish this by combing 16 RED Helium 8K sensors to allow full 360-degree 6DOF raw video capture at 60fps. Each sensor is also equipped with custom Schneider 8mm F4.0 180-degree fish eye lenses. 

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. Coupled with RED’s camera tech, Facebook's depth estimation technology captures 3D information from any scene such as characters, props, and everyday backgrounds. The companies have partnered with the likes of Adobe, Foundry and OTOY to enable the footage to be edited and rendered with special effects. 

More information about the pricing and availability of Manifold will be available in the coming weeks, but expect it to be the domain only studios can afford. From a consumer perspective, we can’t wait to see the content the Manifold produces in devices like the new Oculus Quest.