Sphere Studios has developed a new ultra-high resolution camera system for use with high resolution LED screens.
Sphere Studios is a division of Sphere Entertainment, which runs the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas.
It has developed the camera to film content that will appear on the 160,000-square-foot, 16K-by-16K wraparound LED display inside the Sphere.
The camera system, which has been named Big Sky, includes a single 316-megapixel, 3″x3″ HDR image sensor capable of a 40X resolution increase over 4K cameras.
It can capture content at up to 120 frames per second at the 18K square format, and higher speed frame rates at lower resolutions.
Big Sky’s media recorder can absorb full resoluton, 60 fps, uncompressed RAW footage at 30 Gigabytes/second, or 120 fps at 50 Gigabytes/second to its custom 32 terabyte media magazines, facilitating an effective process for capturing ultra-high-resolution immersive content.
The media recorder is capable of handling 600 Gigabits/second of network connectivity, as well as built-in media duplication, to accelerate and simplify on-set and post-production workflows, said the company
SphereLab, an internally developed image processing software, was created specifically for Big Sky, and utilises GPU accelerated RAW processing.
“Big Sky is a giant leap forward for imaging and a testament to the innovative teams at Sphere Studios who made this technology a reality,” said Deanan DaSilva, the lead architect of Big Sky at Sphere Studios. “Big Sky allows us to capture cinematic content at a level of detail never before possible, opening up extraordinary possibilities and pushing immersive imaging technology forward in a way that will resonate throughout the entertainment industry.”
Sphere Studios began developing Big Sky in early 2021, with the camera system’s first shoot taking place in October 2022.
SphereLab, an internally developed image processing software, was also created specifically for Big Sky. To date, the team has filed eight patents – and counting – associated with Big Sky technology, said Sphere Studios.
Postcard from Earth, the first Sphere Experience to use the full array of Sphere’s technological capabilities, is currently in production.
