Sphere Entertainment launches Big Sky ultra-high resolution camcorder with 316MP sensor
If you’ve visited the Las Vegas Strip in recent years, you’ve probably noticed the huge spherical building under construction not far from the Venetian Resort. Scheduled to open in September 2023 (with rock band U2 as first performers), the Sphere features a 16K resolution surround LED display covering an area of 160,000 square feet, which will become the big screen highest resolution and highest resolution on the planet.
Now, Sphere Entertainment owner and operator has revealed the insane technology that will capture this one-of-a-kind on-screen display. This “groundbreaking ultra-high-resolution camera system and custom content creation engine” is aptly called Big Sky. Developed in-house at the newly launched Sphere Studios Burbank campus research and development lab, the Big Sky system boasts “the sharpest cinematic lens in the world capable of delivering the demanding Unparalleled optics for the immersive 16K x 16K scenes of the Sphere plane display.”
The camera features a 316-megapixel custom image sensor that measures approximately three square inches (nearly seven times the area of a full-frame sensor) that produces 40 times more resolution video than video produced by digital cameras. 4K cameras are available. Impressively, the camera is clearly capable of recording full-resolution 10-bit footage at up to 120 fps. As you might expect, Sphere Studios also has to create special image processing software to handle the large files generated.
Intriguingly, Sphere Studios has stated that there are “underwater and other lenses currently in development,” and Sphere Entertainment has released computer renderings of the Sphere site with underwater scenes. displayed on the giant LED screen (see below). Looks like at least one underwater videographer was lucky enough to get to play with this groundbreaking camera.
