Facebook reveals Surround 360 virtual reality camera

Facebook has revealed a high-end virtual reality camera rig that captures 360-degree footage in 3D.

The firm said the Surround 360 can record up to two hours of footage at 60 frames per second. It added that the 17 lenses captured footage that would play back in 8K super hi-vision resolution "per eye".

The equipment poses a challenge to Nokia's $60,000 (£42,000) Ozo VR camera and similar professional-quality equipment from GoPro, Jaunt and others.

However, Facebook said it did not intend to manufacture the Surround 360, but would rather publish its specifications on the Github website "this summer" for others to make use of.

Facebook stands to benefit if it spurs on the creation of 360-degree videos that can be viewed on its Oculus VR headsets or via its social network.

The firm's chief product officer Christopher Cox unveiled the machine at the firm's F8 conference in San Francisco.