Ncam Technologies

Ncam Technologies, founded by Nic Hatch in 2012, provides a real-time camera tracking platform for virtual production in the film, television, and broadcast industries. The company was established to address the demand for an effective and affordable real-time augmented reality solution for virtual production workflows. In July 2023, Ncam was acquired by ZEISS, a German technology enterprise specializing in optics and optoelectronics, to expand ZEISS's portfolio for the cinema, broadcast, and visual effects sectors.

The company’s core product, Ncam Reality, is a markerless camera tracking solution that uses a lightweight sensor bar attached to a camera to track natural features in the environment. This system generates precise positional and rotational data, which can be fed into industry-standard graphics engines like Epic Games' Unreal Engine through a flexible SDK. The technology allows for the live previsualization of environments, set extensions, and CGI elements directly in-camera while shooting, streamlining the production process and reducing post-production time and costs. The platform is designed for various camera configurations, including mounted, handheld, and Steadicam, for both indoor and outdoor use.

Ncam's business model includes flexible software licensing tiers with daily, weekly, or monthly subscriptions, making the technology accessible for projects of varying scales. This subscription model includes software updates and technical support. The company serves a client base that includes major film studios, sports broadcasters, and entertainment companies such as Warner Bros, HBO, ESPN, Fox Sports, Disney, and Netflix. Its technology has been utilized in high-profile productions like 'Game of Thrones', 'Avengers: Age of Ultron', and the UEFA Champions League broadcasts. The company has received multiple accolades, including an Emmy Award for Engineering Development and The Queen's Award for Innovation.

Keywords: real-time camera tracking, virtual production, augmented reality platform, visual effects, VFX, film production, broadcast technology, live event graphics, markerless tracking, previsualization, set extension, CGI integration, virtual environments, Unreal Engine plugin, on-set visualization, camera tracking data, sports broadcasting, media and entertainment tech, in-camera effects, virtual reality