With a unique perspective 360 cameras really make you think differently about how you shoot, edit, and present this style of video. These cameras have also been making a ton of progress from their early days, with better, higher resolution sensors, fantastically better stabilization, improved optics, and better software. Virtual reality has also been gaining in popularity, so 360 cameras are only expected to keep evolving and improving. With all the choices out there, this article will give you some background on what to look for in a 360 camera, how they work, and a brief rundown of the current crop of 360 cameras.
Table of Contents
- What Does a 360 Camera Do?
- Who Should Use a 360 Camera?
- How Much Do 360 Cameras Cost?
- Recommended 360 Cameras
- How Should I Choose My 360 Camera?
What Does a 360 Camera Do?
Most 360 cameras have two or more very wide angle lenses recording a 360 degree sphere of video, which you can view using special software that allows you to pan around your fully immersive video. People typically use 360 cameras to shoot and then later choose which perspective they want to use from the full video sphere and edit it into flat 2D videos. This requires software that is provided by each manufacturer. While it does add an extra step, it gives you the freedom to record information and make decisions afterwards. You can pick the most interesting angle, switch from one perspective to another with a cut, or choose different parts of the sphere over time to simulate a camera move.
This is particularly useful for action sports where the camera may be recording the point of view of the action while also recording the face and body of the person. Being able to reframe the video also makes for a much more engaging and dynamic video.
Who Should Use a 360 Camera?
There are many different types of users who can take advantage of a 360 camera. The extreme sports enthusiast is definitely the one that first comes to everyone’s mind. They are engaged in sports where what they are doing could potentially be interesting to see from several different vantage points. Seeing how the world around them moves as they perform their sport is often just as interesting as seeing them doing the sports — be it snowboarding, paragliding, motocross, etc.
You can see some examples of this in the AdoramaTV video below:
Bloggers and people who need to capture themselves and their environment are another key demographic of the 360 camera market. The cameras are small, easy to put on a selfie stick, and allow flexibility to record without having to worry too much about framing and perspective.
Virtual 3D tours of properties are also going to become more prevalent. If you are interested in checking out a property to either buy or rent, being able to virtually “walk around” the place will save you time. 360 cameras are only going to become more useful, and a unique selling proposition for real estate photographers.
How Much Do 360 Cameras Cost?
As in most technology fields, you can always spend a ton of money to get the fanciest, most feature-packed gear. There are 360 cameras that are made for Hollywood-level productions that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Luckily, there are 360 cameras at many different price points. The 360 cameras listed below range anywhere from $300 to $4,000.
Recommended 360 Cameras
Below are some of the picks for the best 360 cameras available. Each has their own selling points and benefits. Check out the list below and when possible, test them out to see if they suit your needs.
Ricoh Theta X 360 Degree 2.25″ Touchscreen Spherical Camera
The first thing you will notice about the Ricoh Theta X is its wonderful touchscreen display. You can change all your settings without having to pull out an app. Their smartphone app is also great. You can connect via Bluetooth for quick file transfers of both video and photos. Although, the main selling point is the real-time stitching of both photos and videos to save you time.
- Real-time stitching for both photos and videos.
- 7k Video with stabilization
- A solid low light photo mode
- Automatic HDR
- Ability to set white balance and exposure compensation before live streaming
- A gorgeous 2.25” display
Ricoh also has several other cameras including the Ricoh THETA SC2. This is a multicolored 4k 360 camera at a lower price point that still retains a lot of features of its bigger brothers. The Ricoh Theta Z1, their flagship model has a four-channel microphone, RAW (DNG) recording, and more manual video controls.
Insta360 X3 Pocket 360 Action Camera
The company has 360 in their name — Insta360 is all about making 360 cameras. Their latest Insta360 X3 Pocket 360 has a 5.7K 360 lens or you can shoot in Single Lens Mode at an upgraded 4K, 30 frames per second. You can also capture tack-sharp stills at 72 megapixels. Its rugged, IPX8 waterproof design can descend to 10 meters out of the box. You can make that up to 50 meters with the Dive Case.
- 5.7K 360 lens
- “Me Mode” has invisible selfie stick effect and shoots wide-angle video
- FlowState Stabilization
- New sensor allows 8K 360 timelapse
- Waterproof to 10 meters
- 10% more battery capacity over previous model
- 50% faster Wi-Fi transfers compared to X2
Labpano Pilot One (EE) All-in-One VR Camera
At the high end of resolution for this list is the 8K monster, the Lanpano Pilot One. This is the camera you will likely want if you are doing more professional 360 work, such as virtual tours or live streaming. The price is the highest so far at $1,149.00 (at the time of this article). Although, this camera is geared to meet the needs of professionals and it does so with aplomb. With 4 sets of premium Sony sensors and 4 sets of ultra-high precision optical lenses, the imaging can’t be beat.
- Very high 8K resolution
- 2.2” touchscreen
- Built-in 3400mAh battery
- Sony 12M 1/2.3″ sensors
- 185 Degree FOV per lens
- Internal airflow cooling
Aside from this camera, Labpano also offers their Labpano Pilot Era All-in-One 8K 360 VR Camera which has an even larger 3.1” touchscreen. It does not require a computer for any post processing, and can do standalone 4K streaming. This is a step up in all-in-one 360 cameras.
GoPro MAX 360 Action Camera
GoPro is likely the most recognized name in the action cam space. The GoPro Max 360 camera sees a bit of a change in form factor to accommodate the two wide angle lenses — one on each side of the camera. It is still waterproof to 16’ (4.8m), meaning you don’t have to worry about it when using it for work near water — like a log flume ride or in most pools. The app and computer software are very intuitive, the stabilization is top notch, and the colors really pop. If you are looking for an action cam with 360 degree functionality, this is one of the top choices.
- Rugged and waterproof to 16’ (4.8m)
- Motion time-lapse feature
- Ultra-smooth stabilization
- 6 microphones
- Voice Control
- Several options for digital lens choice
Kandao Qoocam 8K Enterprise 360 Live Streaming Camera
Coming in at 8K at 30 frames per second or 4K at a blistering 120 frames per second, the Qoocam is at the higher end of video specs. It also has a 2.4” touchscreen while still maintaining a fairly small form factor. This camera is also very easy to use for live streaming events.
- Top tier 8K resolution
- 120fps at 4K
- 5mm Audio Input
- 64GB of internal storage
- Easy to livestream
Insta360 ONE RS Core Module
The Insta360 ONE RS is the only camera that offers the benefits of both formats, without compromises. With its unique and dynamic design, you can use the module as both a 360 camera and wide-angle shooter. This makes it the perfect product for action photographers who want an all-in-one option.
- 48MP 6K Widescreen Mode Active HDR
- 5.7K 360 Capture Invisible Selfie Stick
- Up to 16′ Waterproof
- FlowState Stabilization
- Comes with 4K Boost Lens and 5.7K 360 Lens
How Should I Choose My 360 Camera?
There are several factors to consider when looking for a 360 camera. For me, I greatly consider picture quality and ease of use.
Picture quality can be subjective. Some might like colors that pop more, while someone who edits their footage might want it a bit more natural so they can control the image themselves. I would suggest looking up footage shots by the 360 cameras you are interested in and comparing them.
For ease of use, most of these cameras are now integrated with software to make your life easy. I found that the software is generally very intuitive among all the manufacturers. Although, what sets some of them apart is the ability to have footage already stitched. Some cameras don’t even require you to use a computer — you can edit and upload straight from an app.
The next feature to consider is stabilization. While many 360 cameras have some stabilization, the best of the best make your footage look super smooth for more professional-looking video.
Final Thoughts
360 cameras offer a unique way to show your world to an audience. Whether you want to show off your sick skateboarding tricks, family vacation snorkeling, real estate listing, live concert, or anything else, a 360 camera can make the spectator feel more connected. With some of these cameras coming in at very reasonable prices, it is definitely worth it to get one and get creative.