VR headset: Benext Universal Virtual Reality Goggles Use as a selfie stick or as a tripod for absolute video stability. A compact 17.4 inches when folded, it extends to 51 inches, more than many rivals. Selfie stick tripod: UBeesize Tripod StandĪlthough at first glance this appears to be for phones, it has a universal 1/4-inch mount for your 360° camera, too. Many have a standard 1/4-inch tripod-type mounting hole, and some come with mounting kits, but by no means all of them do. Mount: You might also want to fix it to a helmet, handlebars, shoulder rig, or another device. Some are simply showerproof, but 360° action cams can be waterproof to 15 feet or more. Protection: If you’re using a camera for adventure or sports, you’ll want one with a rugged case and some kind of weatherproofing.
Size: Physical size varies from those that fit easily in the palm of your hand or pocket to large professional models. These images, particularly cityscapes, can be fascinating.
Resolution can be anywhere from 16 MP up, with the highest we’ve seen at 66 MP! Many are also capable of outputting “tiny planets”: the full 360-degree view wrapped around to form a globe in a flat plane. These are usually wide-angle or panoramic views of 180° or more. You can also take still images with 360° cameras. It’s worth checking online owner feedback for real-world expectations. Also, manufacturers tend to give run times as a best-case scenario. You can carry a spare, but on some devices, access can be more complicated than you might expect. That said, it’s going to be really frustrating if you’re halfway through recording and your battery goes flat, so you need to know exactly how long your battery will last. Most 360° cameras run from 30 minutes to an hour or more on a charge, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Batteryįilming duration depends on battery life as well as the amount of memory. There’s more than one kind of microSD card. Capacity starts at 32 GB, but the more you can afford the better, though be sure to check the maximum size that the camera can take, because not all accept the largest 256 GB cards. Some come with one supplied, but most do not. These are memory-hungry devices, so memory cards are pretty much a must-have.
Frequent users, particularly vloggers, will want to investigate this further. How this is done varies, and some devices make it easier than others. Output can usually be uploaded to social media websites for friends and family anywhere in the world to see. There are numerous ways to share your 360° videos. If that’s what you need, look for a camera that offers external audio connectivity. The quality is reasonable, but it’s not up to professional standards. It’s common for 360° cameras to have anywhere from two to four built-in microphones, thus capturing sound that goes with the video rather than from a single source. If you’re looking at the creative angle, you’ll also want to look at third-party post-processing software.
It’s an area that’s worth spending some time to check out thoroughly. Computer programs usually offer more extensive features and may produce higher resolution output. Apps are quick, but the seam can be more visible. Most devices offer the option of doing it via an app or desktop computer software. To provide you with a seamless video, those images have to be “stitched” together. Most 360° cameras have two lenses and some have four. For super-smooth imaging, look for frame rates of 50 fps and more.
Some cameras offer lower rates to reduce file sizes, and this can be a useful option in situations where you’re simply recording factual information. The minimum for flicker-free playback is about 30 frames per second (fps). High resolution for these devices equates to 8K or 12K, which provides fabulous images if you can afford it. This is a noticeable improvement over 4K, but you need to spend more to get it.
There are several more steps in quality, starting at around 5.5K. Entry-level 360° cameras might only be 2K, which are perhaps best looked at as cheap fun. It’s still good, but it isn’t as crisp by comparison. In terms of resolution, 4K is pretty impressive in standard video, but when you’ve got a “whole world” view, those pixels have to go a lot farther. Some features may only be available for particular operating systems, so check device compatibility carefully.