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ultra-drive-blog · 8 years ago

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By now, we've all heard the buzz about 360' cameras, but there are so many to choose from, how do you know which one to buy? Between varying price points and truckloads of features, it can be a daunting task. I'm going to walk you through a few of the top makes/models, highlight some pros and cons and ultimately walk you through the process/research I went through to make my purchase.

I narrowed down my research into 4 main categories:

1. Price. You get what you pay for. My train of thought was if you go too cheap then the product will be cheap and if you go too high it won't be all that consumer-level friendly.

2. Output resolution. If the whole point is to get 360' photos/videos there is a lot of area covered in each photo and I want it to be as clear as possible with decent resolution.

3. Size/Durability. I want it tough enough to withstand on-the-go photography, small enough to travel well but not too small (aka lose-able). And built strong with a solid feel.

4. Customer reviews. I don't' know about you, but I really take to heart online reviews of products, especially before I make a sizable electronics purchase. I carefully wade through all I can find, mentally discarding the unhelpful ones not addressing the actual product, or users own errors in using the product. I focus on folks who actually used the product correctly and their honest thoughts about features and lack of features.

So, that being said, let's get started.

Insta360 Nano: $199.00 (click here to check current prices)

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This is a pretty travel-friendly 360 camera, it is quite small. It can be used as an attachment to your iPhone (6 series or 7, 7+) or it can be used as a standalone device. It features dual 210 degree lenses to capture life at every angle.

It features a MicroSD storage capacity up to 64GB.

Price: $199.00 (click here to check current prices)

Output Resolution: 3040x1520 for images, 3040x1520 at 30fps.

Size/Durability: This camera is very small, and can fit in the palm of your hand. If you don't tend to misplace small things, then this one may be for you. For me personally, it was just too small.

Customer Reviews: Some of the reviewers mention headaches like poor battery life. Also, if you want to use it as a 'clip-on' (i.e. attaching to your iPhone) it will not work if you happen to have a case on your phone, it will only work with a 'naked' phone. Also were complaints of the lack of technical support, and overheating of the device. The camera advertises the fact that it can live stream to Facebook and YouTube but several reviewers said that they weren't able to achieve that.

Samsung Gear 360: $199.00 (click here to check current prices)

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Another quite travel friendly camera, but this one has a bit more to hold onto. It is lightweight and fits well in your hand. It features dual 180 degree lenses to capture everything. It also has a IP53 water-resistant rating (here's that means - https://www.mpl.ch/info/IPratings.html). It features MicroSD storage capacity up to 256BB.

Price: $199.00 (click here to check current prices)

Output Resolution: 5472x2736 for images, up to 4096x2048 at 24fps.

Size/Durability: This camera is lightweight and fits in your hand. Not too small, not too big.

Customer Reviews: This is where some of the red flags were. For starters most said that the image quality was quite poor and images seemed pixelated. One of the other main concerns many voiced was that the companion app was only available on an Android/ Samsung devices, although it claims to be operable on iOS it seems to do nothing but crash. Some also mention overheating issues.

Ricoh Theta S: $399 (click here to check current prices)

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A slim design makes this camera travel-friendly. It feels solid yet lightweight. It features 8GB internal storage with the ability to transfer directly to a mobile device (without a computer). Features live-view through accompanying app.

Price: $399 (click here check current prices here)

Output Resolution: up to 5376 x 2688 for images, up to 1920x1080 at 30 fps.

Size/Durability: This camera is also lightweight and fits well in your hand. Feels solid.

Customer Reviews: Transfer of images is via it's own wi-fi network which at times may disconnect, forcing the user to re-connect it in order to see and transfer images. Not so great at live-streaming - as it can only be done via USB. One thing amusing - there were several one-star reviews siting there were other people's photos already on the camera - those are in fact 'sample' images from the company meant to give you inspiration in taking your own photos (and they are able to be deleted).

Kodak Pixpro SP360 4K: $399 (click here to check current prices)

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A little different shape than the previous 3 makes/models. This one is about a 2 inch square. It comes with its own editing and stitch software. It pairs wirelessly with an app (for iOS and Android). It can also feature an actual remote (sold separately). It features a 235 degree lens with 360 degree movement capabilities. Can hold a MicroSD up to 32GB.

Price: $399.00 (click here to check current prices)

Output Resolution: up to 7680 x 3840 for images, up to 3840x2160 at 30 fps.

Size/Durability: A 2 inch square is quite small, easily drop-able. But, on the other hand, very mobile and adventure-friendly.

Customer Reviews: It seemed quite cumbersome for a lot of folks, not to mention battery draining fairly quickly. Lots of complaints for the accompanying software, that is was not user friendly and had some sync issues. To get a full 360 image, it looks like there is stitching required.

360fly 4K: $399 (click here to check current prices)

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Similar to the design of the Kodak model, with the one lens on top. Has 64GB of internal memory. Claims to be rustproof, shockproof and water resistant. Pairs with a mobile app and has available desktop app for live viewing and shooting. Uses a single 240 degree lens.

Price: $399 (click here for current price)

Output Resolution: 2880x2880 for images, and 2880x2880 at 30 fps

Size/Durability: This camera is small, and a bit heavier than the above model.

Customer Reviews: Due to the build of the camera, to get a full 360 there may be some stitching required, also making VR awkward and have a 'stretched' look. Many complaints that is not in fact waterproof. Complaints of videos being limited to 5 min or 2GB. Also, very slow download speeds.

Nikon KeyMission 360: $499 (click here to check current prices)

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Similar to the look of the Kodak model, only this one features dual lenses, and slightly larger (about a 2.5" square). Claims to be waterproof, shockproof, and freezeproof without the use of additional external housing equipment. Uses MicroSD. Each lens is only about 180 degrees, requires stitching. Nikon's website includes this disclaimer "The camera may be unable to capture subjects within about 2ft from the camera's top, bottom, or sides because the subjects are outside the angle of view (i.e. the area visible in the frame). Point the lens toward important subjects when shooting".

Price: $499 (click here for current price)

Output Resolution: 7744x3872 for images, up to 3840x2160 at 24 fps.

Size/Durability: good size, fairly lightweight.

Customer Reviews: Over half of all reviews on Amazon were 1 star. Top complaints were things like over frustration is getting it to work, to sync with the app, and video that is just not up to par. Other things like the 'stitch-line' is quite visible in photos, and despite the Nikkor glass, the photos are of poor quality.

ln summary, this was the research I did. I compared models, their features and specs and did a thorough assessment of my needs as far as a 360 camera went. I ended up purchasing the Ricoh Theta S and am (so far) quite pleased with the purchase. Another blog post will go into more detail as far as the Ricoh is concerned - and hopefully soon I will review the new Ricoh Theta V $499 (check current price) as it compares to the S model.

Good luck, and happy 360-ing!

#theta v #360 camera

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