It's no secret that 360-degree cameras can take video shooting to a whole new level. Instead of,
Videos created in this way can be publishedfor example, on YouTube or Facebook, and I can view them both from a PC and from mobile devices. Such content is especially popular among virtual reality fans, who can view it on VR devices like Samsung Gear VR or Google Daydream.
If you are interested in 3D video shooting technology,but you are new to this and don’t know where to start, then the first question that interests you – Which 360° camera model should you choose? Today we will look at the most popular devices with a price tag of up to $500. Of course, it is quite naive to expect a professional level of 3D shooting from a camera at this price, but for amateurs and as a first such camera “to try out,” all of the listed devices are excellent.
Samsung Gear 360 (2017)
A new revision of the 3D camera from Samsung waspresented in March this year along with the flagship Galaxy S8/S8+. It is quite small and light (weighs only 130 g), making it easy to carry. It is equipped with two 8.4-megapixel CMOS sensors, which allows you to shoot photos in 15 megapixels and videos in 4K.
1,160 mAh battery is enough for recordingup to 130 minutes of video. There is moisture protection according to the IP53 standard and support for microSD cards (up to 256 GB). The camera itself does not have a display, but video from it can be viewed in real time through a proprietary application. The same application allows you to upload finished videos to YouTube and Facebook.
The only problem with this camera isa small number of compatible smartphones. These include only a few devices from Samsung (Galaxy Note 8, S8, S8 Plus, S7, S7 Edge, Note 5, S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge Plus and A7/A5 (2017) and Apple (iPhone SE, iPhone 6s and newer) There are also restrictions on the OS version: no lower than Android 5.0 and iOS 10. Synchronization with a computer occurs via USB-A, which does not provide the best data transfer speed.
In Russia, the cost of the device is from 10 to 15 thousand rubles *.
*hereinafter – according to data from the Yandex.Market resource at the time of writing.
Samsung Gear 360 (2016)
SONY DSC
Last year's version of the same camera is optimal forthose who want to save a little money on buying a camera and don’t mind the fact that the characteristics will be a little worse. Frankly speaking, the 2016 model even has advantages in the form of a larger battery (1,350 mAh) and two 15 MP sensors.
The design is also different from the 2017 revision. The camera looks like a golf ball with a detachable tripod underneath. The device is a little heavier (152 g), but still quite convenient and compact.
Gear 360 (2016) is also protected from dust and moisture byIP53 standard, supports microSD and allows you to upload videos to YouTube and Facebook through a companion application. The number of compatible devices is also limited to several Samsung and Apple smartphones.
You can buy this model in Russia much cheaper: from 7 thousand rubles.
Ricoh theta s
This 360 degree camera from Ricoh features twosensors of 12 megapixels and allows you to shoot video in Full HD resolution. This model has 8 GB of internal memory, and the battery lasts about 25 minutes.
From a design point of view, the camera looks perfectusually, however, is compact enough. In addition, it weighs only 125 g. Photos and videos taken with the Ricoh Theta S can be transferred to a mobile device using a proprietary application. The same application allows you to control shooting modes and publish videos on social networks. It also has a built-in editor for images.
Unlike Samsung Gear cameras, this model is suitable for all smartphones running Android 4.4 KitKat and higher, so you do not have to have a Samsung Galaxy or iPhone to work with this camera.
In Russia, the Ricoh Theta S can be bought at a price of 25 thousand rubles.
Ricoh theta v
Ricoh Theta V looks almost the same asthe previous model, and is similar to it in many characteristics. It is also equipped with two 12-megapixel sensors, but supports shooting video in 4K (also no more than 25 minutes due to limited battery resources).
The camera has 4 built-in microphones forindependent audio recording from different sides. The device has 64 GB of memory (no microSD support). The Remote Playback feature allows you to stream footage to your TV wirelessly.
The functionality of the proprietary application is similar to RicohTheta S. The cost of the camera in Russia is approximately 30 thousand rubles. This is slightly more expensive than the previous model, but, in our opinion, this difference is fully justified by 4K support and additional gigabytes. The latter is especially important for a camera without memory card support.
360fly 4K
The 360fly camera can shoot 360-degree video in4K, although it is equipped with only one 16-megapixel sensor. It has a lot of good features like time-lapse capture and frontal shooting mode (hello, 3D selfie). The model is also equipped with many sensors such as an electronic compass, gyroscope and GPS.
The camera is quite suitable for outdoor activities:It is protected from dust, falls and immersion in water to a depth of 1 meter. It has 64 GB of internal memory, and is slightly smaller in size than a tennis ball. 360fly connects to a proprietary Android application, in which you can view and edit videos, and then upload them to YouTube or Facebook – and all this right from your mobile device!
In Russia, this model can be purchased for 44 thousand rubles, which sounds somewhat cruel, given that on the same Amazon it costs only $ 349.
Nikon KeyMission 360
Unlike all other devices in thislist, this model can be called a full-fledged action camera with support for 360° shooting. Nikon KeyMission 360 is suitable for, perhaps, any activity you can imagine. It can be submerged in water to a depth of 32 meters, used at temperatures of -10°C, and also dropped (unintentionally, of course) from a height of up to 2.2 meters.
The camera can shoot video in 4K and take photos in 23.9 MP resolution. A proprietary application allows you to copy footage to a smartphone, control the camera remotely and do many other things.
This model is compatible with Nikon branded accessories – for example, with mounts for helmets or bicycles.
In Russia, Nikon KeyMission 360 costs from 31 to 35 thousand rubles.
Insta360 Air
This camera is different from all others in ourlist and is, in fact, an accessory for an Android smartphone. Everything you need to do to record 360-degree videos – is to connect the Insta360 Air to the charging port of your smartphone. The camera is capable of shooting video at a resolution of 2560×1280 pixels and photos with a resolution of 3008×1504 pixels. Videos created using this device can be uploaded to YouTube, Facebook and other platforms.
Online streaming is also supported on allpopular platforms, as well as 360-degree video calls in Skype and similar services. The camera is plastic and looks quite minimalistic – and is the most compact among the models on this list.
Insta360 Air is compatible with all devices onAndroid 5.1 Lollipop and later and is offered in two versions: with micro USB connectors and USB Type-C – depending on which standard your phone uses. Both of them cost from 9 thousand rubles.