Last year was a landmark for gadgets using panoramic technology. Here we see virtual devices from Oculus Rift CV1 series, and Vive from NTS, and VR from Playstation. But the camera market is also not asleep, and manufacturers submitted to the users' judgment their solutions for panoramic photo and video shooting. Some lines are still in the testing phase, while others are already waiting for their customers on store shelves.
Let's try to identify the most interesting and attractive solutions in the segment of panoramic cameras that will appeal to both beginners and experts in this field.
Kodak Pixpro SP360-4K
The 360 ° camera from the venerable Kodak company was introduced back in 2015 at the IFA international exhibition, but only appeared in the domestic market at the beginning of 2016. Fans of brand products will have to pay about $ 500 for it. Judging by the reviews of the owners and take into account the opinion of experts in this field, the 360 ° SP360-4K camera is worth the money, and the price tag fully meets the price / quality ratio.
The owner of the gadget will receive an excellent build, a secure design and, of course, the ability to work with panoramic functionality in the highest quality (4K / Ultra HD). Photo content is obtained with a resolution of 3264 by 3264 pixels, and video in the layout is 1920 by 1080 pixels (30 frames per second).
Gadget Features
The 360-degree SP360-4K camera from Kodak made the leader in the gadget segment for extreme shooting GoPro nervous. The device’s characteristics are very impressive: a 16 megapixel matrix, ½.33 ”physical size, standardized protection against moisture of IP5X class, and also against external impact - IP6X. The device can fall from a height of up to two meters and not even notice this, which extreme sports enthusiasts will surely appreciate. Moreover, the limits of the working ambient temperature: from -10 to +50 degrees (Celsius).
The gadget has a built-in Wi-Fi module and easily synergizes with mobile devices, that is, the SP360-4K camera (360 °) on Android and iOS works quietly. In addition, the device fully supports NFC protocols. It is possible to work with external SD-cards and connect the camera to a personal PC / laptop. The battery charge (1250 mAh) is more than enough for 160 minutes of video recording, which also pleases.
Nikon KeyMission 360
Another extreme representative for fans of an active lifestyle from Nikon. Unlike the model described above, this gadget can shoot not only photo panoramas, but also video content in a spherical layout, and not every 360 ° camera can do this. The review showed that the device also works quietly with an ultra-high resolution of 4K (Ultra HD). Existence of electronic stabilization will allow to get rid of vibration during video recording, trembling and excess noise.
The 360-degree camera from Nikon has excellent body protection, it is not afraid of falling from a height of up to two meters, as well as dust and dirt. In addition, with the gadget you can swim at a depth of 30 meters and take pictures in the heat or frost. Although the price tag on the camera bites (about $ 650), the cost can be fully called balanced in terms of price / quality.
Bubblecam
This camera (360 °) is an interesting and extremely nice example of new technologies. The gadget has a spherical shape, where the eyes of the lenses are located around the perimeter, each of which has a wide-angle grip of 190 degrees.
The solution is new and quite original and was perceived by users in different ways. Someone liked the novelty “bun”, and someone prefers the usual “boxes”. Nevertheless, a clear advantage of the gadget was the fact that the available eyes easily cope with non-standard shooting. A 360 ° Bublcam can shoot content in a spherical coordinate (720 degrees), that is, 360 on the X axis and the same on the Y axis. Gluing into the panorama takes place automatically, where the user is presented with the final result of photo or video content, which is very convenient for those who can’t wait to see the fruits of their labors, and beginners will also appreciate this moment.
The camera is equipped with an explanatory matrix that can easily cope with an ultra-high sweep of 3840 by 3840 px for photos, and in 1440 by 1440 px for video at 30 frames per second. In addition, on board there is a competent accelerometer, which will help get rid of excess noise, vibration and any distortion.
Camera features
The presence of a wireless Wi-Fi module allows you to synchronize with the Android and iOS mobile platforms. As an added bonus, there is integration into social networks (Facebook, Twitter) to immediately send the captured content to your page.
The battery charge (1560 mAh) is enough for about a couple of hours of dense work, which is quite a decent indicator for such devices. All this technological surroundings and high-quality "stuffing" will cost about $ 650, but you will not regret the money spent. Numerous reviews on specialized forums from both ordinary users and experts sound mostly in a positive way. Many liked the unusual design of the camera and its impressive features. In any case, the gadget is worth the money and more than fulfills it.