INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Are you in the real world yet? Forget the 3:2, 4:3 and 16:9 camera formats, and embrace the world as it is – a 360-degree landscape in
which anything can happen, anywhere
That's the selling point for a new breed of 360-degree cameras that usually put two fisheye lenses back-to-back in a variety of designs to
let you capture the world in a whole new way. However, do be careful about claims of high resolution; 4K may sound a lot for a standard
video, but when those pixels are shared around a 360-degree landscape the end result won't look as detailed as you might expect. The Black
Friday and Cyber Monday deals period is a good time to take a look at 360-degree cameras
You’ll often find good deals at this time of year, especially on older or entry-level models
If you have your eye on something in particular from this list, don’t forget that our widgets always display the latest and best deals
However, if you’re less bothered by brand, or specific models, then keep an eye on our Black Friday camera deals page, which is regularly
updated with the latest offers.In the emerging genre of 360-degree cameras, anything goesIn the emerging genre of 360-degree cameras,
anything goes, and the product you choose will depend as much on what kind of activities you want to capture as the quality of the camera
Is the 360-degree format still a novelty? Yes, probably, but standards are being raised quickly, with 4K, live-streaming and post-crop
editing features now to the fore. 1
Instax360 One X 5.7K, HDR, slo-mo and time-shift starWeight: 115g | Max
video resolution: 5760 x 2880 at 30fps | Stills resolution: 18MP | Battery life: 60 minutesHDR video and photosGimbal-grade
stabilisationShort battery lifeNot waterproofProducing great video is about two things; capturing the action, and slick editing
So what if you could do both with an action camera and an app? With dual fisheye lenses and some unique time and perspective-manipulation
special effects, the One X is making a play for the title of most full-featured action camera around
What we love about the One X isn't its 360° tricks at all, but how easy it is to produce a great-looking regular widescreen video
Kudos in particular to the silky smooth image stabilisation, which all goes to make it a tempting proposition for semi-pro videographers
looking for some unique special effects on-the-fly. 2
GoPro FusionMountable and waterproof, this 5.2K resolution 360° effort could be hard to beatWeight: 226g | Max
video resolution: 5228 x 2624 at 30fps | Stills resolution: 18MP | Battery life: 70 minutesToday's best GoPro Fusion deals View at GoPro5.2K
resolutionOver-capture for standard videoHigh-end and expensiveOverkill for most usersDid GoPro just change the 360° game? Possibly, though
this highly innovative spherical camera will be too rich for most people's blood
The Fusion can capture 360° video in 5.2K resolution video at 30fps (or 3K at 60fps)
Nice, but its real trick isn't 360 at all; an 'over-capture' mode films in 360°, but only to allow the creation of standard 16:9 video from
the footage – so, much like post-focus on modern cameras, the Fusion allows post-framing
Why did no-one think of this before? Now add GPS, a compass, accelerometer, gyroscope, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3D audio, and compatibility with
existing GoPro mounts, and the waterproof (to a depth of 5m) Fusion could be a semi-pro videographer's dream.3
Ricoh Theta VNow capturing in 4K, and with an unbeatable form factorWeight: 121g | Max
video resolution: 3840 × 1920 at 30fps | Stills resolution: 14MP | Battery life: 80 minutesToday's best Ricoh Theta V deals4K video and
live streamingForm factor and tripod threadVery expensiveMini HDMI removedIt was Ricoh that put 360° video creation into the mainstream
with its Theta S a few years ago, but for all the brilliance of its form factor, it produced barely 25 minutes of rather soft video on one
The souped-up follow-up looks the same, but is capable of 4K video recording, 4K live streaming, and even records 360° spatial audio thanks
to its four microphones – and for 80 minutes
Android-based and Qualcomm Snapdragon 625-powered, the Theta V vastly increases the ISO and has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so can be operated
Thankfully, it retains the standard tripod thread its forbear had. 4
Detu TwinIt's short on price, but this entry-level shooter will suit experimentersWeight: 67g | Max
Video resolution: 1440 x 720 (x2) at 30fps | Stills resolution: 8MP | Battery life: 15 minutesToday's best Detu Twin dealsLow priceStandard
tripod threadVery short battery lifeBasic image qualityThere's something to be said for creating a product that apes a market leader yet
slashes the price, but this budget effort from Detu only just manages to make the grade
Stylistically very similar to the Ricoh Theta S, the Detu Twin has less resolution, but goes beyond being simply a handheld 360 camera by
including a standard tripod thread on its undercarriage
The results are basic, and the app will only share videos of 30 seconds or less, but the biggest issue is its drastically short battery life
However, it's easy to use, and one of the most affordable 360 cameras around, so may suit those looking to dip their toe in the genre.5
Samsung Gear 360 (2017)A small step forward from 2016's effort, this cam is very easy to useWeight: 130g | Max
video resolution: 4096 x 2048 at 24fps | Stills resolution: 8.4MP | Battery life: 130 minutesToday's best Samsung Gear 360 (2017)
dealsSlick, ergonomic designWorks with iOSSmaller battery than old modelDisappointing video qualityWith a similar form factor to Ricoh's
Theta 360 cameras, this pocket-sized dual-lens shooter has been brought down a peg or two in terms of specs since Samsung decided it needed
to help justify the existence of its own Gear VR
For example, while the original Gear 2016 captured 15MP still images, this new version achieves barely half that
It's also got a smaller battery, which means you're going to have to carry around a USB-C-compatible portable charger
Has Samsung gone off the whole idea of 360° cameras? Perhaps, but the cute, splash-proof Gear 360 remains very easy to use, with plenty of
free editing software, so if nothing else it helps make the new medium accessible.6
Yi 360 VR More about core quality than novelty featuresWeight: 187g | Max
video resolution: 5760 x 2880 at 30fps | Stills resolution: 16MP | Battery life: 50 minutesCrisp 360-degree imagesWell saturated, even
colorsBasic in-camera stitchingNot waterproofIf you're a semi-pro videographer wanting to experiment with 360-degree video, the Yi 360 VR
gives you most of the tools you need
A serious-looking product that's more about core quality than novelty features, its standard tripod thread lends versatility, while its 5.7K
resolution, consistent color and endless manual tweaks are all plus points
Those looking for waterproofing, over-capture and a 24fps mode – albeit at a slightly lower maximum resolution – should consider the
GoPro Fusion, but there's no doubt that the Yi 360 VR is a highly ambitious, great value 360 camera that semi-pro videographers will
Kodak PixPro SP360 4KWould you settle for 235°? Weight: 128g | Max
video resolution: 2880 x 2880 at 30fps | Stills resolution: 12MP | Battery life: 55 minutesToday's best Kodak PixPro SP360 4K dealsRugged
designLong battery lifeTwo needed for 360° capturePricey propositionDo you actually need to shoot in 360°? Sometimes, 235° is more than
enough (such as for this all-sky video of a solar eclipse ), which is why Kodak created the PixPro SP360 4K, which has only one spherical
Shockproof, freeze-proof, dust-proof and splash-resistant, this Wi-Fi and NFC-connected camera comes with dozens of mounting accessories,
which may help to explain the high price
And while it may be solid and pocket-sized, as if one of these wasn't pricey enough, if you want to shoot in 360° you'll have to by this
product twice (Kodak thoughtfully sells a Dual Pro two-pack)
You can operate it remotely from a phone, upload to YouTube and Facebook, and make use of a lot of bundled editing software, but we're still
not convinced about the absence of true 360° capture. 8
Insta360 OneUnique video modes help this 4K clip-on to stand outWeight: 83g | Max
video resolution: 3840 x 1920 at 30fps | Stills resolution: 24MP (including raw) | Battery life: 70 minutesToday's best Insta360 One
dealsClip-on design also works remotelyFreeCapture and Bullet TimeiOS onlyWill only appeal to videographersNo one in their right mind thinks
360° video is going to take over from regular video
Why else would the Insta360 One include FreeCapture, a mode that allows users to film in 360° before transforming the results into a
traditional 16:9 aspect ratio? It's a little like the feature on the similarly 4K-capable GoPro Fusion, although that's where the comparison
A reliable 4K 360° camera for video and stills, the Insta360 One proffers another advanced tool in the shape of Bullet Time, a fast
frame-rate slow-mo mode that, rather bizarrely, requires users to wave the camera rapidly around them on… a piece of string
It's odd, but effective – the slow-mo effect you can add this footage looks like something out of The Matrix
It comes with a tripod thread for remote shooting, too. 9
Garmin VIRB 3605.7K video puts this cam a cut above the restWeight: 160g | Max
video resolution: 2880 × 2880 (x2) at 30fps | Stills resolution: 15MP | Battery life: 65 minutesToday's best Garmin VIRB 360 deals5.7K
resolutionRugged, waterproof designHeaviest camera hereRelatively pricey optionIt might be known mostly for its sat navs and sports
watches, but Garmin has produced a whopping-good 360 camera
The feature that catches the eye on the VIRB 360 is its ability to capture in maximum 5.7K resolution, and there's a very simple reason for
that awkward figure: 4K doesn't cover a 360 landscape well
Better yet, you can now stitch 5.7K footage using Garmin's free VIRB Edit software
Its four microphones produce wraparound sound, too, while waterproofing, GPS, a gyroscope and an accelerometer give it a notable Garmin feel
(it collects data about your adventures as you go, which you can overlay onto your 360 videos).10
360fly 4KWeight: 172g | Max
video resolution: 2880 x 2880 (x2) at 30fps | Stills resolution: 12MP | Battery life: 90 minutesToday's best 360fly 4K dealsGreat designEasy
360° footageVideo is soft around the edgesHeavier than rivalsHere's an ambitious effort – not at popularizing the new video format of
360°, but at creating a does-it-all action cam
Dust-proof, shockproof and water-resistant, the 360fly 4K does that rare thing of capturing video in both wide-angle 360º and first-person
With just one lens, and an app with a clear layout, you can shoot, upload and share stunning and immersive 360º video just as easily as
with any other action camera
It's also got an accelerometer, compass, GPS and gyroscope for oodles of data
The drawbacks? The video is soft around the edges, and the audio is basic. 3VJ8pdHwBeP8ExMRSuhwm6.jpg?#
