Last year was a landmark year for gadgets using panoramic technology. Here we see virtual devices from Oculus of the Rift CV1 series, and Vive from NTS, and VR from Playstation. But the camera market is also on the alert, and manufacturers have presented their solutions for panoramic photo and video shooting to the users' judgment. Some lines are just being tested, 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 company Kodak was presented back in 2015 at the international exhibition IFA, but appeared on the domestic market only at the beginning of 2016. Fans of the brand's products will have to pay about $ 500 for it. Judging by the reviews of the owners and taking into account the opinion of experts in this field, the 360 ° camera SP360-4K is worth the money, and the price tag fully meets the price-quality ratio.
The owner of the gadget will receive an excellent assembly, 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 scan - 1920 by 1080 pixels (30 frames per second).
Distinctive features of the gadget
Kodak's SP360-4K 360-degree camera has made GoPro, the leader in extreme photography gadgets, nervous. The characteristics of the device are quite impressive: a 16 megapixel matrix, a physical size of ½.33”, standardized protection against moisture class IP5X, as well as from external influences – IP6X. The device can fall from a height of up to two meters and not even notice it, which will surely be appreciated by extreme sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts. Not only that, the ambient operating temperature limits: -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 is also good.
Nikon KeyMission 360
Another extreme representative for lovers 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 scan, and not every 360 ° camera can do this. The review showed that the device also works quietly with ultra-high resolution in 4K (Ultra HD). The presence of electronic stabilization will get rid of vibration during video recording, jitter and unnecessary noise.
Nikon's 360-degree camera has excellent body protection, it is not afraid of drops 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 up to 30 meters and take pictures in the heat or cold. The price tag of the camera, although it bites (about $ 650), but the cost can be called fully balanced in terms of "price / quality".
Bublcam
This camera (360°) is an interesting and very nice piece of new technology. The gadget has a spherical shape, where the eyes of the lenses are located around the perimeter, each of which has a 190-degree wide-angle capture.
The solution is new and quite original and was perceived by users in different ways. Someone liked the novelty - "kolobok", and someone prefers the usual "boxes". Nevertheless, the fact that the existing eyes can easily cope with non-standard shooting has become a clear advantage of the gadget. The Bublcam 360° camera can shoot content in a spherical coordinate (720 degrees), that is, 360 along the X axis and the same amount along the Y axis. Panorama merging occurs automatically, where the user is provided 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 intelligent matrix that can easily cope withultra-high resolution of 3840 by 3840 px for photos, and 1440 by 1440 px for video at 30 frames per second. In addition, there is a competent accelerometer on board, which will help get rid of unnecessary noise, vibration and any distortion.
Camera Features
The presence of a wireless Wi-Fi module allows you to synchronize with 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 hard work, which is quite a decent indicator for this kind of device. All this technological surroundings and high-quality “stuffing” will cost about $650, but you will not regret the money spent at all. Numerous reviews on specialized forums from both ordinary users and experts sound mostly positive. Many liked the unusual design of the camera and its impressive capabilities. In any case, the gadget is worth the money and more than fulfills them.
