360 Camera Buying Guide 2015

These 360 cameras are perfect for VR filmmaking and video production. Let’s take a closer look at what’s out there.

If you’ve ever seen a 360 video in VR, then you know how amazing this emerging technology can be. However, 360 video is in its infancy and it can be confusing to sort out all of the new technologies hitting the market. So whether you’re looking to buy a new 360 camera or if you are simply interested in the industry, here is a buying guide for 360 spherical cameras.

Quick Caveat: This post only includes cameras capable of shooting 360-degree spherical footage intended for VR headset use. If the camera is not capable of shooting directly above or below, it’s not on this list.

Cameras Currently Available

GoPro 360 Rig

• Type of Footage: Up To Monoscopic 8K or Stereoscopic 8K
• Price: $1,995+ for Monoscopic, $3,995+ for Stereoscopic
• Pros: Best-Quality 360 Footage Available for Consumers, Fantastic Resolution, Durable
• Cons: Expensive, More Cameras More Problems, Long Setup Time

The majority of 360 videos shot by professionals utilize a multi-GoPro rig. This is mainly because GoPros shoot decent footage and are so small in size. While this technique can take a lot of time to setup, a GoPro rig is the way to go if quality is the most important thing for you. It’s also important to decide if you want to shoot in monoscopic (2D) or stereoscopic (3D). If you want to shoot in 2D, you can get by with as little as six cameras. But if you want to shoot in 3D Stereoscopic, you will at least twelve cameras. Google’s popular Jump rig uses sixteen individual GoPros which can cost a lot of money, as you can imagine.

There are a lot of different places making GoPro rigs with different features. For example you can purchase a six-camera underwater rig or even 3D print your own GoPro 360 rig.

Ricoh Theta M15

• Type of Footage: Monoscopic HD
• Price: $280
• Pros: Easy to Use, Point and Shoot,
• Cons: Average Quality Footage, Low Resolution, Only 3 Minutes of Continuous Recording, Internal Storage Only

The Ricoh Theta is probably the easiest 360 camera to use on this list. A Theta is an all-in-one camera that will produce seamless 360 footage that can easily be dropped into your video editing software of choice. The footage quality is not fantastic. In fact, if you are trying to shoot professional 360 footage, you might want to look for another camera. But if you simply want to shoot pain-free 360 footage, the Theta M15 is the way to go.

360fly

• Type of Footage: HD Monoscopic (2D)
• Price: $399
• Pros: All-in-One Camera, Waterproof Design, 32GB Storage, Bluetooth Control, iOS App, Live Streaming
• Cons: Internal Storage Only, Severe Chromatic Aberration, Low Resolution,

If you want to shoot action footage, then a 360fly might be for you. The camera is incredibly rugged and can easily be attached to a helmet, car, skateboard, and more. Like the Theta, the 360fly shoots HD video, which is not necessarily a good thing for 360 footage. The 360fly also has some of the worst chromatic aberration (purple fringing) I’ve ever seen. On the plus side, you can review 360 footage using an iOS device via a bluetooth app.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkxpYPwIkyw

Upcoming Cameras

Theta S

• Type of Footage: HD Monoscopic (2D)
• Price: $350
• Pros: Long Exposure, 30fps, Live Streaming, F/2.0 Lens, App for Phone
• Cons: Footage is Average Quality,
• Expected Release Date: Fall 2015

The Theta S is a much appreciated update to the original Theta. While early test footage is still not quite as sharp as a GoPro rig, it’s certainly a step in the right direction. I fully expect the Theta S to be a great 360 camera for casual 360 video lovers. Plus, the new Theta S will feature live-stream capabilities that will allow you to output HD 360 video via a mini HDMI port. And like the 360fly, the Theta S will have a live-view app for monitoring and editing your footage on the fly.

360Cam

• Type of Footage: HD Monoscopic (2D)
• Price: $499
• Pros: GPS, Built-in Stabilization, Sleek Design, Easily Convert to Security Camera
• Cons: 360 x 300 degree Field of View (Not Full 360), Average Image Quality, Some Chromatic Aberration, Purple Fringing
• Expected Release Date: At Least Early 2016 (if you were not a Kickstarter backer)

360Cam is a great camera that has been plagued by release delays. The footage we’ve seen is definitely comparable to the Theta S, but you can’t record directly below your feet when using this camera. The 360 Cam can record still photographs and video, both of which can be monitored with an accompanying iOS app. The 360Cam can also be mounted into a light socket for 360 security purposes. 360cam is also working on Google Street view integration so you can easily upload your 360 images.

ALLie Home

• Type of Footage: 4K Monoscopic (2D)
• Price: $599
• Pros: Accompanying App, Cloud Storage, Up to 72 Hours Shooting
• Cons: Must Be Connected to Wall Socket, Not Very Portable, 20fps Video Only
• Expected Release Date: October 2015

The ALLie Home is more of an inside 360 camera, as it can only be used with a wall socket. However, the camera is incredibly diverse in terms of features. The camera can stream video to the cloud for up to 72 hours, making it a great camera for timelapse and security purposes. ALLie is being marketed as more of a security or event camera, so I don’t recommend buying one if you want to record outdoors.

Sphericam 2

• Type of Footage: 4K Monoscopic (2D)
• Price: $1,999
• Pros: Global Shutter, Up to 60fps, Great Footage Quality, 8 Tripod Mounts,
• Cons: Expensive
• Expected Release Date: January 2016

Out of all the cameras on this list, the Sphericam 2 is by far the most professional in terms of footage quality. Using six built-in cameras, the Sphericam 2 records live-stitched video in 4K at 30fps. If you want even higher-quality footage, you can record each camera to a separate card at 60fps. The camera has four built-in microphones for surround sound. The camera also has six tripod mounts, making it incredibly diverse.

Bublcam

• Type of Footage: HD Monoscopic (2D)
• Price: $799
• Pros: Easily Editable in Post-Production Software, Uses SD Cards, Multiplex and Equirectangular Mode, High Quality 14MP Images, App for Monitoring
• Cons: Internal Battery, Below-Average Video Quality
• Expected Release Date: December 15th

The Bublcam is a unique design that is very rich in features, but is somewhat lacking in video quality. If you are looking to take 360 images, the Bublcam is great. But if you are looking for high-quality footage, you might want to steer clear. However, if you are looking for an all-in-one camera solution that can take SD cards, this camera might be for you.

It’s safe to say that we will be seeing more and more 360 cameras as the years go by, but for now these are the 360 cameras you need to know about. We’ll create a new list when more cameras are announced.

If you want to see even more 360 videos, I highly recommend checking out YouTube’s 360 video channel.

What 360 cameras have you used? Do you have any personal recommendations? Share in the comments below.