Learning About 360 Video Cameras

Enjoy panoramic views of your surroundings by shooting with 360 video cameras. Compared to a regular camera, a 360-degree camera captures more parts of a scene and creates a more complete picture of an event. Use 360-degree clips to relive the rollicking fun of your family's holiday in amazing detail, or share your friends' trip to Yosemite Falls as if you're there, too. For a more immersive experience, watch your panoramic clips on a VR headset to get a taste of virtual reality.

Types of 360 Video Cameras

A monoscopic spherical camera is a rig comprising multiple cameras. Each one captures a video from one angle while a central unit stitches the viewpoints of all the cameras into a single video that delivers a complete 360-degree experience. This is the type preferred by professional filmmakers. A stereoscopic 360 video camera captures images and videos with two lenses. In addition to shooting 360-degree views, this arrangement also creates 3D videos.

Some 360-degree cameras are add-on accessories for smartphones and connect to their charging ports to draw power. They also depend on their host devices to process captured spherical videos. Portable, standalone 360-degree cameras exist as well. These are usually more powerful and have built-in batteries. You can also find a 360 action camera, which is a portable unit with a rugged, weatherproof exterior that makes it suitable for outdoor use and sports videos.

How to Choose a 360 Spherical Video Camera

Think about image quality, number of lenses, storage capacity, device compatibility, and battery life when you're choosing a camera. Factors that determine image quality include resolution and frames per second (FPS). Higher camera resolution results in sharper images. Choose a 360 HD video camera that can capture 1080p videos. For crisper videos, look for one with 2K or 4K resolution. FPS measures video smoothness. For smooth playback, choose a unit that can shoot HD and 4K videos at 30fps or higher.

The internal storage capacity of a 360 spherical camera determines the number of 360-degree photos and videos it can save in its memory. Select one with a high storage capacity or support for expandable storage via microSD cards. Some spherical cameras only work with either iOS or Android devices, while others support both platforms. Note that shooting spherical videos runs down a camera's battery faster, so it would be a good idea to have an extra one on hand.

Differences Between Consumer and Professional 360 Video Cameras

In addition to using monoscopic cameras, professional 360 video cameras usually have more than 10 camera lenses, offer spatial sound capture, and record at up to 8K resolution. In contrast, a consumer 360 video camera is a compact unit for beginners, casual users, and amateur videographers.

Capture your cherished moments in beautiful spherical videos shot with 360 video cameras. Browse the varied selection of video equipment at B&H Photo and Video to find the right VR and 360-degree camera.