360 rumors

Z Cam is the latest company to join Google's recently announced VR180 program .  Z Cam also showed their VR180 camera called 3D180. Z Cam Founder and Chairman Jason Zhang had this to say: "Z CAM is very well positioned in the VR180 camera market. Our solution's precise synchronization coupled with excellent calibration of the footage delivers amazing immersive experience to viewers. I am very excited that the VR180 era has finally come and we are very committed to entering this market." Z Cam CEO Kinson Loo added, "We are glad to be part of the program and expand our cooperation with Google. VR180 will open up a lot of interesting content opportunities and Z CAM's excellent image quality and ease of use will accelerate market growth. Seeing is believing!" No other details were available such as price or specifications.

MySight360, a 4k lifelogging camera with impressive image stabilization , has been successfully funded, and its crowdfunding campaign is concluding in a couple of days.  Here are some updates since I originally posted about MySight360. First, here is a new video showing that MySight360's image stabilization will always keep the recorded video horizontal, even if the camera itself changes direction. Second, there's a new video showing how the MySight360 is used with its app. Third, MySight360 reached its stretch goal, so they are making a waterproof case available for an additional $50.  The case is expected to be rated to 10 meters. MySight360's campaign ends on January 19.   You can still contribute $189 toward a MySight360 (versus the retail price of $299) .   As with any crowdfunding campaign, pls. be aware it's not the same as preorder - most crowdfunding projects get delayed and some are discontinued.  Fortunately, MySight360 has a working demo and seems t...

A couple of months ago, I posted about the Detu Sphere S , a higher resolution version of the Sphere 800 .  The Detu Sphere S is now available from an Amazon reseller, at $160 plus shipping .  Interestingly, it seems that Sphere S is one of the few 360 cameras that may be able to handle night sky photography. Here's a recap of the Sphere S specs: - 12mp sensor - field of view: 236 degrees - aperture: f/2.0 - 1/2.3 inch 12mp backside illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor by Sony - photo resolution: 4000 x 3000 - video resolution: 2880 x 2160 @ 24 fps; 2560 x 1440 @ 30 fps - weight: 77 grams - dimensions: 50×50×43mm The Sphere S can export its video in equirectangular mp4 for viewing on a VR headset, although the resolution of 2880 x 2160 is not the standard 2:1, which makes me wonder if the video will appear distorted. One of the interesting features of the Sphere S is that it has a manual exposure mode, with a shutter speed that can be as slow as 24 seconds .  This would be usefu...

Liiv360 is a hemispherical 360 camera with 4k video and can be used underwater up to 100 feet deep, with its waterproof housing. Here are the key specs: - V3+ Sony IMX179 sensor - Video resolution: up to 3840 x 2160 @30fps - Photo resolution: up to 16mp Functions include: - time lapse - loop recording - slow motion (720p @ 120fps) The Liiv360 comes with several mounting options included, and includes a waterproof housing with a depth of up to 100 feet. I didn't see anything that indicates a function for exporting the video to equirectangular mp4 format, so I don't expect you'll be easily able to view the video in VR / gyroscopic view. Liiv360 is now available from B&H Photo for $220.50 in black .  Other colors are available by special order.

I saw the Insta360 Stereo at CES, and the current version looks quite different from the previous one I posted about . The Insta360 Stereo that I posted about previously is already phased out: The current one is still hemispherical 3D 180, but is much more compact, and connects to an Android phone: Here are the specs: - video resolution: 3008 x 1504 @ 30fps - photo resolution: 3008 x 1504 - aperture f/2.0 - realtime livestreaming In terms of availability, Insta360 produces the Stereo only for wholesale.  They have no plans for retail sales of the Insta360 Stereo because they want to focus on the Insta360 Pro as their 3D camera.

Viooa has created two hemispherical 360 cameras for drones to make gimbals unnecessary. Drones with cameras typically use gimbals for stabilization.  Gimbals work well but controlling a gimbal while maneuvering the drone can be difficult and may require having to program a flight path, or assistance from a second operator. Viooa has two hemispherical 360 cameras for drones that make gimbals unnecessary by using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to stabilize the video.  The cameras feature a low-profile aerodynamic design. The Viooa (shown above) has one hemispherical 360 lens.  The Viooa Sense is similar to the Viooa and has a hemispherical camera as well but adds four cameras and a processor to identify obstacles, similar to Intel's Realsense camera. Here is a video of the Viooa cameras in action. The camera takes video at 4k resolution and takes 32mp still photos.  There's not a lot of info about the mounting options, but it appears that they are usable with many ...

Cyclops 360 is a hemispherical 4k 360 camera designed for motorsports. Cyclops is designed by Can-Am, a manufacturer of ATVs and the Spyder trike. The Cyclops was designed by Can-Am for use in motorsports, both on- and off-road.  Here are the key specs: - 220 field of view - video resolution: 4k @ 30fps - photo resolution: 16mp - includes a waterproof case rated for a depth up to 50 meters (164 ft) Here is the official webpage .

​ The Kyocera / Yashica YAC-300/360 is a hemispherical 360 action camera with what appears to be a waterproof housing.  It's in stock and available from B&H for $149.99 with free expedited shipping .  So far, there is no other information about it available.

The original 360fly HD, a hemispherical 360-degree action camera, is normally $399 but for a limited time, is just $299!  The 360fly was one of the first 360 cameras to be dustproof and waterproof. A 4k version became available in May. This 25% discount on the original HD version is good until August 1. Here is the link: https://shop.360fly.com/catalogue/category/cameras_1/