360 rumors

I compared two of the best 360 cameras for consumers right now: Garmin Virb 360 and Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere for low light performance in typical indoor lighting conditions.  Here's the video: Both cameras did very well in this low light test.  As for which one is better, here are my thoughts: Without editing, the Garmin Virb 360 looks underexposed compared to the Xiaomi.  In Premiere, I added +1.0EV exposure, which made the Garmin exposure look more similar to that of the Xiaomi. Remarkably, the Virb video held up to the adjustment and did not show any noticeable increase noise. With the adjustment, the Virb and Xiaomi look very similar, but the Virb video is actually more detailed.  Here are closeup cropped portions of each video: Nonetheless, there is a huge $500+ difference between these two cameras, so you might say they are both winners in their own way.  In terms of absolute image quality, the Virb 360 edged out the Xiaomi, but the Xiaomi is so much mo...

Ben Claremont (Life in 360) compares seven 360 cameras for their low light performance!  Which cameras came out on top?  The answer will surprise you! Here's the video: Spoiler alert below ! . . . . . In my own testing, I found similar results as Ben did, although I would have a different ranking for these same cameras. For me, the Insta360 Air  ( reviewed here ) and Insta360 Nano are pretty good for low light because even though they have quite a lot of noise, there seems to be more detail in the shadows in low light.  Check out this sample . The Xiaomi Mijia MI SPHERE ( reviewed here ) did well because it uses Sony IMX206 sensors which are backside illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensors, which means the wiring for the sensors is behind the photodiodes, allowing more light to reach the photodiodes.   However, the contrast curve for the Xiaomi seems a bit aggressive, so it looks good with the highlights and midtones but the shadow areas in low light are almost totall...

As I said in my review of the Xiaomi Mijia MI SPHERE 360 camera , I found the Xiaomi  to have the best image quality for both photos and videos for 360 cameras that cost $350 or less.  You can now preorder the international version with English instruction manual, for shipping in July. The Xiaomi Mijia MI SPHERE is a camera that most people still don't know about, but it has been surprising new users.  Nonetheless, the Xiaomi has a number of quirks, one of which is that it feels like it wasn't intended for sale outside of China. For example, - the App Store listing previously had only a Chinese name (how would English speakers search for it?  Note: it's now in English); - the manual is entirely in Chinese. - The original app had many options that were in Chinese (but now the app is now almost fully translated). The downloading page for the Xiaomi app is still in Chinese. Now however, Xiaomi is ready to release the Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere outside of China, with a man...

Here is a quick informal photo and video comparison between two of the best 360 cameras at the moment: the Garmin Virb 360 ($799 ; first impressions here ) and the Xiaomi Mi Sphere ($250 to $300; reviewed here ). When I reviewed the Xiaomi Mi Sphere, I found it to have the best photo and video quality among consumer 360 cameras around $350 or less.  Meanwhile, the Garmin has launched the Virb 360 with 5.7K video* (4K in-camera stitched), which is the most feature-rich 360 camera I am aware of, bar none. Both cameras feature image stabilization, which puts them heads-and-shoulders above the competition, IMHO.  No doubt the Xiaomi is a great choice, but is it worth spending the extra to get the Virb 360?  To help you answer that, I took a quick sample of photos and videos from these two cameras for comparison.  (Note: the Virb is using firmware 2.70, while the Xiaomi is using firmware 12494). Here are the videos.  The first is a montage that alternates between th...

The Xiaomi Mi Sphere has emerged as a dark horse 360 camera that has surprising photo AND video quality (it appears to have the best of both compared to consumer 360 cameras ).  However, one issue is that it has limited compatibility with smartphones, requiring a Snapdragon 625 or better processor in order to export the full video resolution.  Xiaomi's app has limited iPhone exports to 2304 x 1152 -- less than half of the full resolution. One solution to get the full resolution out of the Xiaomi is to use a third party software to stitch the videos, and Muvee Stitcher is probably the most affordable such software.    Ulf Brusquini shared this tutorial for stitching Xiaomi Mi Sphere videos in full resolution using Muvee Stitcher for Mac. Here is Ulf's tutorial: Be sure to check out Ulf's YouTube channel ! Besides using a third party stitcher, another solution is to buy a fully compatible smartphone just for rendering purposes.  Previously it seemed that you wou...

Here is a full review of the Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 360 camera, which has become one of my favorite 360 cameras for its excellent image quality and incredible image stabilization. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Xiaomi Mi Sphere is an excellent 360 camera that has the highest image quality for both photos and videos among cameras around $350 or less (for photo quality, I would say there is no better 360 camera unless you are willing to buy a Panono).  On top of that, its image stabilization really works, and it works very well.  On the other hand, the Mi Sphere has significant drawbacks that you should review before buying it. Here is the video review: WHAT'S IN THE BOX The Xiaomi Mi Sphere includes: - the camera - a mini tripod / handle - a Micro USB cable - a water resistant pouch The Xiaomi is very well made, with a sleek matte black outer finish with hidden LED indicators (like the Theta).  The frame is metal, which makes the Xiaomi feel solid but also helps to radiate heat (...

Check out this stabilized 360 video using a third person view mount that is hands-free and makes the camera invisible! To create this video, I created a hands-free third person view mount.  I used the following: 1. a slim 360 camera.  In this case the Xiaomi Mi Sphere , which I chose because it is lightweight and has image stabilization .  It might also work with the Insta360 Air (Type C or Micro USB ), Insta360 Nano , or Garmin Virb 360 , all of which also have stabilization but they're heavier (in the case of the Air and Nano, you need to attach your phone as well).  It might also work with the wearable kit from GimbalGuru .  You need to consider that if they're at the end of a selfie stick, they will feel even heavier. 2. a selfie stick that is invisible even to a slim 360 camera.  In this case, I used a Benro MK10 because it is stiffer than my other selfie sticks, and because the handle is heavier than average, allowing it to act like a counterweight ...

This is Part 2 of this series in which we look at the best 360 cameras for beginners, this time focusing on the best beginner 360 camera for photographers . In Part 1 of this series , I discussed how 360 photos and videos are created, and I explained that my primary criteria for beginner 360 cameras is ease of use, to enable a beginning 360 photographer to learn the craft and avoid frustration. Part 1 was about the easiest 360 cameras to use (not just for taking the photo, but also for viewing and sharing them).  In this Part, the primary audience is photographers who are new to 360 cameras. The primary considerations for this group are the image quality and exposure controls .  I won't limit the choices to the absolute easiest 360 cameras, but the cameras here will still be easy to use. For 360 photography    If you're a photographer trying a 360 camera for the first time, you may be surprised that most of them don't offer exposure controls (beyond exposure compe...

Check out this aerial 360 video by Jean-Marie Cannie that uses two 2017 Samsung Gear 360 cameras to make the drone invisible! Last week I posted about Jean-Marie Cannie's dual 360 camera mount for the DJI Mavic Pro , which puts the Mavic in between the two cameras, allowing it to be masked out. Here is a new video based on two 2017 Samsung Gear 360 cameras : I've ordered Jean-Marie's dual mount and will be testing it on my Mavic using two Xiaomi Mi Sphere cameras with image stabilization .  I'm hoping the stabilization will remain synchronized.... we'll see!  If it doesn't work, my backup plan is to get another 2016 Gear 360, which is now very affordable (available  from Amazon  or  B&H Photo ).

Ben Claremont (Life in 360) gives a very detailed comparison of the 2017 Samsung Gear 360 and the original Gear 360.  I'll let you know my take on these two cameras as well. Here's the video: SECOND OPINION Here are my own thoughts on the two:      The original Gear 360 is actually a very good 360 camera.  Its biggest problem was poor compatibility.  It worked only with high-end Samsung smartphones (S6 and above).  In addition, the desktop software was for Windows only.      As for me, I liked it but I have to admit I didn't use it all that often after a while.  The photos were nice but not reliable because of blurgate.  I liked it well enough for videos but one thing I didn't like was the glare (something that Ben notes in his comparison as well).  As far as I can tell, the glare is a reflection of the concentric rings around the lens.  It's quite distracting, in my opinion, and very difficult to correct.  And ...

The Xiaomi Mi Sphere keeps getting better!  It now has a self-timer that you can use without the app!  Here's how to use it, plus a video demo. A self-timer is a very important feature for 360 photos because it allows you to move away from the camera after taking the shutter so that your fingers or hands don't appear oversized in the 360 photo.  Until now, the Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 3.5K 360 panoramic camera required using the app to use the self-timer feature.  But now there's a self-timer feature that you can use on the camera, without using the app! Here is how to use it: 1.  Turn on the camera and connect it to the app. 2.  On the app, set the self-timer to 10 seconds.  The camera will remember this setting even if it is turned off, or if the app is disconnected. 3.  To use the self-timer, hold down the shutter button until you hear a beep. 4.  When you hear the beep, the camera LED icon will start flashing to let you know it's counting d...

I found a camera case that fits the Xiaomi Mi Sphere perfectly and doubles as a lens cap! Like any 360 camera, you need to take very good care of the Xiaomi Mi Sphere's lenses.  Unlike non-360 lenses, scratches will have a serious impact on the image quality of 360 lenses because of their very short focal length. The Xiaomi does include a camera case, which has a rubberized texture that seems waterproof.  However, I wasn't satisfied with it for two reasons: first, it's not that thick, and doesn't seem like it will protect the Xiaomi in case you drop it.  Second, every time I take the Xiaomi out of the case, I see that the lens is smeared.  It seems like the rubberized texture has some kind of oil in it (perhaps to prevent it from drying out). I searched high and low for a replacement case, and finally found one that's pretty much perfect.    Here is the case I found .  Here is a video showing how well it works with the Xiaomi: To recap, here are the pr...

I've updated my tutorial for the Xiaomi Mi Sphere, including a faster workflow. Here is a detailed tutorial for Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 3.5K 360 panoramic camera.  This tutorial has been updated for Mi Sphere iOS app 1.6.4 and Mi Sphere Android 1.6.4.12888 and above. Here is the video: Xiaomi is available here: https://goo.gl/kO0CuA   (GearBest ships to 260+ countries, and I usually get my orders from them in just one week from China to Los Angeles) Photos: https://roundme.com/tour/147936/view/374315/ Video for comparison: https://goo.gl/qtE3tn Workflow and other info: https://youtu.be/GxuwONmLTGE Unstitched files to try: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4RnW2_ZeadSamJpSURuQzktSEU Contents: 00:32 - taking photos and videos without a smartphone 04:15 - shooting photos with the app (including why) 09:18 - shooting videos with the app 10:22 - viewing and sharing photos 13:43 - viewing and sharing videos 25:26 - Summary Changes from previous tutorial (mostly after 13:34): 08:36 -...

Some updates on the Xiaomi: - Over the weekend, Xiaomi updated the Mi Sphere app for iOS to give it the same features as its Android version, including stabilization! - There's a rumor that Xiaomi is working on a desktop app.  See the evidence. - Meanwhile, I used my Xiaomi Mi Sphere to take some 360 videos while swimming.  Check out the video! iOS APP UPDATE Xiaomi updated the Mi Sphere app to version 1.6.4 which added several features, including: - can export stabilized 360 video - shutter speed up to 32 seconds in photo mode - video editor Here is a short sample stabilized video: However, the 360 video seems to be missing 360 metadata (the Android version has 360 metadata on export). I expect they'll fix this in the next update.  More importantly, the maximum resolution is still 2304 x 1152.  This seems to be a hardware limitation therefore I don't expect the resolution to increase unless perhaps the next iPhone is powerful enough to stitch the Xiaomi's video at f...

Drone vlogger AndyRC took the Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 360 on his race drone and got some insane aerial videos! You have to see this! I'll just let the videos speak for themselves.  Don't forget to pick up your jaw from the floor. Here's the first video: Here's the second video \ Here's a third video: The first video uses the Xiaomi's stabilization while the second is unstabilized (I sent Andy an older version of the Xiaomi app).  I thought they're both amazing, although I thought the stabilized one was more eye popping. Here is a video by Andy RC on his thoughts on the Xiaomi and how he used it for his aerial videos: It's funny how Andy RC noted that Xiaomi's drone started out similar to the Xiaomi Mi Sphere - great hardware but buggy software that wasn't fully translated to English.  Over time however, Xiaomi put out firmware and app updates and by the end, it was a "near perfect drone." This innovative aerial video by Andy RC just sh...

Xiaomi updated their app to fix a few things, including enabling users to export gyro-stabilized 360 videos from the Mi Sphere 360 camera!  Check out the video! I've had the Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 3.5K and the camera itself is amazing.  The photo and video quality are impressive ( see here for photo comparison , and see here for video comparison ). The only problem was the Mi Sphere's app.  The Mi Sphere app can connect to the Mi Sphere easily and I can control the camera, see the live preview, etc.   The issue is the stitching and export of videos .  In short, I wasn't able to export stabilized 360 video on previous versions of the Mi Sphere app. On an iPhone 6 and SE, it seemed that export resolution was limited to 2304 x 1152.  On my Samsung S6, I could only get 1920 x 960.  On my Samsung S8+, I could get the full resolution, but only by using their video editor, which was limited to 5 minutes. I also noticed that there was image stabilization , but...