360 rumors

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...

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...

Here is a video tutorial on using the Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 360 camera.  I also have late-breaking news on possible workarounds using third party software. The Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 3.5K panoramic camera currently appears to offer the highest video quality for 360 cameras for $300 or less, and it is one of the few that offer manual exposure controls.  Together with fairly smooth stitching, edge-to-edge sharpness, and a 24mp photo resolution, it offers an excellent package for those looking for an entry-level or even intermediate 360 camera. The only problem with the Mi Sphere is that its software is not straightforward and has quite a few bugs.  In this video, I will show how to use Xiaomi and hopefully demystify the Mi Sphere's software. As you saw in the video, the Mi Sphere has a few issues when stitching or exporting videos.  I therefore recommend trying out some files from the Xiaomi on your phone before buying it. iOS app Android app Unstitched samples for yo...

More updates about the Xiaomi Mi Sphere 360 camera! - a low light video sample - a long exposure shot (well, you're already looking at it...) - a list of bugs so far - a discount. UPDATE: Xiaomi has vastly improved the app!  See this amazing video ! LOW LIGHT VIDEO First, here is a low light video: Because the video was in low light, I had to raise the exposure in post by +1EV in Adobe Premiere.  I was expecting the worst because if you push the exposure in postprocessing with a small sensor, usually you get very noisy video.  The only question was how bad it would be.  So I applied the exposure adjustment and.... nothing.  No problem at all....! :-O  There was only a slight increase in noise in the shaded area but most viewers wouldn't even notice it.  Wow this camera keeps getting better... LONG EXPOSURE SHOT I also took a long exposure shot last night.  The Xiaomi Mi Sphere is one of the very few 360 cameras with manual exposure.  And...

All the attention right now is on the 2017 Samsung Gear 360, but there's a less known 360 camera that may actually be better, for about the same price -- the Xiaomi Mi Sphere 360 camera.  In this post, I compare photos and videos from the two cameras, as well as describe the workflow for the Xiaomi to help you decide if the Xiaomi is better for your needs. Here is a video comparing the two cameras: PHOTOS Here are sample photos from the Xiaomi, including a comparison photo with the 2017 Gear 360. Here are my observations: 1.  The Xiaomi has much more detail .  This is not surprising because the Xiaomi's photo resolution is significantly higher (6912 x 3456) compared to the Gear 360 (5472 x 2736). 2.  In shadow areas, the Xiaomi has an even bigger advantage.  The Xiaomi retains detail in shadow areas , whereas the Gear 360 has much less detail in the shadows.  The Gear 360 also has much more noticeable chroma noise in shadows. 3.  The Xiaomi has almost ...

Last week, I received a review copy of the FeiyuTech G360 panoramic gimbal for 360 cameras.  Here is the unboxing, my first impressions, and sample videos! The G360 came with its own zippered semi-hard case, with four different size counterweights, a USB cable and three rubber caps (which cap the end of the support rod for the counterweights).  Here is the unboxing: The G360's design is different because the handle is offset and is not on the same vertical axis as the camera. On one hand, this makes the handle more visible.  On the other hand, this design allows you to move the handle freely around the camera.  See this demo: I've tried the G360 and here is a sample video while walking around at a local fair (shot with the 2016 Gear 360): In the first part of the video, I used all-lock mode, which keeps the camera pointed in the same direction all the time.  In the second part of the video, I used the follow mode which will only stabilize the pitch and roll. ...