What is a 360 camera?
A 360 camera is a device that uses two or more lenses and image sensors to record a 360 degree sphere around the camera.
What can you do with 360° videos and photos?
There are two main options for the content you can capture with 360 cameras. The first, and most common, is editing videos and photos into “flat” versions that can be posted on any social media platform. So, for example, you record a 360 video while walking and later edit that video into a 9:16 format for TikTok or Instagram that only shows the highlights of your walk. Video will be highly stabilized (no shake) and can feature pans and zooms that are much smoother and more professional-looking than possible with a traditional camera. Because the camera captures everything, you don’t need to worry about where the camera is pointed.
The other option is to use 360-degree content as 360-degree content. This is more limited in where you can post and distribute it. Facebook and YouTube are the biggest platforms that support 360 content. Photospheres and spherical videos can be viewed on any phone, often by moving the phone around as a viewfinder “inside” the image. Or, they can be viewed using a virtual reality headset where you can “look around” as if you were there. Google Street View uses an advanced 360 camera mounted on a vehicle, but anyone can upload 360 photos to add to the coverage.
Are 360 cameras difficult to use?
In some ways, 360 cameras are easier to use than traditional cameras. There is no “goal”. You don’t “point and shoot” so to speak. You hold the camera up and it records everything. That’s not to say there isn’t a learning curve to get the best results, but anyone can start taking 360° photos and videos right away. Insta360 and Kandao offer tutorials in their apps to help you get the most out of their cameras.
Why is the video resolution so high? My TV is only 4K
Because the camera records everything, the extra resolution is vital for the result to look good. Look at it this way: Your TV offers 4K to reproduce a window-sized image. The 360 camera is recording that plus everything above and below the TV, and everything else around it, so it needs a lot more pixels. Typically, this recording is edited in the camera app into something that can be displayed on any phone or TV. The 16:9 portion of an 8K 360 video can be 4K, or it can be even less, depending on how you choose to edit the video.
Is a 360 camera required for virtual tours?
No. A 360 camera is an option for Matterport-style virtual real estate tours. Because they are able to grip everything around the camera, they are usually faster than using a motorized mount for your phone.
Is it easy to damage the lens?
yes! I’ve destroyed several 360 cameras with minor drops that wouldn’t bother a phone or action camera. Because of the way they work, the lens protrudes from the camera body. So if you drop it on a hard surface, there’s a good chance you’ll crack or scratch the lens, and then it’ll show up in all your photos and videos as a smudge or dark spot or worse, basically destroy everything you catch.
Some models, like the Insta360 X4, offer removable lens guards. These are worth it if you want to protect your investment or are occasionally clumsy. Most come with soft cases, but it’s worth finding a hard case if you want to throw the camera in a backpack.
When is the best time to buy a 360 camera?
Like many products, cameras usually have discounts for Black Friday and Amazon Prime Days (even if you shop at other stores like Walmart and Best Buy). Usually, cameras get cheaper even later in their life, so six to eight months after release, you’ll start to see deeper discounts. Insta360 also has a history of keeping older cameras in its lineup at lower prices. For example, the X3 which is our current budget pick was released in 2023 and is still a great camera at a lower price than when it first came out.
What are the best 360 camera companies?
The market for 360 cameras is very small. There are actually three main companies: Insta360, Kandao and Ricoh. Ricoh essentially invented the category, but has lagged behind Insta360 and Kandao in recent years. Kandao has made some interesting cameras in recent years, but it wasn’t until the QooCam 3 Ultra recommended above that all the pieces fell into place. Insta360 is by far the category leader and has been for many years.
Other companies have entered the space, including Nikon, Kodak and action camera heavyweight GoPro with the Hero Max.
What about 360 cameras with more lenses and sensors?
The cameras we recommend are all consumer cameras. There are professional models with additional lenses and sensors that offer higher resolution photos and videos. All of these are significantly more expensive and beyond the scope of this guide.
