The seven best 360-degree cameras for travel photos and video
A 360-degree camera is a great way to capture the feel of a new place – and you can upload wraparound panoramic videos and 360-degree photos of your travels to Facebook and YouTube
Samsung Gear 360
This dual lens ‘camera ball’ (HK$2,998) creates 360-degree content using two lenses, and makes it easy to transfer content to a phone, which can be used with the Samsung Gear VR headset. This creates its own virtual reality ecosystem – and it comes with a tiny tripod, too.
Available at samsung.com/hk
The original 360-degree camera, the tiny Theta S (HK$2,490) has two fisheye lenses and can record photos, or half hour of full HD video. It can be remotely controlled by a phone app.
Available at Foresoon Computer, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2838 0183
A very similar, though more affordable camera from LG. The 360 Cam (HK$1,699) can record 360-degree video for over an hour. Sold at expansys.com.hk
When it comes to panoramic photography, the Panono (HK$11,650.) is all on its own. That high price indicates that this isn’t a consumer device (and it doesn’t do video), though anyone after top quality resolution will adore this sphere’s 36 tiny cameras, whose images are stitched together online to create 108-megapixel 360-degree images. Available only from panono.com
Much like the Samsung, but designed as a cube, the dual-lens arrangement of the SP360 (HK$2,250) seems like two action-cams mounted back-to-back. However, it captures video in 4K resolution, and it also delivers time-lapses, which are ideal for sunrises and sunsets.
Leading Digital, Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 5423 5888
Just like the Kodak, the 360fly (HK$3,100) is a 360° action-cam that records videos in 4K resolution video, as well as taking wraparound photos. However, unlike any other such camera, the 360fly has a single fisheye lens, and can stream live 360° video across the internet.
Buy it from 360fly.com
This palm-sized 360-degree shooter (HK$4,300) goes against the grain by combining not two, but three lenses to produce the wraparound content – both photos and videos – and also adds three microphones.
Available from 360.tv/Giroptic360cam
