What Are The Best 360 Cameras On The Market In 2021?
A 360 camera is, simply put, a camera that can take an image spanning 360-degrees. A 360 camera can capture an entire scene. These images are not flat like those a regular camera would take but are rounded like inside of a sphere.
360 cameras use two back-to-back fisheye lenses, each of which captures a 180-degree view. A 360 camera merges two hemispherical images to create the spherical view you see when using this type of camera.
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Put simply, a 360 camera can completely transform your portfolio. Let’s take a look at some of the best 360 cameras and what you can use them for.
Table of contents
1. Best 360 camera for beginners
2. Best 360 camera for shooting video
3. Best 360 camera for durability
5. Best 360 camera for underwater use
7. Specialist camera insurance from Ripe Photography
Best 360 camera for beginners: GoPro Fusion
The GoPro Fusion is an excellent entry-level choice for beginners looking to get into 360 photography.
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It includes two ultra-wide-angle lenses and shoots in 5.2K video. There are four built-in microphones that capture spatial audio for immersive sound. It also has smooth stabilisation technology and in-camera stitching for seamless and professional-looking videos.
The OverCapture feature allows you to frame your perfect shot from any angle to capture traditional, flat footage on your smartphone. Download the GoPro app to preview, playback, and edit your footage. As well as standard 360 shooting modes, you can also record in Timelapse.
The Fusion is small and portable, measuring approximately 24 x 10 x 14cm and weighing 226g. It’s also waterproof up to 5m.
One of the main advantages the Fusion has over other 360 cameras is its removable battery – this can easily be swapped over when you’re out and about. This camera offers approximately 80 minutes of recording time from a single charge, so bear this in mind if you’re heading out on a long shoot.
The GoPro Fusion is available to purchase at Argos for £330.
Best 360 camera for shooting video: Insta360 One X2
If you’re a videographer or photographer wanting to capture the best 360-degree videos, then the Insta360 One X2 is the camera for you.
It comes with a wide range of features to ensure your 360-video footage is the best it can be. The One X2 is one of the most capable 360 cameras on the market and is considered GoPro’s main competition in 2021. It’s also waterproof up to 10m.
In terms of key features, the Insta360 One X2 has plenty to go at. The SteadyCam feature allows you to capture ultra-wide footage using a single lens, while MultiView creates a widescreen, flat video from one lens while adding a small box of footage from the other lens. This feature is particularly useful for vloggers.
ShotLab is the One X2’s digital studio, containing a selection of filters and special effects templates found in the Insta360 app. The One X2 has 11 innovative effects in total, including Colour Plus, Subject Tracking, Fly Lapse, and Clone Trail. You can read more about these features here.
The Insta360 One X2 is lightweight and compact, weighing 149g, and it measures 46 x 113 x 29cm.
It has a large, spherical touchscreen which previews your content – this touchscreen is where you can change camera modes, too.
Video modes include Standard, HDR, Timelapse, TimeShift, Bullet Time, and SteadyCam. It has a resolution of 5.7K at 30 frames per second.
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This camera does a lot. It might take some time to familiarise yourself with all of its features, but your persistence will pay off when you’re capturing incredible and immersive 360 video content.
The Insta360 One X2 is available to buy from Apple for £429.95.
Best 360 camera for durability: Garmin VIRB 360
The Garmin VIRB 360 is a great choice for adventurers who need a rugged camera when filming outdoors.
This is Garmin’s first 360 camera – the company is better known for producing sat navs and sports watches – but it delivers on performance.
Designed for photographers on the go, it automatically stitches your 4K footage and stabilises your film with one simple click. You can also edit and share your videos wherever you are with the VIRB mobile app on a smartphone.
The VIRB has three modes of 4K spherical stabilisation to ensure your videos run as smoothly as possible, regardless of camera movement. There are also four built-in microphones to create immersive videos with sound from all angles.
Garmin’s VIRB 360 is built for adventure and can endure a lot. It’s waterproof to 10m and features strengthened glass lenses with a sunlight-readable display. This rugged 360 camera also has built-in sensors, including GPS, GLONASS, barometer, and accelerometer. These features provide ongoing, customisable G-Metrix data overlays in 360-degree augmented reality.
Readily designed templates make it easy to retell your story in-depth with the data points you want.
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The VIRB also features voice control technology, meaning you can still capture 360 footage hands-free. So, if you’re mountain biking, kayaking, or climbing, you don’t need to reach out and press the record button. You just need to say, ‘OK Garmin, start recording’, and you’re good to go.
The Garmin VIRB 360 costs £599.
Best 360 camera for iPhones: Insta360 Nano S
The Insta360 Nano S is an ideal choice for casual 360 shooters and those starting out. It’s a great addition for smartphone photographers and transforms your iPhone into a 360 camera.
Simply plug it into the lightning port on your iPhone to capture a 360-degree view right from your phone. The camera will automatically activate upon connection with an iPhone, so it’s perfect for impromptu shooting.
With its dual fisheye lenses, the Nano captures 360 footage with real-time stitching that seamlessly merges the two images. This feature also enables users to livestream 360 footage to YouTube or Facebook straight from an iPhone, making the Insta360 Nano S an ideal choice for vloggers.
This camera also supports other popular iPhone apps like Instagram and Twitter, so it’s easy to share content across your social channels.
The Nano S also comes with a video chat feature, so you can share your video with whoever you like. You can also shoot in multiview to record in every direction and see the best bits on your iPhone screen.
The Nano S works as a standalone camera and does not require an iPhone to record footage. To use the Nano without an iPhone, press the shutter button once to capture an image and double-click to begin recording video.
This camera is available on Amazon for £149.
Best 360 camera for underwater use: Nikon Keymission 360
The Nikon Keymission 360 is currently the only 360 camera that can be used underwater without an external case or housing. It’s one of the best options for photographers who want to film underwater 360 footage without needing external housing and accessories.
With the Keymission 360, you can literally dive right in. The camera’s regular lens is waterproof up to 20m. To use the camera up to depths of 30m without housing, attach the protective underwater lens cover. This cover is designed to correct any underwater refraction and is sealed on tight with a double-locking door.
The Nikon Keymission 360 is one of the best choices for shooting underwater 360 footage. Capturing 360 footage in 4K, it’s built for adventure and on-the-go filming.
It’s not just incredibly hard-wearing and durable, it’s both shockproof and freezeproof. It can handle drops from up to 2m and can withstand temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius.
Check out the below video to see this camera in action.
The Keymission 360 captures video and still images with respective buttons. To begin recording video, use the rectangular button on top of the camera, or to capture still photos, press a smaller square button at the side. These buttons are also recognisable when wearing gloves, which is ideal considering the climates this camera might be used in.
The Keymission weighs just under 200g and has dimensions of 65.7 x 60.6 x 61.1 mm.
One of this camera’s best qualities is its removable battery and memory card functions. The Keymission’s battery and memory card can be removed and swapped as needed, so you don’t need to call it a day when the camera needs charging or when your storage is full.
The Keymission 360 from Nikon is, without doubt, one of the best options for shooting 360 footage underwater. At the time of writing, it’s available for £249.
Best 360 camera for 2021: GoPro Max
GoPro is already well-known for its quality range of 360 cameras, but the GoPro Max is a real winner for the brand in 2021.
The GoPro brand produces some of the best 360 cameras in the game, and the GoPro Max is no exception.
The GoPro Max features three cameras, in effect. You can shoot with a single lens in HERO-style, capture 360 video in 6K⁴, or easily create vlogs using the front-facing screen.
There’s a selection of four digital lenses on the GoPro Max to ensure you snap the perfect shot every time. Choose from Narrow, Distortion-free Linear, Wide, or Max SuperView – GoPro’s widest ever lens.
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The GoPro Max also introduces Max HyperSmooth, which is essential if you’re shooting video on the go.
For seamless camera stabilisation, the innovative Max HyperSmooth technology means that your videos are smoother than ever. You can even level out the horizon on your content if you wish.
This incredible gadget is small enough to fit right in your pocket, so you can be ready for action wherever you go. It measures 69mm in height, about twice the size of a paperclip, and is just 25mm wide. It’s also super lightweight, weighing 163g.
Another reason that the GoPro Max is among the best 360 cameras is its rugged and hardwearing design that’s built for adventure. The camera comes with protective lenses, and it’s waterproof down to 16ft.
One reviewer said: ‘The Max has been perfect in use, handling, and picture quality. The stabilisation is unreal, and flicking between 360 and hero mode at the click of a button is a great feature. The beauty of this camera is you never miss anything, as it sees everything around you.’
Another exceptional feature of the GoPro Max is its 360 audio. This camera has six built-in microphones to capture immersive audio with 360 video and directional audio for vlogging. It also contains wind-noise reduction technology and GoPro’s best stereo sound yet. You can also create the smoothest timelapse videos with Max TimeWarp and easily edit your content with the GoPro Max.
The Quik app enables photographers to easily reframe 360 footage into traditional, flat videos and images. Users can also download the GoPro app to capture, share, and edit content all from a smartphone.
The GoPro Max is available from £379.98 on the GoPro website.
Specialist camera insurance from Ripe Photography
It goes without saying that action cameras need protection.
You can protect your 360 camera against theft, loss, and damage with our specialist camera insurance.
Our bespoke cover can be tailored to fit your exact requirements, so you only pay for what you need.
Get an instant online quote in minutes here.
Please note the information provided on this page should not be taken as advice and has been written as a matter of opinion. For more on insurance cover and policy wording, see our homepage.
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