The latest 360 camera carries a 360-degree field view allowing it to capture everything around it. This omnidirectional camera is perfect for covering large visual fields or shooting panoramas.
Most 360 cameras are found in the virtual and augmented reality industry, especially in video games and interactive entertainment sectors. A few years earlier, 360 camera technology was fairly new. It’s used for seven purposes, including robotics, photography, and even virtual reality feature films
So, what does a 360 camera look like?
Spherical/Compact Body
Depending on the brand and model, the shape of a 360 camera may vary. However, one factor that is common in 360 cameras is that they are pretty compact. Most Go-Pros and Samsung 360 Spheres are extremely portable and compact, which help you to carry them around while you capture your favorite images and videos.
The latest 360 cameras also come in a spherical shape rather than a rectangular one like other 360 camera models. The edge-less space helps the camera move around seamlessly to capture each aspect of its surroundings.
However, a regular camera can only focus on a subject once the lens is manually pointed towards it. In contrast, the 360 camera uses its spherical body as a tool to capture panoramic views and wide-angle pictures and videos.
Omnidirectional Capacity
The omnidirectional capacity in the latest 360 cameras helps the lens move in any direction or rotation it wants in order to capture everything from top to bottom. This means that the 360 cameras can point in every direction to create a perfect monoscopic image. With this feature, the viewer can feel like they are part of the image or video because of its ability to capture everything that a person would view with both their eyes.
Fish-Eye Lenses
A 360 camera has back-to-back lenses that can capture a 180-degree view of wherever you are. The camera then merges the two 180-degree views to form one complete 360-degree view of everything that you see around you.
These powerful lenses and flat sensors help capture the most stunning pictures in a spherical view. This is the perfect lens for capturing festivals, concerts, panoramic beach views, etc.
Mounts
Every 360 camera comes with the ability to be mounted on top of a tripod. These nooks found on the camera make it easy to adjust and fix on the tripod to prevent it from slipping and falling. Every professional cameraman knows the importance of a good tripod, and the 360 cameras are easily mountable on the most commonly used tripods.
Now that we have discussed what a 360 camera looks like let’s move onto its applications.
What Is a 360 Camera Used for?
Undoubtedly, or 360 camera is an incredibly powerful tool. So powerful that some 360 camera models allow video editing right on the camera instead of exporting the footage to external editing softwares. Here are a few primary uses of a 360 camera:
Monoscopic Videos
The spherical design of the 360 camera enables it to capture flat renderings of everything around it. These videos or feeds allow the user to explore and move around in the space captured by the camera without any depth perception. This is perhaps the most common use for a 360 camera.
Google Street View is an excellent example of monoscopic images as it allows you to explore every street without the actual depth perception. With increasing diversity in technology, many applications are now also able to offer monoscopic video properties.
Other than mapping, a 360 camera is especially useful in real estate and image filtering applications because it can easily highlight all the environmental aspects needed. Not only is it fun to use, but the monoscopic videos are extremely accurate.
Stereoscopic videos
On the other hand, stereoscopic videos are extremely popular in virtual reality applications and gameplay. The 360 camera builds upon the monoscopic images to create 3D renderings of each image. This aspect gives the monoscopic videos the depth perception they lack, turning them into stereoscopic videos.
Generally, stereoscopic videos require two lenses because they have to capture the environment according to what two separate sets of eyes would see in a Virtual Reality Headset. Both of the fields are then viewed together to create the final product that is viewed by the headset user.
The stereoscopic feeds and videos are inexplicably lifelike only because of the addition of depth perception and the overall 3D aspects.
Virtual Attendance
Another great use of 360 cameras is allowing different live events to capture every aspect of the event, especially for those people who could not attend it in person. With 360 cameras, the person viewing a live event from home feels like he is actually part of the event, making it a huge success even among those who could not get their hands on the tickets.
Most events, such as ball games, invest in placing several 360 cameras across the arenas to provide the viewer with detailed shots from different angles. This gives the viewer a superior experience that other camera recordings cannot.
Customized Virtual Reality
Since 360 cameras have the ability to create stereoscopic and monoscopic videos, they can also be used to customize a user’s virtual reality experience according to their liking. Not only is this super popular in the gaming industry, but it is also a form of marketing.
Content creators also use their 360 cameras to provide their viewers with 360 views of different exploration sites and even underwater scenes with waterproof models.
Our Final Thoughts
With each passing day, 360 cameras are able to integrate their exceptional footage and videos into our reality creating a whole another dimension for us to live in. Their quality output is an absolute gamechanger in the present, with even more great stuff to look forward to in the future models!
