What are the best completely spherical 360-degree cameras?

Question

ElectronicsPhotography

What are the best completely spherical 360-degree cameras?

4

Options
Considered

19

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Nov 5, 2022

Last
Updated

4 Options Considered

Best completely spherical 360-degree cameras	Price	Optics	Stitched image
-- Ricoh Theta S	$350	2 x 206° FOV f/2	14.5MP
-- Bublcam	$800	4 x 190° FOV f/2.0	14MP
-- LG 360 CAM	199.99	2 x 206° FOV f/1.8	16MP
-- ALLie Cam	$500	4 x 190° FOV f/2.8	-

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score 7 · Answer 1

Ricoh Theta S

Top Pro

Straightforward usage

Switch between photo or video capture by pressing a toggle on the side of the camera and then press the button on the front of the camera to take images or start recording a video. See More

Top Con

No expandable storage

The camera is limited to the 8GB of storage that it comes with. See More

Specs

Optics:2 x 206° FOV f/2

Stitched image:14.5MP

Stitched video:1920x1080 @ 30 fps

Completely spherical image:Yes

See All Specs

Top Pro

Highly portable

The camera is small making it easy to carry around. It can easily fit into a pants pocket. See More

Top Con

It's easy to accidentally damage the device

You have to be extra careful in how you store the device due to its protruding lens design and the fact that it can easily fall over. See More

Top Pro

Reasonable stitching quality

The Ricoh Theta app is reasonably successful at stitching. While artifacts and splicing issues happen they will usually not be noticeable during a casual viewing and will only reveal themselves upon closer inspection. See More

Top Con

Non-removable battery

Top Pro

Offers good degree of manual control over image capture

Allows manually tuning ISO, white balance, shutter speed, noise compression and exposure compensation. See More

Top Con

Functionality is split among multiple apps

Capturing and editing is done via different apps creating hassle that could've been avoided by using one app for both functions. See More

Top Pro

Built-in interval photography support

You can set interval between images as well as the number of images you wish to take. See More

Top Con

Video editing app is not available on Android

Top Pro

Real-time live preview via a smartphone app

The smartphone app allows previewing the footage that the camera is capturing as well as adjusting settings such as exposure and white balance. See More

Top Con

You are forced to use Ricoh's site in order to share image and videos

Top Pro

Includes HDR mode

Top Con

You are forced to use a Facebook or Twitter account to share images and videos

Top Pro

Comes with a protective sleeve for carrying and storage

Top Con

Bad quality

Top Pro

HD live streaming

You can live stream to Youtube in dual fisheye mode. See More

See All

score 4 · Answer 2

Bublcam

Top Pro

Real-time in-camera stitching

The camera does not require using an extra tool, like a desktop app or a cloud service, to stitch the image together. It is done in-camera. The result can be viewed real-time on mobile devices via native iOS and Android apps by streaming it over Wi-Fi. See More

Top Con

No desktop or web-based preview

Bublcam real-time preview currently works only through Android or iOS companion apps. See More

Specs

Stitched image:14MP

Optics:4 x 190° FOV f/2.0

Stitched video:2688p x 1344p @ 15fps; 1984p x 992p @ 30fps

Completely spherical image:Yes

See All Specs

Top Pro

Reasonable stitching quality

Bublcam uses its own software in order to stitch images together to make the 360 view. The software used is reasonably successful at stitching. While artifacts and splicing issues happen they will usually not be noticeable during a casual viewing and will only reveal themselves upon closer inspection. See More

Top Con

Battery can continously record for just an hour

The battery is being drained quickly, and the file is deleted when the camera runs out of juice. See More

Top Pro

Reasonable video quality for a first generation device at this price range

Bublcam uses four 190-degree 1.6 MP lenses to capture completely spherical 2688p x 1344p @ 15fps; 1984p x 992p @ 30fps videos after stitching. See More

Top Con

Turning it on can take a bit too much time

Boot-up process takes about 30 seconds. So it's somewhat difficult to use it in the moment unless you keep it turned on all the time. See More

Top Pro

Can be controlled via a mobile device over Wi-Fi

Bublcam has companion apps for Android and iOS. They allow controlling the camera within a 10 to 20 meter range over Wi-Fi. The app can display a live stitched preview of the footage. See More

Top Con

Deletes the file it's recording if the battery runs out before before the recording has stopped

Top Pro

Can take HDR images

You can increase the exposure range from 0.5 to 3 stops when shooting in HDR mode. See More

Top Con

Live preview is a touch laggy

There's easily noticeable stuttering that can occur when previewing video via the smartphone app. See More

Top Pro

Uses a standard mount allowing for a wide variety of mounting options

Top Con

Can't charge it while shooting

Top Pro

Bundles useful items

The camera comes bundled with a protective bag for carrying the camera, a mini tripod, a lens pen, a usb charger and cable and a 16GB micro SD card with an SD card adapter. See More

Top Con

Not waterproof

Top Pro

VR smartphone frame support

The smartphone app can create a splitscreen view of the image and use the phone's built in gyroscope to look around the image allowing you to use a VR smartphone frame to look at images and videos. See More

Top Con

Limited uploading to the cloud

Top Pro

Includes time-lapse support

You can set interval between images as well as time-lapse duration up to a maximum of 60 minutes. See More

Top Pro

Good quality image capture

Bublcam uses four 190-degree 1.6 MP lenses to capture completely spherical 14 MP photos. See More

Top Pro

Comes with a lens pen for cleaning lenses

See All

score 2 · Answer 3

LG 360 CAM

Top Pro

Highly portable

The camera is small making it easy to carry around. It can easily fit into a pants pocket. See More

Top Con

It's easy to accidentally damage the device

You have to be extra careful in how you store the device due to its protruding lens design. See More

Specs

Stitched image:16MP

Optics:2 x 206° FOV f/1.8

Stitched video:2560x1280 @ 30fps

Completely spherical image:Yes

See All Specs

Top Pro

Real-time live preview via a smartphone app

The smartphone app allows previewing the footage that the camera is capturing as well as adjusting settings such as exposure and white balance. See More

Top Pro

Comes with a lens cover for carrying and storage

Top Pro

5.1 surround audio recording

Top Pro

Lens cover doubles as a small stand

See All

score 1 · Answer 4

ALLie Cam

Top Pro

Can live preview

The camera can stream stitched video to the companion app. See More

Top Con

Video only

Can't take images. See More

Specs

Stitched image:-

Optics:4 x 190° FOV f/2.8

Stitched video:4096 x 2048

Completely spherical image:Yes

See All Specs

Top Pro

Can be used for two-way voice communication

The camera has a built-in microphone and speaker enabling you to establish a voice communication channel via the companion app. See More

Top Con

Tethered-only for now

Camera power is AC only at this time meaning its movement is restriced. Battery power is planned for June 2016. How this will be done seems to be through accessories, which may add bulk or dongles to the device. See More

See All

What are the best completely spherical 360-degree cameras?

4 Options Considered

Ricoh Theta S

My Recommendation for Ricoh Theta S

My Recommendation for Ricoh Theta S

Straightforward usage

No expandable storage

Highly portable

It's easy to accidentally damage the device

Reasonable stitching quality

Non-removable battery

Offers good degree of manual control over image capture

Functionality is split among multiple apps

Built-in interval photography support

Video editing app is not available on Android

Real-time live preview via a smartphone app

You are forced to use Ricoh's site in order to share image and videos

Includes HDR mode

You are forced to use a Facebook or Twitter account to share images and videos

Comes with a protective sleeve for carrying and storage

Bad quality

HD live streaming

Bublcam

My Recommendation for Bublcam

My Recommendation for Bublcam

Real-time in-camera stitching

No desktop or web-based preview

Reasonable stitching quality

Battery can continously record for just an hour

Reasonable video quality for a first generation device at this price range

Turning it on can take a bit too much time

Can be controlled via a mobile device over Wi-Fi

Deletes the file it's recording if the battery runs out before before the recording has stopped

Can take HDR images

Live preview is a touch laggy

Uses a standard mount allowing for a wide variety of mounting options

Can't charge it while shooting

Bundles useful items

Not waterproof

VR smartphone frame support

Limited uploading to the cloud

Includes time-lapse support

Good quality image capture

Comes with a lens pen for cleaning lenses

LG 360 CAM

My Recommendation for LG 360 CAM

My Recommendation for LG 360 CAM

Highly portable

It's easy to accidentally damage the device

Real-time live preview via a smartphone app

Comes with a lens cover for carrying and storage

5.1 surround audio recording

Lens cover doubles as a small stand

ALLie Cam

My Recommendation for ALLie Cam

My Recommendation for ALLie Cam

Can live preview

Video only

Can be used for two-way voice communication

Tethered-only for now

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