Add to Chrome
Add to Edge
Add to Firefox
Add to Opera
Add to Brave
Add to SafariWhen comparing Bublcam vs Giroptic 360cam, the Slant community recommends Giroptic 360cam for most people. In the question“What are the best 360-degree cameras?” Giroptic 360cam is ranked 6th while Bublcam is ranked 9th. The most important reason people chose Giroptic 360cam is:
The camera has a curved LED screen with two buttons - one on each side. These allow for basic functions (such as switching between various modes, starting or stopping an action or turning the device on or off) to be carried out. More complex configuration can be done via the companion application.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Real-time in-camera stitching
The camera does not require use of an extra tool (such as a desktop app or a cloud service) to stitch the image together: this is done in-camera. The result can be viewed real-time on mobile devices via native iOS and Android apps by streaming it over WiFi.
Pro Can be controlled via a mobile device over WiFi
Bublcam has companion apps for Android and iOS. They allow the camera to be controlled within a 10-20 meter range over WiFi. The app can display a live stitched preview of the footage.
Pro Comes with several useful items
Bublcam comes with a protective bag for carrying it, as well as a mini tripod, a lens pen, a USB charger and cable, and a 16 GB micro SD card with an SD card adapter.
Pro Good stitching quality
Bublcam uses its own software to stitch images together to form a 360 view. The software used is reasonably successful at stitching. While artifacts and splicing issues may occur, they are usually not noticeable during a casual viewing and only properly reveal themselves upon closer inspection.
Pro Good quality image capture
Bublcam uses four 190-degree 1.6 MP lenses to capture completely spherical 14 MP photos.
Pro Good video quality for a first generation device at a reasonable 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.
Pro Includes time-lapse support
The user can set intervals between images, as well as a time-lapse duration of up to a maximum of 60 minutes.
Pro Can take HDR images
The user can increase the exposure range of Bublcam from 0.5 to 3 stops when shooting in HDR mode.
Pro Flexible mounting
Bublcam uses a standard mount, which allows for a wide variety of mounting options.
Pro Includes lens pen for cleaning lenses
If the user happens to touch the lenses, Bublcam comes with a lens pen for cleaning off fingerprints or smudges.
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 view around the image. This permits the user to apply a VR smartphone frame to look at images and videos.
Pro Simple 2-button on-camera interface
The camera has a curved LED screen with two buttons - one on each side. These allow for basic functions (such as switching between various modes, starting or stopping an action or turning the device on or off) to be carried out. More complex configuration can be done via the companion application.
Pro Oculus Rift support
It is possible to view images and videos via Oculus Rift virtual reality headset.
Pro Can be controlled via a mobile app
360cam has native apps both for Android and iOS mobile devices.
Pro Footage can be sent instantly to other devices over WiFi
Images and videos can be sent instantly to desktop or mobile devices as well as cloud storage over WiFi.
Pro Geotagging is Google PhotoSphere compatible
GPS can be used to geotag photos. Geotagging is compatible with Google PhotoSphere and these images can then be added to Google's Street View.
Pro Offers surround sound audio
The camera has 3 built-in microphones for capturing surround sound audio.
Pro Stitching done in-camera
There is no need to use an extra tool (such as a desktop app or a cloud service) to stitch the image together as it is done entirely in-camera.
Pro Can be submerged in water of up to 10 meters
360cam is IPX8 certified, meaning that it can be safely submerged and used underwater at depths of up to 10 meters. Additionally, an Underwater Lens Cups accessory can be purchased to allow for filming underwater without water distortion.
Pro Can be used as a home surveillance camera
A Light Bulb Adaptor accessory can be purchased, allowing the camera to be screwed into a light bulb socket where it can charge and be used as a home security camera. This is done by streaming a live feed to a mobile or tablet device or cloud video surveillance service.
Pro Supports universal mounting and has a selection of additional accessories available
As it uses the universal mounting system, 360cam can be used with a large selection of mounts.
Furthermore, there are optional accessories that can be purchased, such as Light Bulb Adaptor (which allows for the camera to be used as a home security device), Underwater Lens Cups (which permits filming underwater without water distortion), and POE Video Streaming Base (which provides Ethernet connectivity).
Pro Offers automatic image stabilization
The camera uses a gyroscope and an accelerometer for image stabilization.
Pro Built-in features for time-lapse photography
Burst picture mode allows for photos to be taken at a set interval. The camera will utilize much less battery when in this mode: it can take photos for a period of up to 24 hours if set to take a picture every minute.
Pro Can upload directly to YouTube
360cam can directly upload footage to YouTube. The camera is also natively supported by YouTube, meaning that it is possible to completely navigate videos taken with the 360cam, both on the web and when using a mobile app.
Pro Can take 360 degree 8MP photos and 1080p videos
The camera has three 185-degree fish-eye lenses that it uses to capture 1080p videos and 8MP photos. It captures 300 degrees vertically.
Pro Can live stream videos over WiFi
360cam is capable of streaming videos to a mobile or tablet device or a cloud-based video streaming service over WiFi. A POE Video Streaming Base accessory can be bought optionally, so to provide Ethernet connectivity.
Pro HDR support
Giroptic 360cam supports HDR, meaning that the user can capture and recreate scenes just as they appear before his/her eyes.
Pro Excellent storage space
Giroptic 360cam offers MicroSD storage of up to 64 GB.
Cons
Con Battery can only record for an hour's duration
The battery of Bublcam is used up quickly, and the file is in fact deleted when the camera runs out of juice.
Con The company has a questionable history
Multiple people are reporting their Bublcam's dying after a few weeks of use, while requests for replacements and returns are being ignored. There has been a long delay in customers (who purchased in late 2015) receiving the cam.
Con No desktop or web-based preview
Bublcam real-time preview only works through Android or iOS companion apps.
Con Internet streaming not possible
There is currently no way to broadcast stitched videos over the internet with Bublcam.
Con Limited uploading to the cloud
Photos can only be uploaded to the cloud one at a time, which is rather time consuming for users who have taken numerous photos.
Con Can't charge it while shooting
The company suggests not powering on the bublcam while charging. This can be quite problematic considering the battery will only last for one hour of recording.
Con Not waterproof, and no waterproof casing available
The bublcam cannot handle moisture. Waterproof housing was supposed to be available in late 2015, but is still not on the market. You can read more here.
Con Live preview is slightly laggy
When previewing videos via the smartphone app, there is an obvious stuttering that sometimes occurs.
Con Turning it on can take too much time
The boot-up process takes about 30 seconds. In that sense, it is unrealistic that the device can be used spontaneously, unless of course the user has kept it turned on all the time.
Con Blind spot beneath the camera
The camera does not produce a complete spherical image or video. It captures 300 degrees vertically, leaving a blind spot at the bottom.
Con Battery can only record continuously for an hour
The battery drains in about an hour of continuous recording.
Con Design may not appeal to everyone
The egg shape design of 360cam is not the most attractive and may not appeal to everyone's taste. On top of that, the button placement is slightly difficult to reach, making for an unusual, impractical design.
Con Poor stitching quality
At the top of the photo you can see 2 seams from the three lenses being stitched together.
Con Low video quality
Con Shipping and quality problems
Recent comments on Kickstarter about this product are namely negative and regard poor quality, faults, updates on shipping, stalling on shipping, late deliveries, inaccurate feedback from support, etc.
