Best 360 Cameras For Beginners Business Office 2: Best 360 Cameras For Photographers

This is Part 2 of this serial inwards which nosotros expect at the best 360 cameras for beginners, this fourth dimension focusing on the best beginner 360 photographic television set camera for photographers.

In Part 1 of this series, I discussed how 360 photos too videos are created, too I explained that my mind criteria for beginner 360 cameras is repose of use, to enable a showtime 360 lensman to larn the arts and crafts too avoid frustration.

Part 1 was virtually the easiest 360 cameras to use (not simply for taking the photo, but every bit good for viewing too sharing them). In this Part, the mind audience is photographers who are novel to 360 cameras. The mind considerations for this grouping are the image quality too exposure controls. I won't trammel the choices to the absolute easiest 360 cameras, but the cameras hither volition nevertheless locomote easy to use.

For 360 photography
If you're a lensman trying a 360 photographic television set camera for the foremost time, yous may locomote surprised that most of them don't offering exposure controls (beyond exposure compensation). The beginner cameras inwards this grouping are like shooting fish in a barrel to utilisation for photos, too also do have exposure controls that photographers volition appreciate. In addition, because ikon character is real of import for most photographers, all of the cameras hither conduct keep groovy ikon quality.

1. BEST EXPOSURE CONTROLS

reviewed here). This is the 360 photographic television set camera that started it all too afterward all these years, it nevertheless has the best-in-class stitching. It every bit good has the best exposure controls for photography. The differences betwixt the Theta due south too Theta SC are that the Theta due south tin tape for to a greater extent than than five minutes, too it has to a greater extent than automatic modes for black heaven photography too for bracketing.
Number of steps to acquire shareable photos or videos: 2.
- Connect to the app wirelessly.
- Download the photograph to the Theta app.
When yous do, they volition locomote stitched automatically too ready to part from a Theta folder on your Camera Roll or Gallery.
Sample photo:

Feeding a lorikeet at #SanDiego #WildAnimalPark #safari @sdzsafaripark #theta360 - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

Downsides: depression resolution videos (1920 x 960), photograph character non every bit proficient every bit some of the newer 360 cameras, sometimes difficult to connect to the app.

2. BEST IMAGE QUALITY

comparison review here). This novel photographic television set camera is from Xiaomi. It has higher ikon character than the pop Ricoh Theta (see above), too offers exposure controls like to the Theta. Shutter speed tin locomote every bit irksome every bit 32 seconds too ISO tin locomote laid every bit depression every bit 50 (for both iOS too Android).

Number of steps to acquire shareable photos: 2 for Android, three for iOS.
1. Connect to the app.
2. Tap on a photograph to download the photograph to the app, therefore they volition locomote stitched automatically too on Android, it volition seem inwards your Gallery, ready for sharing.
3. (iOS only) On iOS, the photograph volition locomote on a hidden directory on iOS. To deed it to your Camera Roll, yous require to export the photo, therefore it volition locomote inwards your Camera Roll.
For both Android too iOS, the stitched photograph or video volition conduct keep 360 metadata too tin locomote shared to 360 photograph sharing sites such every bit Facebook, Google Streetview, Kuula.co or Roundme. However, ane peculiarity is that they can't locomote viewed on Google Photos (as of June 2, 2017), fifty-fifty though 360 videos from Xiaomi are displayed correctly on Google Photos.
If yous discovery Google Photos essential for your 360 photos, yous tin create the metadata on the Xiaomi photos therefore that they tin locomote displayed on Google Photos. The procedure is every bit uncomplicated every bit opening the file inwards an app for fixing metadata too saving it into the right format. There are several apps for that such every bit Exif Fixer (Mac, Windows) too Photosphere XMP Tagger (Android).
Sample photos:

Downside: for videos, yous tin solely acquire the sum resolution if yous conduct keep a real high cease telephone (at to the lowest degree Snapdragon 820 or equivalent). For photos, the phones I've tested conduct keep all gotten the sum resolution: iPhone 6, iPhone SE, Samsung S6, Samsung S7, Samsung S8+. Xiaomi photos every bit good conduct keep a foreign põrnikas where some at nowadays lines expect real slightly wavy.

Other 360 cameras
The 2016 Gear 360 too the 2017 Gear 360 every bit good conduct keep pretty proficient photos, too they every bit good accept simply 2 steps to acquire a shareable photo. However, I didn't select them for this grouping because they don't conduct keep adjustable exposure controls. Meanwhile, the LG 360 Cam does conduct keep manual exposure controls, but the shutter speed is solely upward to 1/2 2nd at the slowest. Finally, the Panono has the highest ikon character for photos, too takes solely three steps to acquire shareable photos, but their futurity is uncertain because they late filed for reorganization, too the shutter is solely 2 seconds at the slowest.

SUMMARY
The 2 best beginner 360 cameras for photographers are the Ricoh Theta due south or SC too the Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere. The Theta's advantages are its best-in-class stitching too the many automated controls, such every bit interval composite, which has both an intervalometer too a means to combine the exposure of the resulting photos, making it convenient for star trails, for example. Yes, yous create acquire the private photos, non simply the composite. (Note: the Theta SC lacks these automated features)
The Xiaomi Mi Sphere on the other hand, has higher overall ikon character (higher resolution, ameliorate dynamic range, less chromatic aberration) too every bit good has real proficient exposure controls amongst a sum manual mode, shutter priority vogue (auto or 1 sec. to 32 secs inwards 1 halt increments), or ISO priority vogue (auto or 50 to 1600). However, every bit of May 2017, the Xiaomi doesn't conduct keep automated functions such every bit bracketing, a multi-shot HDR mode, or an intervalometer. Its stitching is every bit good quite good, but non every bit proficient every bit that of the Theta.
These cameras are available here:
- Ricoh Theta due south (Amazon or B&H), currently to a greater extent than or less $300.
- Ricoh Theta SC (Amazon or B&H), currently to a greater extent than or less $260.
- Xiaomi Mi Sphere is to a greater extent than or less $250 to $300 too is available from GearBest, which ships to 260+ countries.