Best 360 Cameras (2025), Tested and Reviewed

5 days ago

Top 4 360 Cameras Compared

Other Options

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

Insta360 X3 for $250: You'll person to settee for 5.7K footage here, and that's connected a 1/2-inch sensor, which is only 1080p erstwhile you harvest to a rectangular video format. Still, you get astir nan aforesaid shape facet arsenic nan X4, and you tin usage it arsenic a 4K, single-lens action cam. At this value nan X3 remains a viable action for those wanting to dabble successful 360 video without spending a fortune.

Insta360 One RS for $300: The company's interchangeable-lens action-camera/360-camera hybrid is different option. The video footage isn't arsenic bully arsenic nan different cameras successful this guide, but you tin switch nan lens and person an action camera successful a moment, which is nan awesome trading point. That said, now that nan X3 and X4 tin besides beryllium utilized arsenic 4K action cameras, nan One RS is little tempting than it utilized to be. Still, if you for illustration nan action-camera shape facet but want to beryllium capable to sprout 360 footage arsenic well, this One RS is simply a awesome camera. The existent combo would beryllium nan the 360 lens paired pinch nan Leica lens, but nan value for that combo is considerably higher.

GoPro Max for $822: GoPro's introduction into nan 360 camera world, nan Max is simply a tin action camera, featuring 6K video successful a waterproof shape facet pinch industry-leading stabilization. It's sewage each nan shooting modes you cognize from your GoPro, for illustration HyperSmooth, TimeWarp, PowerPano, and more. Like nan X4, there's a single-lens mode (called Hero mode), and, my favourite part, nan Max is compatible pinch astir GoPro mounts and accessories. The main logic nan Max is not 1 of our apical picks is that nan Max 2 is apt coming very soon. If you want a Max, you're amended disconnected waiting.

Qoocam 3 Ultra for $599: It's not wide available, and we person not had a chance to effort one, but Kandao's Qoocam 3 Ultra is different 8K 360 camera that looks promising, astatine slightest connected paper. The f/1.6 aperture is particularly interesting, arsenic astir of nan remainder of these are successful nan f/2 and up range. We'll update this guideline erstwhile we've had a chance to trial a Qoocam.

360 Cameras to Avoid

Insta360 One X2 for $230: Insta360’s older X2 is different from nan X3 that replaced it. The shape facet is little convenient. (The surface is tiny; you beautiful overmuch person to usage it pinch a phone). It still shoots 5.7K video, but it's not arsenic good stabilized nor is it anyplace adjacent arsenic crisp arsenic nan X3 aliases X4. Unless you tin get it for good nether $200, nan X2 is not worthy buying.

Insta360 One RS 1 360 Edition: Although I still for illustration and usage this camera, it appears to person been discontinued, and there's nary replacement successful sight. The X5 delivers amended video value successful a lighter, little vulnerable body, but I will miss those 1-inch sensors that managed to propulsion a batch of detail, moreover if nan footage did apical retired astatine 6K. These are still disposable used, but astatine outrageous prices. You're amended disconnected pinch nan X5.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 2 reasons you'd want a 360-degree camera. The first is to sprout virtual reality content, wherever nan last viewing is done connected a 360 screen, e.g., VR headsets and nan like. So acold this is mostly nan state of professionals who are shooting connected very costly 360 rigs not covered successful this guide, though location is simply a increasing assemblage of amateur creators arsenic well. If this is what you want to do, spell for nan highest-resolution camera you tin get. Either of our apical 2 picks will work.

For astir of america though, nan main entreaty of a 360 camera is to sprout everything astir you and past edit aliases reframe to nan portion of nan segment we want to attraction on, aliases panning and search objects wrong nan 360 footage, but pinch nan consequence being a typical, rectangular video that past gets exported to nan web. The video solution and image value will ne'er lucifer what you get from a high-end DSLR, but nan DSLR mightiness not beryllium pointed astatine nan correct place, astatine nan correct time. The 360 camera doesn't person to beryllium pointed anywhere, it conscionable has to beryllium on.

This is nan champion usage lawsuit for nan cameras connected this page, which chiefly nutrient HD (1080p) aliases amended video—but not 4K—when reframed. I expect to spot 12K-capable consumer-level 360 cameras successful nan adjacent twelvemonth aliases 2 (which is what you request to reframe to 4K), but for now, these are nan champion cameras you tin buy.

Whether you're shooting virtual tours aliases your kid's birthday, nan basal premise of a 360 camera is nan same. The fisheye lens (usually 2 very wide-angle lenses combined) captures nan full segment astir you, ideally editing retired nan selfie instrumentality if you're utilizing one. Once you've captured your 360-degree view, you tin past edit aliases reframe that contented down to thing fresh to upload to YouTube, TikTok, and different video-sharing sites.

Why Is High Resolution Important successful 360 Cameras?

Camera makers person been pushing ever-higher video solution for truthful agelong it consciousness for illustration a gimmick successful galore cases, but not pinch 360 cameras. Because nan camera is capturing a immense section of view, nan canvas if you will, is very large. To get a accepted video from that footage you person to harvest which zooms successful connected nan image, meaning your 8K 360 changeable becomes conscionable nether 2.7K erstwhile you reframe that footage.

How Does “Reframing” Work?

Reframing is nan process of taking nan huge, 360-degree position of nan world that your camera seizure and zooming successful connected conscionable a portion of it to show your story. This makes nan 360 footage fresh accepted movie formats (like 16:9), but arsenic noted supra it intends cropping your footage, truthful nan higher solution you commencement pinch nan amended your reframed video will look.

If you're shooting for VR headsets aliases different immersive devices past you don't person to reframe anything.

I've been shooting pinch 360 cameras since Insta360 released nan X2 backmost successful 2020. Early 360 cameras were fun, but nan video they produced wasn't precocious capable solution to fresh pinch footage from different cameras, limiting their usefulness. Thankfully we've travel a agelong measurement successful nan past 5 years. The 360 camera marketplace has grown and nan footage these cameras nutrient is bully capable to operation seamless pinch your action camera and moreover your precocious extremity mirrorless camera footage.

To trial 360 cameras I've surgery nan process down into different shooting scenarios, particularly scenes pinch different lighting conditions, to spot really each performs. No camera is perfect, truthful which 1 is correct for you depends connected what you're shooting. I've paid typical attraction to nan easiness of usage of each camera (360 cameras tin beryllium confusing for beginners), on pinch what benignant of adjuvant extras each offers, HDR modes, and support for accessories.

The last constituent of nan image is nan editing workflow and devices disposable for each camera. Since astir group are shooting for societal media, nan earthy 360 footage has to beryllium edited earlier you station it anywhere. All nan cameras supra person package for mobile, Windows and macOS.

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