360 Degree photos – MasterGadgets Blog

360FLY

Master Gadgets Team — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 08:42:00 +0000

If you search the internet for this 360FLY camera, the only thing which you will see is a sci-fi eye looking thing. Ys, indeed this Sci-Fi eye looking thing is a 360-degree camera, and it is called the 360FLY 4K. It is a single lens, a 360-degree camera which is water resistant upto 10 meters. And not just that, it is also shockproof and dust proof. It is definitely tougher than the others 360-degree cams, and some design improvements from the original such as the standard tripod mount and a bigger and brightly lit power and record button make it much easier to use. It can record 360/240 degree photos and videos. Yes, this isn’t spherical, but it indeed captures a lot of things in the screen, and there is no stitching required as well. It can also do flat white still as well when you don’t want 360-degree footage. And all of this is controlled by its mobile app. And let me tell you that the app is the main factor here which really sells the camera.

The app of the 360FLY simply makes it easier to edit, save and share. You can also install the live streaming app and use the 360FLY to live stream whatever it is recording. Do make a note that this will definitely use your phone’s mobile connection. There is also a great desktop app as well if you like to do your editing there. But what is unfortunate is, the video is sort of a mixed bag as of now. Don’t get me wrong but it looks really good on a small screen like a smartphone or a tablet which is pretty much the best way to experience the content. However, the footage is noticeable soft towards the bottom, and there is heavy purple fringing in high contrast areas. It is almost to the point of distraction. Otherwise, this $500 camera is a pretty great option to let viewers immerse themselves in your experiences whether they are all pre-recorded, or you are deciding to go live. On the other hand, if you are not really comfortable with this then maybe you should check out some of the other offerings like the one from Nikon called the Keymission 360.

Insta360 Air

Master Gadgets Team — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 06:42:38 +0000

Virtual Reality is slowly taking over the world, and we have now started seeing more and more new product on the market. Well, consuming VR content is being more focused rather than producing the content for it. Yes, more and more manufacturers have now started coming up with their own 360 cameras which are capable of producing 360-degree videos. However, if you are in the market for one, then you need to be ready to shed some serious money on them as they are not that affordable, to begin with. What we need right now are some products which can easily record the 360 content on the go, so that you can watch it later with a headset, etc. And right now there only a few of them, that are capable of doing it.

Insta360 Air looks like a promising product indeed. It is a lightweight and ultra-portable clip-on smartphone camera that captures immersive 360-degree HD images and videos. These videos and images can then be live streamed or shared instantly on social media. This also allows for a fully immersive VR mode as well. Apart from so functional, it also comes in four colors, and over build quality of the camera looks to be very nice. The camera is compact when compared with conventional 360-degree cameras. The Insta360 is designed as an extension of the smartphone rather than a bulky add-on. It features an advanced 210-degree fish eye lens and real-time image stitching as well. It captures 3K still images and 2K videos with the select smartphones.

The Insta360 Air can also be used a 360 webcam which users an connect to laptops via the multifunctional extension cable, and the video can be live streamed as well. Livestream works well with YouTube, and the still images can be shared on social media with one-click uploads to Facebook, Twitter, Messenger and WhatsApp. And as mentioned earlier, you can also switch to the VR mode for more immersive experience and use it with VR viewer or headset to enjoy the experience. So overall, this is as good as it gets when you talk about VR content creation on the go. Definitely, more options will be available from other manufacturers on the same lines, but as of now, this is what you have, and it is quite good at what it does.

Ricoh Theta S

Master Gadgets Team — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 07:09:44 +0000

Some gadgets are known for what they do, and on the other hand, some are known for doing something before anyone does. On that lines, if you manufacture something that helps consumers get a job which otherwise would be difficult to do, then you are simply on the top. In the case of Ricoh’s Theta S, it’s the creation of spherical photos and videos. Ricoh was ahead of the curve when the Theta debuted in 2013, and this experience shows in the Theta S. It is slim and features a candy bar form factor just like its predecessor. Using it is straightforward. All you have to do is, turn it on, press the shutter release and you are done. The way it works is also fairly similar. It takes two simultaneous shots with the two fish eye lenses and stitches them together. But the best part is, all this is done within the camera, without the need of a powerful computer or a smartphone separately. You don’t even need any editing software. Just hit the mode button on the side, and you can record HD videos instead of photos. Well, the trade-off for this simplicity is image quality. It is not the worst one out since it is perfectly fine for sharing with friends and family and if that is all you need, then you should be just fine. Also, the lens sticks out a bit and resting it on the table might be an issue since there is a risk of scratching them. Other cameras mange to deal with them quite nicely but here, you have to rely on the provided pouch to save it from any scratches or scuffs, etc.

The lens on the Ricoh Theta S sticks out a bit and resting it on the table might be an issue since there is a risk of scratching them. Other cameras mange to deal with them quite nicely but here, you have to rely on the provided pouch to save it from any scratches or scuffs, etc. You can also use the built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to connect to a phone or a tablet and use an app to not only transfer your snap but also control the camera. Just tap what you want to share voila! It will transfer, and you will be ready to post to Facebook or Twitter. There is another app which is available if you need to edit your photos or videos and also there is a separate app for iOS for editing your videos. Ricoh also has a developer program, so you will easily find another third party app for other things like HDR photos. But, if all you want to do is take the ultimate spherical photos and selfies, just go with this one, and you will be just fine. On the other hand, if you want something more professional, then you can take a look at Gear 360 camera from Samsung or maybe even the LG 360 cam if you want to start getting used to the 360-degree for the first time. But then again, the Ricoh is one of the most affordable 360-degree cameras available in the market right now.