Best 360 cameras: Create your own VR content

With the rise of VR (virtual reality) and the ability to post 360 content on social networks like Facebook, more and more people are looking at creating their own fully spherical photos and videos. Here we take a look at the best 360 cameras you can buy 2017.

The list might be short at the moment but we’ll aim to add to it as we test out more devices. One issue is that many of the 360 cameras that look great simply aren’t available to buy yet. It’s also worth noting we reviewed the Kodak Pixpro SP360 4K Dual Pro Pack but we weren’t overly impressed with it and it costs nearly £900.

See also: How to take 360 photos for Facebook.

Samsung Gear 360

The Gear 360 is definitely one of the best looking 360 cameras around with its cute, robot-like design. The supplied legs make it easy to put down on flat surfaces and double up as a handle when folded up.

It’s fairly expensive but you get higher spec for you money with 3840×1920 videos and photos at 25.9Mp thanks to dual 15Mp cameras with fish eye lenses. The Gear 360 features an f/2.0 aperture and you can choose to shoot in 180 or 360 modes.

Samsung has made the device simple to use with NFC, Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth. The small 0.5in PMOLED screen means you can switch modes – including time lapse – and change settings without a phone. You will need a compatible Samsung Galaxy device though such as the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.

LG 360 Cam

The LG 360 Cam is one of the best accessories, or ‘Friends’, to go with the firm’s flagship smartphone. You’ll need an LG G5 to use it, of course, but if you do then it’s a solid choice.

As you’d expect, the camera can capture photos and videos in full 360 degrees. It’s got two 13Mp cameras with a viewing angle of 206 degrees each so you can choose whether to shoot 180 or 360 – video is shot at 2K resolution.

It can record 5.1 surround sound via e three microphones, has 4GB of internal storage (plus a Micro-SD card slot), a 1200mAh battery for up to 70 minutes of recording and support for both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The device is simple to use with just power and capture buttons, you’ll need the app for the rest.

Insta 360 Nano

If you have an iPhone and just want to plug a 360 camera straight in then the Insta 360 Nano is the device for you. It’s a plug and go type experience thanks to its Lightning connector but does mean you need to hold the phone upside down. There’s also a version for Android called the Air.

You can use the camera separately to capture content using the two 8Mp cameras if you put a Micro-SD card in, but when you do connect it you can make use of extra features. This includes the ability to stream straight to the likes of Facebook Live and YouTube via the app.

Bublcam

Bubl claims the Bublcam is the world’s first 360 spherical camera. Unlike rivals, it has four cameras each at 5Mp and features such as a Micro-SD card slot and a large 1560mAh battery. You’ll also benefit from Wi-Fi and support for both iOS and Android so you can control the camera and edit content afterward.

Using those four sensors with 190 degree field of view each, you can take approximately 14Mp photos and 2688×1344 video. You can choose you shoot in Multiplex – images from each camera displayed in separate quadrants – or Equirectangular which stiches them together to create one image.

The drawback here is that the Bublcam is hard to find but the price does include a pouch, mini tripod, power adapter and lens pen.