Our top pick has all the benefits of 360 shooting, a color monitor, and is waterproof to 33 feet (10 m). [Note: ExpertPhotography is supported by readers. Product links on ExpertPhotography are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little bit of money. Need more info? See how it all works here].
What is the Best 360 Camera?
Before we look at the detail of the cameras we’ve chosen, here’s a summary of why we like them. Now let’s look in more detail at our recommendations. The Insta360 One X2 is an upgrade of the One X. On paper, the specifications don’t look too different. But the One X2 still goes straight to the top of our list. The One X2 has a 360 image resolution of 5.7K. And it has a 6-axis “flow-state” image stabilization system. It’s the same as the One X, but it’s still top of the range. The first significant upgrade you’ll notice is the touch screen. This is something the previous model lacked. It allows you to see what you’re shooting through the eye of the camera. So you can make sure it’s the shot you want without having to consult your device. You can charge the camera with a USB connection. And the battery life is better than before. It’s also waterproof up to 10 meters straight out of the box. One fun feature is the Invisible Selfie Stick mode. If your selfie stick is visible in the footage, the camera will automatically edit it out! The GoPro Max is an excellent all-around action camera. You can shoot traditional-style stills and videos in excellent quality. But you also get 5.6K video resolution for 360-degree image capture. 5.6K video resolution may not sound like much when it comes to 360 cameras. But the GoPro Max will give you fully immersive 360 photos and footage. And your immersion is enhanced by the six-mic 360 audio. One unique selling point is the GoPro Max Hero mode. When shooting regular video footage or photos, the camera will lock on to the horizon. This helps stabilize the image even if you’re sideways or upside down! The GoPro Max also allows you to select mics from either side of the camera. This gives you directional audio to go with your footage. The battery life is good and it’s waterproof, robust, and compact. The GoPro Max is a solid choice for a 360 action camera. The Insta360 One R is a versatile action camera with excellent 360 image capabilities. The camera has an innovative modular design with three parts. These are the battery base, the core, and the lens. The core of the camera features a handy touchscreen. In this set, you get two interchangeable lenses. There’s one spherical lens that takes 5.7 MP 360-degree images. You can change to the flat lens for 4K video resolution and standard photos. They only take seconds to change, and they both have excellent image quality. The FlowState stabilization is a great feature that keeps your image in focus for action shots. The Insta360 One R has an accompanying mobile app for both iOS and Android. The app features great AI editing software. It includes a selection of editing templates that you can experiment with. The Ricoh Theta Z1 is an excellent camera that specializes in 360-degree stills and video. The Z1 has two 1-inch CMOS sensors that produce 360 photos with 24 MP resolution. That’s getting close to DSLR quality. And it has a sensitivity of ISO 6400. That means you get great images in low-light situations. The Ricoh Theta Z1 offers 4K resolution for 360-degree videos. It’s not the highest on the market, but the quality is still excellent. The 3-axis rotational image stabilization maintains the quality, whether you’re rolling or spinning! You can capture images in RAW format for easy editing in post-production. And post-production is easy with the accompanying Ricoh Theta apps. The battery life is very good for a camera with these specifications. It will take up to 300 stills or 60 minutes of footage. One downside is that the camera isn’t waterproof. The Rylo 360 gives you top-level 360-degree image capture. And it won’t break the bank. You can shoot regularly framed videos when you select the right shooting mode. But the camera’s specialty is the fully immersive 360 video mode. And the footage is all in 5.8K resolution. You also have the possibility to shoot your reaction to the action you’re shooting. The picture-in-picture mode gives the option of dual-camera shooting. The Rylo 360 also has excellent image stabilization for ensured quality. Play around with the time-lapse options for videos and stills that’ll stand out on your social media. You can also change the point of focus after the fact by simply tapping on the area you want to change. The only major downside is the Rylo mobile app. After several years on the market, users often identify the app as the camera’s biggest weakness. The Samsung Gear 360 has been on the market since 2017. Some of the specs have now been surpassed, but it’s still a good option in 2021. The camera uses dual 180-degree cameras, one on either side of the shaft. It gives you 15 MP photos and shoots 4K video. It’s more than enough to make your social media content stand out. The camera app makes it easy to edit and upload your images. And it’s available for Android and iOS phones. If you have an up-to-date Samsung model, you can upload straight to social media. You can also use the Samsung VR app to create 3D images and VR footage. The camera is basic and most of the features are on the app. But with great quality 360 images, this is a good option for anyone on a tight budget. The Kodak Pixpro SP360 is a basic action camera you can have fun with. It gives you great 360-degree images if you’re on a budget. For 360 image capture, you get a resolution of 16 MP and a frame rate of 10 fps. These stats aren’t record-breaking by any standard. But this is not a camera aimed at pros. The SP360 is an entry-level camera for beginners and enthusiasts. There is only one spherical lens. If you do want full-sphere capture, you’ll need two cameras back to back. You can control the camera from your smartphone using the Kodak app. It’s quick and easy to share your images online. One problem is the lack of internal memory. You’ll need to buy a memory card separately. We also like the compact and portable design. But the model is not completely waterproof, so you’ll need to be careful around water.
Why Choose a 360 Camera?
360 cameras are all the rage with influencers and vloggers. Facebook and Instagram are ablaze with 360-degree photos and videos. The panoramic views you get from a 360 camera make them great for landscape photography. And now real estate photographers are getting excited about 360 cameras too. They’re fun and easy to use. And they’re becoming an essential tool in many areas of photography.
How Does a 360 Camera work?
The basic elements aren’t so different from a traditional camera. You have a sensor and a lens that work together to create an image. As with any DSLR, the 360-degree camera has a flat sensor. The difference is that it uses two back-to-back spherical lenses. Each lens provides a 180-degree view. And the processor puts these together to make the 360-degree image. 360 photos give you the freedom to navigate left or right. Or sometimes up and down. But to do this, you need a digital device. A computer is great, but a smartphone also works. Some cameras will link directly to your phone when you use their mobile app.
Conclusion: The Best 360 Camera
The Insta360 ONE X2 is the best 360 camera of 2023. It has an impressive range of features and capabilities. And it’s the perfect choice for anyone who wants to capture stunning 360-degree photos and videos. The advanced image stabilization technology and intuitive user interface make it easy to use. And the 5.7K resolution ensures that your photos and videos will look sharp and clear. The Insta360 ONE X2 is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a top-of-the-line 360 camera. We highly recommend it.
