BIf you’ve decided it’s time to upgrade your gear collection to a 360 camera, it’s good to know a bit about what’s out there. The majority of these omnidirectional cameras are video, but it’s noted when they’re solely for photography. This is a buying guide to the best 360 cameras on the market today.

360 Video Cameras

17. Rylo 360

Rylo compilation footage

Probably one of the best 360 cameras for action sports out there. It has motion stabilization keeping the horizon level no matter what you’re doing. It’s easy to attach to a bike, helmet, or any other piece of equipment you might be needing. Although, it is a little strange that the camera itself isn’t waterproof, so you’ll need to get a case.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • Weighs: 107 g. Battery life at 60 minutes. User-friendly app. Video Resolution: 5.8K at 24fps
  • Cons: Not waterproof
  • Price: $199
  • Buy Now →

360 Video Cameras

16. Garmin VIRB 360

See what the VIRB can do

Seriously high quality 5.7K video with 4 channel audio. Of course it has an integrated GPS, but it’s waterproof feature is great for action videographer as it goes up to 33 feet. It provides internal stitching which is great but only up 4K, and Mac software doesn’t support 5.7K. It’s a solid, well-built camera, but it might be wise to take a look at a few other 360 cameras that provide similar features for a lower price.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • 5.7K res. Weight: 160g. Battery life at 65 minutes. Waterproof up to 33ft, GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer, x4 microphones. Max. video resolution: 2880 × 2880 (x2) at 30fps. Stills resolution: 15MP
  • Cons: Pricey. Internal stitching limited to 4K. Mac not supported at 5.7K
  • Price: Ranges from about 6- $800
  • Buy Now →

Cheap 360 Cameras

15. Madv Mini

Madv Mini Review

The Madv Mini is a smartphone 360 camera. It’s great for anyone looking to take solid 360 footage on-the-go without breaking the bank. It transfers video and photos straight to your phone for a seamless workflow. It has lower resolution comparatively to its competitors, but it’s also in a completely different price bracket.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • Small and compact. Max video resolution: 1920 x 960 at 30fps. Still res: 14 MP 
  • Cons: Only available for Android.
  • Price: $99
  • Buy Now → (currently sold out)

Best 360 Video Cameras

14. Ricoh Theta Z1

Ricoh Theta Z1 review

Theta gives us another awesome option but now for the intermediate action or professional photographer. It’s quickly becoming the go-to for businesses who use virtual tours, and in the video above, you can see why, what the camera can capture. It yields very realistic spherical 4K video, and is equipped with four microphones, which can record sound from four different directions.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • Resolution: 4K. Accurate image stitching. High quality 4K live streaming. Video res: 3840 x 1920, 29.97fps. Still res: 23MP
  • Cons: Pricey
  • Price: $999
  • Buy Now →

360 Video Camera

13. Aleta S2C

Aleta S2C Review

Aleta S2C is a 360 degree camera that is exclusively designed for super high resolution 360 photos. It’s especially useful for real estate, interior design, or commercial type photography.  It has 66 megapixels, and can capture a 7 shot exposure bracket with identical stitching.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • 12K ultra high resolution. 66 MP. Easy to use app. 
  • Cons: No battery included, poor white balance
  • Price: $1,210
  • Buy Now →

Cheap 360 Cameras

12. 360Rize Penguin

Side by side footage of the Penguin against the Insta One X

This camera is a lot of fun. Make sure to watch the video above to see the differences between this extremely affordable 360 camera and one of the best cameras on the market - the Insta360 One X. The Penguin shoots 4k video at 30fps, but it can shoot up to 6K at 12fps, which is awesome. It doesn’t measure up to the stability of the One X, but it’s also almost half the price. The Penguin has one of the best overall values. It also has incredible live streaming capabilities.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • 4K video at 30 fps, 6K at 12fps. Live-streaming up to 7.5 hours. Small and compact. Weighs: 74g. WiFi. 
  • Cons: No stabilization
  • Price: $99 (from about $200)
  • Buy Now →

360 Camera Review

11. Xphase Pro S

Trying out the Xphase Pro S

This camera can only take pictures. As of the summer of 2019, The Xphase Pro S is the highest resolution 360 camera. It has 25 sensors, each with 8 megapixels, for a total resolution of 200 megapixels.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • Stills: 200 MP. Weighs: 248g. Removable USB drive.
  • Cons: Very expensive, doesn’t support Mac Software as of now, some issues with glare, not waterproof, stitching isn’t perfect
  • Price: $879
  • Buy Now →

360 Camera Review

10. Yi 360 VR

Yi 360 VR Review

Semi-pro 360 camera that has great value for not only price but video quality. At 5.7K resolution, it yields some of the best footage ever seen.  It’s not nearly as sleep as its competitors, but at its core, is a solid choice. If you’re looking to shoot more outdoors, be careful as it’s not weather resistant. It also has a tendency to overheat. The 5.7K video must be stitched on desktop software, which is a bit of a letdown. It’s also a fairly limiting software. But again, the camera itself, is pretty incredible.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • 5.7K resolution. 4K live streaming capabilities. Weighs: 187g. Battery life at 50 minutes. Max. video resolution: 5760 x 2880 at 30fps. Stills resolution: 16MP
  • Cons: Not waterproof, can overheat, no internal stitching for 5.7K video-desktop software only with limited software capabilities
  • Price: Originally $399 now $159
  • Buy Now →

Cheap 360 Camera

9. Samsung Gear 360 (2017)

Samsung Gear review with added tips and tricks

The Samsung Gear actually comes from 2017, but it’s a 360 camera that belongs as much as everything else! It has made huge improvements from the 2016 version.  It’s one of the best cameras to use pair with your phone, because the app and camera are just so easy to use. Shoot, view, and share in just a few seconds. With built-in internal stitching, you can go live whenever you’re feeling up for letting the world in. It has an easy-to-grip camera body, and you’ll want to take it everywhere you go. It has an external microSD card that can hold up to 256GB of storage. While some action adventurers may often lean towards GoPro, if you’re a beginner or beginner enthusiast, it’s 4K video is perfect for the price point.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • 4K video. User-friendly with easy to use app. Weight: 130 g. 130 minute battery life. Built-in stitching. Max. video resolution: 4096 x 2048 at 24fps. Single lens resolution: 1920 x 1080 at 60fps. Stills resolution: 15MP (made up two 8.4 MP sensors)
  • Cons: Can’t go live if using an iPhone
  • Price: $235
  • Buy Now →

360 Camera Buying Guide

8. Pilot Era 360 Camera

See how the Pilot does in low light settings

Made by an unknown company, Pisofttech, the Pilot Era is a debatable purchase. It’s a VR camera that can record videos and photos up to 8K, can livestream in 4K without a computer, and can even stitch together footage without any extra software. All of which, is pretty incredible. It’s rectangular body allows for four fish-eye cameras, with gyroscope stabilization, but the lenses are low quality. In fact, for the price point especially, the lenses really need an upgrade, and the results just pale in comparison to its competitors. There is a screen on the camera itself, which is nice, but another common downside discussed by users is its perpetual glitchiness.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • Resolution: 8K Weighs:  High-def touch screen, 4G WiFi, 3.5 hours of battery life. 512 GB internal storage space. Android-based software. 8K video in-camera stitching: 7680 x 3840 at 24fps. Real-time photo stitching: 8192 x 4096. Standalone live-streaming: 3840 x 1920 at 30fps
  • Cons: Low quality lenses, glitchy, super small font on screen, expensive for capabilities
  • Price: $2799 new from site
  • Buy Now →

360 Video Cameras

7. Ricoh Theta V

Videographer Ben Claremont reviews the new Ricoh

Quite the upgrade from the Ricoh Theta S, (which I didn’t add to this list) several years earlier, this 360 camera can now capture 4K video, 4K live streaming, and even spatial audio with its four microphone system. It’s Android-based, with WiFi, bluetooth, and competitive battery life compared to other 360 video cameras.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • Resolution: 4K. Weighs: 121g. Bluetooth, wifi, x4 microphones, increased ISO. Max. video resolution: 3840 × 1920 at 30fps. Stills resolution: 14MP
  • Cons: no replaceable SD card or battery, only records 19 GB, can only record for about a half hour without charge, lens flare
  • Price: $379.99
  • Buy Now →

360 Video Cameras

6. GoPro Max

Roller coaster GoPro Max footage

If you liked the sound of the GoPro Fusion, meet the sleeker version of it. You can shoot in 5.6K at 30fps (bumping up the frame rate from the Fusion), now equipped with livestream capabilities. It’s waterproof now up to 16 feet, with all of the dressings as before. It has GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, a gyroscope, and six microphones. The LCD screen allows you to view your footage instantly, unlike the Fusion. The Fusion also needed two SD cards to work, whereas the Max requires only one, making it less of a hassle to use, and slightly cheaper.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • Resolution: 5.6K. Front-facing screen, livestream, mountable, waterproof, GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, wifi, bluetooth, 3D audio, automatic stitching, advanced app editing features. Stills resolution: 16.6MP
  • Cons: Dropped resolution from 18 to 16
  • Price: $499
  • Buy Now →

Buying Guide to 360 Video Cameras

5. GoPro Fusion

Into the mountains with the GoPro Fusion

GoPro has redefined adventure photography and videography. Capturing 360 video in 5.2K resolution at 30fps upon its original release, it’s since upgraded to 5.6K in 24 fps. It also offers something called OverCapture. OverCapture is an editing feature that allows you to take 360 video and crop it and watch it in traditional fixed-frame video. It creates standard 16:9 from your footage. The Fusion is equipped with GPS, 4 microphones, accelerometer, gyroscope, WiFi, and much more. This came out first, before the GoPro Max, which we’ll take a look at next.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • Original Resolution: 5.2K. With update: 5.6K at 24fps. Weighs: 226g. Battery life at 70 minutes. Mountable, waterproof up to 10ft, GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, wifi, bluetooth, 3D audio. Max video resolution: 5228 x 2624 at 30fps. Stills resolution: 18MP
  • Cons: Large, clunky
  • Price: $245
  • Buy Now →

Buying Guide for 360 Cameras

4. HumanEyes Vuze XR

See through these HumanEyes

Similar to the Insta360 EVO, the Vuze is able to record both 360 video and 3D VR videos. It has pop-out lenses and shoots video at 5.7K. It’s a really solid camera with competitive image quality, but the biggest downside is its app’s editing capabilities. You can get some great footage, but it’s hard to do anything with it.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • Resolution: 5.7K. Weighs: 212g. Battery life at 60 minutes. User-friendly design. Max video resolution: 5760 x 2880 at 30fps. Stills resolution: 18MP
  • Cons: App editing features needs an upgrade
  • Price: $349
  • Buy Now →

Best 360 Video Cameras

3. Insta360 One

Review on the Insta360 One

If you’re into experimental videography, the Insta360 One has some really fun video modes that can help you stand out. If you’ve ever seen The Matrix, the iconic “bullet time” effect is available. The camera offers this fast frame-rate, slow-mo setting, that has you wave the camera around you on a piece of string. But of course, this video camera can handle standard 360 video and 4K video quality is excellent. It also features something called FreeCapture, which functions the same as OverCapture in the GoPro Fusion, bringing 360 footage into standard 16:9 for regular viewing.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • Attaches easily to iPhone. Extra video modes including Bullet Time and FreeCapture. Weight: 83g. 70 minute battery life. Live-streaming, bluetooth. Max. video resolution: 3840 x 1920 at 30fps. Stills resolution: 24MP
  • Cons: Shutter is easily accidently hit, shutter lag sometimes alters photos
  • Price: $299
  • Buy Now →

VR and 360 Cameras

2. Insta360 Evo

EVO footage and a full review

The great thing about the EVO is that it can function as more than a standard 360 degree camera. While it has back-to-back fisheye lenses, it also has a hinge design, which allows for the lenses to sit next to each other. This allows them to shoot 3D VR content with a 180 degree field of view. It’s pretty great, though it’s not nearly as pocket-size as the Insta360, and you do need a solid VR headset to experience the perks of capturing the 3D content. The battery life, like the 360, could be better.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • Resolution: 5.7K Weighs: 113g, back-to-back fisheye lenses with hinge can capture 3D VR content. 65 minute of battery life. Max video resolution: 5760 x 2880 at 30fps Stills resolution: 18MP
  • Cons: Need VR headset to experience extra features
  • Price: $349
  • Buy Now →

Best 360 Video Camera

1. Insta360 One X

See what our top pick can do

Based on price, resolution, and overall video quality, the Insta360 One X is the best 360 camera available right now. It has the highest resolution possible for this price range at 5.7K, and it’s smooth image stabilization system, makes it one of the most full-featured cameras on the map. It has dual fisheye lenses and some unique time-shift settings only amplified by it’s incredible app editing software.

IN CONCLUSION

Specs

  • Resolution: 5.7K Weighs: 115g. Has a removable battery, wifi, bluetooth, app with advanced editing features, on-camera display. Battery life at 60 minutes Max video res 5760 x 2880 at 30fps, Stills res at 18MP
  • Cons: Not waterproof
  • Price: $339
  • Buy Now →

Up Next

Choosing the Right Camera Lens

No need to worry about lenses with 360 devices, but it’s unlikely you’re only using omnidirectional cameras for everything. So, next up, we have a complete guide to anything and everything lenses, so you can make the most informed decision for you. 

Up Next: Choose the Right Lens →
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