Skip to main content

Kodak’s 360-degree camera takes big step up with addition of second lens

The Kodak-branded 360-degree camera may have just gotten twice as good. At Photokina in September, JK Imaging, the company licensing the Kodak name, announced the Kodak Pixpro Orbit 360 4K VR, a camera that ups the ante by moving from a single- to a dual-lens setup. The company later released pricing information at the 2017 CES, listing the new 360-degree camera at $499.

While both the original Kodak Pixpro 360 and the first Pixpro SP360 4K camera were well received for their simplicity, image quality was just mediocre, largely due to the fact that a single lens and sensor captured an expansive 360-degree view. The Pixpro Orbit 4K VR 360 not only jumps to 4K resolution, but uses a more efficient dual-lens setup.

Using two lenses and two 20-megapixel sensors, the new Pixpro captures 360-degree video and stills. While the 4K term is loosely applied as the eight megapixel 1:1 aspect ratio and not the standard 4K, the double set of lenses and sensors should bring a dramatic quality increase over the previous single-lens model.

Like the camera’s predecessors, the Orbit will also include Wi-Fi for connecting and sharing footage through the Pixpro app. The latest version will also use Bluetooth to connect to a remote control, sold separately for consumers who don’t want to use their smartphone to control the camera remotely.

While 360 is rapidly increasing in popularity, there are still relatively few options on the market — at least compared to the number of options for traditional cameras. The original 360 Pixpro, introduced two years ago, was one of the first options oriented toward consumers rather than professional producers. The Kodak 360 line faces some competition from single-lens cameras like 360Fly, as well as dual-lens setups such as the Samsung Gear 360 and Nikon Keymission 360.

As of May 1, 2017, the camera still has not shipped. However, JK Imaging informed us shipment should be in a few weeks. We will update this article accordingly.

Updated by Hillary Grigonis on Jan. 6, 2017 to include pricing information. Updated by Les Shu on May 1, 2017 to include new shipping information.

Editors' Recommendations

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
DJI Mini Pro 4 leak appears to reveal the drone’s specs
A retail box apparently showing DJI's upcoming Mini Pro 4 drone.

DJI appears close to unveiling the Mini 4 Pro, the successor to the Mini 3 Pro that launched in May last year.

First, as a reminder, DJI’s smallest and lightest “Pro” drone tips the scales at just 249 grams, a carefully considered move as it’s just 1 gram below the drone weight category that involves having to register it with the authorities. Sure, that’s no great hardship for most folks, but the fewer hoops you have to jump through to get your bird in the sky, the better.

Read more
GoPro unveils its latest action camera, the Hero 12 Black
GoPro's Hero 12 Black action camera.

GoPro: Introducing HERO12 Black | Everything You Need to Know

GoPro is back with the latest iteration of its popular action camera. The new GoPro Hero 12 Black is the kind of solid piece of kit we’ve come to expect from a company that’s been in the game for years. That’s actually created a bit of a problem for GoPro, with many customers happy to hang onto their current model rather than upgrade. So it'll be hoping the latest version will be attractive enough to prompt a wave of purchases among current owners, while at the same time attracting a bunch of first-time buyers, too.

Read more
How to hide photos on your Android phone or tablet
Google Photos

While modern smartphones are quite secure as long as they remain locked with a passcode or biometrics like a fingerprint, by default those features only protect the front door. If someone picks up your phone while it's unlocked, there aren't typically any barriers that will keep them out of exploring everything from your contacts and emails to your photos.

This can be particularly challenging when it comes to photos, since those are the things we like to show off the most from our phones. We've likely all had those moments when we want to show a friend or co-worker a funny cat meme, so we hand over our phone and trust that they won't swipe right and see the photo of the hairy mole that we sent to our doctor that morning.

Read more