Original article: After HD video and 4K Ultra HD, what could be the next big thing in videography? Some say 360-degree panoramic videos will be commonplace soon, and the number of panoramic cameras recently introduced certainly seems to point in that direction. With the arrival of yet another device, the V.360 from VSN Mobil, it appears as though panoramic videography (and photography) just might be becoming a new trend – at least with manufacturers.
The V.360 is just the latest in a series of 360-degree panoramic cameras, many of which we have reported about: the 360cam, the Bublcam, the Centr camera or the Panono. Not all of these are alike though. While both the Panono and the Bublcam capture full 360 x 360 spherical images, the Centr and the 360cam capture 360-degree panoramic images only on one axis (which would usually be the horizontal).
The V.360 is like the latter two, in that its perspective revolves 360 degrees around itself on the horizontal axis. Since the 360cam is officially touted as the “world’s first full HD 360-degree camera” and the Centr claims to output 4K video (which in reality is four HD images stitched together,) where does that leave the V.360?
Unlike the 360cam and the Centr cameras, the V.360 uses a single lens to capture a panoramic image in HD quality, and no image stitching is required – VSN Mobil says this is an advantage over competing products. While the 360cam outputs video with a size of 2,048 x 1,024 pixels, the Centr clearly has the edge in terms of resolution with 6,900 x 1,080 pixels. The V.360 is in-between the two, yet closer to the Centr, recording videos with a resolution of 6,480 x 1,080 pixels.
As with the 360cam, the V.360 shares the ability to be used underwater, but while the 360cam can be used down to 32-feet deept, the V.360 prefers shallower waters no deeper then 3 feet. What clearly sets the V.360 apart from the other two, however, is its compatibility with GoPro mounts, which means that it can me mounted practically anywhere that a GoPro camera could go. This makes it more versatile, especially for creative video projects. (The other two have standard tripod mounts.)
The V.360 records its high-resolution video at frame rates of up to 30 frames per second, but it can also shoot 8-megapixel still images. Both are saved onto microSD media. Other features include military-grade durability, a built-in GPS module for geotagging, and a set of three environmental sensors that measure air pressure, acceleration, and altitude. The camera also comes with its own app for Android and iOS, which allows live preview of the panoramic video while it is being recorded.
In terms of connectivity, the V.360 supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless communication, and it can be hooked up to an external display via HDMI. In addition, the device sports a USB 3.0 port.
(This article was originally published on July 30, 2014)
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