While 360 cameras are the next big thing in photography and video, the new technology is still a little way away from being mainstream. A number of new devices have been hitting the high-street recently and as more people post pics and videos online it’s only going to get more and more popular. The latest pieces of hardware connect directly with your iPhone, however, with a fair few standard 360 cameras available, we’re going to look at the pros and cons of a 360 camera for iPhone.
The smart new pieces of kit essentially connect up with your iPhone through the firewire port to become extensions of your smartphone. You then flip you iPhone upside down with the camera add-on at the top, point and shoot to capture 360 degree pictures and videos.
If you’re not too sure about shelling out for a new device, but you want to try out something similar to 360 photography, you can use the iPhone’s panorama function. You can then upload your pano shots to Facebook 360 photos, which can then be viewed on a VR device. This doesn’t give you the full 360 degree view, as the view above and below the camera isn’t captured, but it does make a nice starting ground for budding 360 photographers.
360 cameras for iPhone available in the UK
There are two main options to turn your iPhone into a full 360 camera with video and each of them have been developed to make 360 photography quick and easy. Insta360 has been the market leader in the 360 camera for iPhone market, taking the technology from it’s Pro camera and scaling it down to click into your phone. Giroptic has also entered the space with its camera add-on being its main proposition, so it’s focusing all of its energy on the consumer kit.
Insta360 Nano
Price – £205
Resolution – 3K – 3040 x 1520 at 30fps
Lenses – dual 210° fish-eye lenses
iPhone compatibility – iPhone 6/6S, iPhone 6 plus/6S plus and 7/7p
Software – Free app and 360 player to record, view and share your pictures and videos
Storage – Expandable MicroSD storage capacity up to 64GB + iPhone data storage
Weight – 70g
Dimensions – 110 x 33 x 21mm
Additional kit – VR viewer cardboard box
Amazon review stars – 4.5/5
Verdict – If you’ve got one of the newer iPhone models and you’re looking for as much resolution as you can get then the Insta360 Nano is a great entry level device to start your 360 photography odyssey. View 360 gallery.
Giroptic iO
Price – £219.99
Resolution – Full HD – 1920 x 960
Lenses – 2 x 195°, F/1.8 fish-eye lenses
iPhone compatibility – iPhone 5S, SE, 6, 6S and 7
Software – Companion app to record, view and share your pictures and videos
Storage – Data stored on iPhone
Weight – 70g
Dimensions – 73 x 35 x 27mm
Additional kit – NA
Amazon review stars – 5/5
Verdict – Resolution isn’t quite as high as the Insta360 Nano, but it still delivers full HD. It’s got better compatibility with older iPhone models and the F/1.8 lens makes it good for low light conditions. View 360 gallery.
The pros of a 360 camera for iPhone:
- Screen – Perhaps the biggest benefit to the 360 camera for iPhone is the fact that you get a screen to see what you’re shooting on the fly. Standard 360 cameras don’t have this, so you end up having to do a little more post production to get your images and videos right.
- Instant connection – The iPhone also gives you instant connection online to share and live stream. This is available on a number of other devices, but the fact that you aren’t able to see the videos as easily before sharing makes it a bit more hit and miss.
- Price – both the Insta360 Nano and the Giroptic iO are relatively affordable entry level devices, so they’re not as pricey as the slightly more advanced stand-alone 360 cameras.
- iPhone as mount – Connecting up to your iPhone also gives your device a fairly handy mount, which makes it a bit easier to carry and shoot with.
The cons of a 360 camera for iPhone:
- Durability – While the connection to your iPhone comes with the added benefits above, it does mean that your 360 camera isn’t as durable as the stand-alone equivalents. Dropping it means you could take out both your iPhone and your camera in one fell swoop, so while you can capture 360 bungee jumps and sky dives with either of the devices above, you probably won’t feel as secure. There are much more rugged options available with the normal 360 camera approach, so if you’re looking to capture more extreme moments then the iPhone approach may not be right for you.
- Resolution – The resolution for both the Insta360 Nano and the Giroptic iO is lower than that of the best 360 camera in the UK, so if you’re looking for the best resolution you can get for your money then again the iPhone option might not be for you.
- Extra kit – It’s a small point, but the 360 camera iPhone does mean that you’ll need to take 2 pieces of kit with you everywhere you go, so there’s a certain amount of extra faff to take into account. If traveling light and not worrying about you iPhone is important to you then you might want to look at an alternative 360 camera.
Obviously, there are much more expensive professional 360 cameras available, but if you’re just starting out then one of the two iPhone connected devices above could make a good minimal investment option.
