360 degree cameras. Gimmick or future of underwater videography?

[gobiodon 56]

I’ve recently bought a 360 degree camera (Insta360 One X2) for underwater videography. I do lots of work with small camera traps (action cameras on tripod) but the footage is always static and the direction is not always perfect, so some cropping is required. The idea was to freely choose the view point and have the opportunity to apply smooth camera movements (pan, tilt, zoom). I have ambivalent feeling but I would say it’s mainly positive. I uploaded some real 360 degree videos to my Youtube channel:

https://youtu.be/SX0EJRt70T8

https://youtu.be/Tuvz5qiEtt8

I haven’t tried to watch them with VR headset and I mainly use the camera for standard videos. I’m not sure that with a standard action camera I could have recorded these:

https://youtu.be/_RKtSIUnbFQ

https://youtu.be/3IZ2kq-epGs

I haven’t tried it in a coral sea but so far I’m happy. There are many limitations. The underwater housing is not the best, and the stich line is visible. Also the camera cannot look down. Maybe a bigger sphere housing would be better. It’s a 5.7 K camera but the normal view is just FHD (barely).

Few years ago 3D video was a big thing but today it’s completely gone. Maybe 360 degree video will have the same fate.

What do you think?

[Chakawa 0]

Hello,

360° has even moved on from just simple 360 video, and is now in the form of cinematic 360° films.

This is our latest production, a 15min film on the relationship between humpback whales and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga:

https://youtu.be/iL4yuIzQH9U

Of course even more impressive when watched with Headsets, here you can on Oculus TV: https://www.oculus.com/experiences/media/3628638773883440/496354198015903/?intern_source=blog&intern_content=gear-up-for-earth-day-in-vr

Hope you enjoy it !

Cheers

Christophe

[gobiodon 56]

32 minutes ago, Chakawa said:

Hello,

360° has even moved on from just simple 360 video, and is now in the form of cinematic 360° films.

This is our latest production, a 15min film on the relationship between humpback whales and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga:

https://youtu.be/iL4yuIzQH9U

Of course even more impressive when watched with Headsets, here you can on Oculus TV: https://www.oculus.com/experiences/media/3628638773883440/496354198015903/?intern_source=blog&intern_content=gear-up-for-earth-day-in-vr

Hope you enjoy it !

Cheers

Christophe

Very nice. It's time to invest into a VR headset. Which camera(s) have you used?

[Boogsrosales 1]

360 and AR have huge potential in education. When done right, it is a great tool to transform content into a real interactive and immersive experience. Can't say the same about 3D.

[Freediver360 1]

New to Wetpixel and saw this. I would agree with Christophe about 360 moving to more cinematic. I also think it will follow a similar market like Imax films and be used in Aquariums and Museums. Here is a link to some work I have been doing here: 

 

[gobiodon 56]

Nice work Freediver360