Posted on November 17, 2015 by Jason Fletcher

360° video is growing by leaps and bounds. No doubt about it.

It’s fascinating to see all the different approaches to capturing
360° video. So I surveyed the current 360° video rigs being offered and
then organized every serious option into this epic listing. The results
are telling…

If you’re new to 360 video, then you have much to wrap your mind around. I suggest checking out my blog post: 360 Video Fundamentals. Or to gain a comprehensive understanding check out the Making360 open source book.

CATEGORIES

— Comparison of 360° Video Rig Categories

— 360° Map Projection

— 360° Video Rigs: Multi Camera

— 360° Video Rigs: Single Camera Body

— 360° Video Rigs: Stereoscopic

— 360° Video Rigs: Stereoscopic / Single Camera Body

— 360° Video Rigs: Scuba

— 360° Video Rigs: Scuba Stereoscopic

— 360° Video Rigs: Invisible Drone

— 360° Video Rigs: First-Person POV

— 360° Camera Motion: Remote Control Cars

— 360° Camera Motion: Gyro Stabilization

— 360° Video Streaming Hardware

— Partial 360° Video Rigs

— Partial 360° Video Rigs: Stereoscopic

— Cylindrical Video Rigs

— Cylindrical Video Rigs: Stereoscopic

— Cylindrical Video Rigs: Parabolic Mirror

— 360° Light Field Rigs

— 360° Photography Rigs

— Fisheye Video Rigs

— Fisheye Video Rigs: Stereoscopic

— Fisheye Lens: GoPro or MFT Cameras

— 360° Video Rigs: Less than 30fps

— 360° Video Rigs: Wild and Unique

— 360° Video Rigs: DIY 3D Printing

— Unsuccessful Kickstarter Projects

— History of 360° Film

Updated with latest 360° cameras on March 5, 2017

---

Comparison of 360° Video Rig Categories

There are many different types of 360° video rigs, but not all of
them capture the full 360×180° field of view (FOV). And so I’ve placed
each rig into a specific category. Sometimes you don’t need to capture
absolutely everything. It all depends on how you’re going to use the
footage.

For instance, if you’re using a tripod then perhaps you could ignore
that footage zone (partial 360°). Maybe the main focus is happening
along the horizon, then you might not need to capture the sky and
immediate ground (cylindrical). Or maybe you just need to capture the
events happening directly in front of you (fisheye). Or maybe you want
the big challenge, capturing 3D depth (stereoscopic).

Below I’ve outlined the typical FOV coverage of each rig category:
360°, partial 360°, cylindrical, and fisheye. But these are just
averaged examples of each category, sometimes there are outliers which
have much higher or lower FOV.

Source Image by Andrey Salnikov: “Climbing Volcano Teide”

---

360° Map Projection

Equirectangular, LatLong, Spherical, 360°… All of these terms refer to the same exact format: the Equidistant Cylindrical Projection. It is currently the most widely used format for stitched 360° video.

So how does it work? This is a precise geometric method for
converting a sphere into a flat image with a 2:1 ratio. So this format
can be seamlessly wrapped onto a sphere and back again.

360×180° is the standard for expressing a complete spherical capture.
But why not 360×360°? Because we are measuring an arc for the latitude,
not a complete circle.

---

360° Video Rigs: Multi Camera

These multi camera rigs capture monoscopic 360° video. A majority of producers are currently shooting with these type of rigs.

GoPro: Omni
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 GoPro cameras
— genlocked
— Tutorial: the full workflow

Freedom360: Freedom360 Classic Mount
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 GoPro cameras

Freedom360: F360 Explorer
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 GoPro cameras
— all weather

360Rize: Uni360
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 cameras (compatible with: GoPro Hero2,
Hero3, Hero4, Hero5 Black, Hero5 Session, YI 4K Action Camera)
— all weather

360Rize: 360H6
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 GoPro cameras
— all weather

WetHot360
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 GoPro Hero Session cameras
— all weather

360Rize: PRO6
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 GoPro cameras

Varavon: VR-GH6
— full coverage: 360×180°, 8 GoPro cameras

360Rize: PRO7
— full coverage: 360×180°, 7 GoPro cameras

360Rize: PRO10HD
— full coverage:  360×180°, 10 GoPro cameras

Varavon: VR-GH12
— full coverage: 360×180°, 16 GoPro cameras

SimplifyVR
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 GoPro cameras
— all weather option

iZugar: Z2X
— full coverage: 360×180°, 2 GoPro cameras with custom 194° fisheye lens

iZugar: Z3X
— full coverage: 360×180°, 3 GoPro cameras with custom 185° fisheye lens

Freedom360: Freedom360 Trio
— full coverage: 360×180°, 3 GoPro cameras with Back-Bone Ribcage to allow for custom fisheye lens

Radiant Images: VR 360 GoPro Periscope
— full coverage: 360×180°, 3 modified GoPro cameras with 220° fisheye lens

iZugar: Z4XC
— full coverage: 360×180°, 4 GoPro cameras with custom 185° fisheye lens

iZugar: Z4XL
— full coverage: 360×180°, 4 Z-Cam E1 cameras (with 220° fisheye lens)

Back-Bone: 360 VR Mounts
— full coverage: 360×180°, GoPro cameras with Back-Bone Ribcage to allow for custom fisheye lens

360 Designs: Mini EYE 4
— full coverage: 360×180°, 4 Blackmagic Micro Cinema cameras or Blackmagic Micro Studio cameras (with fisheye lens)
— can be genlocked

360 Designs: Mini EYE 3
— full coverage: 360×180°, 3 Blackmagic Micro Cinema cameras or Blackmagic Micro Studio cameras (with fisheye lens)
— can be genlocked

Radiant Images: Blackmagic Micro VR 360
— full coverage: 360×180°, 3 Blackmagic Micro Cinema cameras or Blackmagic Micro Studio cameras (with fisheye lens)

360Rize: 360Helios 3
— full coverage: 360×180°, 3 Blackmagic Micro Cinema cameras or Blackmagic Micro Studio cameras (with 190° fisheye lens)
— can be genlocked

360Rize: 360Helios 6
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 Blackmagic Micro Cinema cameras or Blackmagic Micro Studio cameras (with 190° fisheye lens)
— can be genlocked

360Rize: 360Helios 7
— full coverage: 360×180°, 7 Blackmagic Micro Cinema cameras or Blackmagic Micro Studio cameras (with 190° fisheye lens)
— can be genlocked

360Rize: 360Helios 8
— full coverage: 360×180°, 8 Blackmagic Micro Cinema cameras or Blackmagic Micro Studio cameras (with 190° fisheye lens)
— can be genlocked

Radiant Images: AXA 360
— full coverage: 360×180°, 10 digital cinema cameras

Radiant Images: Sense 9
— coverage: exact FOV unknown, 7 Canon C300 Mark II cameras (also supports many digital cinema cameras)

Mooovrig
— full coverage: 360×180°, 5 Canon mirrorless cameras (with 180° fisheye lens)

Rig 360 for A01
— coverage: exact FOV unknown, 7 Olympus Air A01 cameras (with fisheye lens)

Bonsai 360° / Cutlass 360° / Excalibur 360°
— full coverage: 360×180°, 4 DSLR or MILC cameras (with fisheye lens)

Kodak: PIXPRO SP360 4k – Dual Pro Pack
— full coverage: 360×180°, 2 Kodak PIXPRO SP360 4k cameras

Elmo: QBiC Panorama
— full coverage: 360×180°, 4 Elmo QBiC MS-1 cameras
— all weather

Freedom360: Elmo360
— full coverage: 360×180°, 4 Elmo QBiC MS-1 cameras
— all weather

Casio: Exilim EX-FR200 – (using the 360 mount: EAM-8)
— full coverage: 360×180°, 2 detachable lens modules (185° fisheye lens)
— all weather

Embrace Cinema Gear: VR 360° Camera Rigs
— full coverage: 360×180°, various camera rigs

---

360° Video Rigs: Single Camera Body

These cameras capture monoscopic 360° video through the
use of a single camera body with multiple sensors/lenses. Since it
behaves as a single unit there are less problems that can arise. But
they cannot currently obtain the same high resolution as a multi camera
rig.

Sphericam 2
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 6 sensors
— global shutter, genlocked

Samsung: Gear 360
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (195° fisheye lens)
— underwater depth rating: 40m or 131ft (with case accessory)

Samsung: Gear 360 (2017)
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 9 sensors (fisheye lenses)
— 4k resolution limited to 24fps

Nikon: KeyMission 360
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (FOV of fisheye lens unknown)
— 4k & 1080 resolutions limited to 24fps
— underwater depth rating: 30m or 100ft

Kodak: PIXPRO Orbit360 4k
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (with lens
covers: 235° & 155° fisheye lenses / without lens covers: 244° &
163° fisheye lenses)
— 4k resolution limited to 24fps

GoPro: Fusion
— coverage: exact FOV unknown, single camera body with 2 sensors

Ricoh: Theta S
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (190° fisheye lens)
— teardown of camera

Ricoh: R Development Kit
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (190° fisheye lens)

Ricoh: Theta SC
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (190° fisheye lens)
— limited to 5 minutes of video recording

LG: 360 Cam
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (200° fisheye lens)

Insta360: 4k
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (230° fisheye lens)

YI 360 VR Camera
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (220° fisheye lens)

Detu: Twin
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (FOV of fisheye lens unknown)

Idealoeye: C2
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (190° fisheye lens)

Luna
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (190° fisheye lens)

Indiecam: nakedEYE
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (FOV of fisheye lens unknown)

Zmer: Sports Camera
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (FOV of fisheye lens unknown)

Orah: 4i
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 4 sensors (FOV of fisheye lens unknown)
— genlocked?

Bublcam
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 4 sensors (190° fisheye lens)

Vantrix: PRO4-DUAL
—full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 2 sensors (182° panomorph lens)

GO6D: Trie
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 3 sensors (FOV of fisheye lens unknown)

Z-Cam S1
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 4 sensors (190° fisheye lens)

Z-Cam S1 Pro
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 4 sensors (FOV of MFT fisheye lens unknown)

Idealoeye: C4
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 4 sensors (185° fisheye lens)

Detu: F4
— full coverage: 360×170°, single camera body with 4 sensors (190° fisheye lens)

Sphericam: Beast
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 4 sensors (190° fisheye lens)
— genlocked?

Absolute Zero
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 12 sensors
— genlocked

SoniCam
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 9 sensors (fisheye lenses)

Insta360: Air
— full coverage: 360×180°, Android attachment with 2 sensors (FOV of fisheye lens unknown)

Insta360: Nano
— full coverage: 360×180°, iPhone attachment with 2 sensors (FOV of fisheye lens unknown)

Giroptic: iO
— full coverage: 360×180°, iPhone attachment with 2 sensors (195° fisheye lens)

Dunkam
— full coverage: 360×180°, Android attachment with 2 sensors (FOV of fisheye lens unknown)

Zmer: Live
— full coverage: 360×180°, Android attachment with 2 sensors (FOV of fisheye lens unknown)

---

360° Video Rigs: Stereoscopic

Stereoscopic rigs allow for 360° video to be captured for
both your left and right eyes, so a true sense of depth can be achieved
in VR. 360-3D is the ultimate dream, but there are many challenges that
make it difficult to shoot in 360-3D and not give the viewer a very
frustrating experience. (Example problems include: parallax error
differences between eyes, exposure differences between eyes, genlocking
cameras, getting complete stereo coverage without ignoring the poles,
and such big headaches.) The terms stereoscopic, 3D, and S-3D can be
used interchangeably.

Facebook: Surround 360
— full coverage: 360×180°, 17 Point Grey cameras (one 185° fisheye lens facing up and two 185° fisheye lenses facing down)
— global shutter, genlocked
— open source stitching software – more info

Facebook: Surround 360 x24 / Surround 360 x6
—full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 6 or 24 sensors

360Rize: 360Orb
— full coverage:  360×180°, 24 GoPro cameras

360Rize: 3DPRO12
— full coverage: 360×180°, 12 GoPro cameras

360Rize: 3DPRO12H
— full coverage: 360×180°, 12 GoPro cameras

360Rize: 3DPRO14H
— full coverage: 360×180°, 14 GoPro cameras

iZugar: Z6X3D
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 GoPro cameras with custom 194° fisheye lens

NextVR
— coverage: exact FOV unknown, 6 EPIC-M RED Dragon cameras
— global shutter, can be genlocked

HypeVR
— coverage: exact FOV unknown, 14 EPIC-M RED Dragon cameras
— collects LiDAR data with the Velodyne HDL-32E
— global shutter, can be genlocked

Cinegears: Hex VR Rig
— coverage: FOV varies based on setup, 6 to 14 digital cinema cameras

Radiant Images: Codex ActionCam VR 360 Blossom
— full coverage: 360×180°, 17 Codex ActionCam cameras
— global shutter, genlocked?

360 Designs: EYE
— full coverage: 360×180°, 8 to 42 cameras depending on configuration:
Blackmagic Design Micro Cinema Camera (self-contained) or Blackmagic
Design Micro Studio Camera 4k (wired operation)
— can be genlocked

WeMakeVR: Falcon VR Camera
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 14 sensors

Panocam3D: POD
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 18 sensors

---

360° Video Rigs: Stereoscopic / Single Camera Body

These cameras capture stereoscopic 360° video through the
use of a single camera body with multiple sensors/lenses. Since it
behaves as a single unit there are less problems that can arise.
Stereoscopic rigs allow for 360° video to be captured for both your left
and right eyes, so a true sense of depth can be achieved in VR. 360-3D
is the ultimate dream, but there are many challenges that make it
difficult to shoot in 360-3D and not give the viewer a very frustrating
experience. (Example problems include: parallax error differences
between eyes, exposure differences between eyes, genlocking cameras,
getting complete stereo coverage without ignoring the poles, and such
big headaches.) The terms stereoscopic, 3D, and S-3D can be used
interchangeably.

Jaunt: ONE – J1-24G
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 24 sensors
— 24G: global shutter, 24R: rolling shutter, genlocked
— The Cinematic VR Field Guide

Nokia: OZO+
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 8 sensors (195° fisheye lens)
— global shutter, genlocked

Insta360: Pro
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 6 sensors (200° fisheye lens)

Vuze
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 8 sensors

Samsung: Project Beyond
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 18 sensors

KanDao: Obsidian R / Obsidian S
— coverage: exact FOV unknown, single camera body with 6 sensors (FOV of fisheye lens unknown)
— genlocked?

Live Planet: Explore
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 16 sensors (180° fisheye lens)
— genlocked

Hubblo
— coverage: exact FOV unknown, single camera body with 6 sensors (FOV of fisheye lens unknown)

Z-Cam V1 Pro
—full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 9 sensors

Idealoeye: P21
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 21 sensors

DKVision Aura
— coverage: exact FOV unknown, single camera body with unknown amount of sensors

---

360° Video Rigs: Scuba

To take a 360° video rig underwater, you can’t simply put
it within a glass box… The lens optics would be affected by the
refraction of the water. So these rigs have built-in compensation and
allow you to capture 360° without any problems.

360Rize: 360Abyss
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 GoPro cameras
— underwater depth rating: 1000m or 3280ft, negative/positive/neutral buoyancy (anodized or poly carbonate versions)
— overview of the v4 redesign

Kolor: Abyss
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 GoPro cameras
— underwater depth rating: 150m or 492ft

Varavon: VR-MARINE 6
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 GoPro cameras with Entaniya 220° fisheye lenses and Back-Bone Ribcage
— underwater depth rating: 300m or 984ft

360Rize: H3ScubaH6
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 GoPro cameras
— underwater depth rating: 61m or 200ft

360Rize: 360SeaDak
— full coverage: 360×180°, 2 Kodak PIXPRO SP360 4k cameras
— underwater depth rating: 130m or 426ft

Boxfish 360
— full coverage: 360×180°, 3 Z-Cam E1 cameras (185° fisheye lens)
— underwater depth rating: 300m or 984ft

Varavon: VR-MARINE 3
— full coverage: 360×180°, 3 GoPro cameras with Entaniya 220° fisheye lenses and Back-Bone Ribcage
— underwater depth rating: 300m or 984ft

360bubble
— polycarbonate globe for suitable for Ricoh Theta S, Samsung Gear 360, Nikon Keymission 360, LG 360 CA
— underwater depth rating varies based on model: 4m (13ft) / 10m (33ft)

---

360° Video Rigs: Scuba Stereoscopic

Taking a 360° video rig underwater is a serious endeavor. And shooting in stereoscopic makes it even more difficult.

VRTUL 1
— full coverage: 360×180°, 9 Blackmagic Micro Studio cameras (with fisheye lens)
— underwater depth rating: 30m or 100ft, slightly positive buoyancy

VRTUL: AquaTerra
— full coverage: 360×180°, 30 GoPro cameras
— underwater depth rating: 40m or 131ft, neutral buoyancy

---

360° Video Rigs: Invisible Drone

Attaching a 360° video rig to a drone is easy. But allowing the drone itself to be hidden within the shot is a special trick.

3DR Solo Drone Quadcopter: 360 Mount for the Kodak PIXPRO SP360 4k
— full coverage: 360×180°, 2 PIXPRO SP360 4k cameras

Drone Volt: Drone Janus 360
— full coverage: 360×180°, 10 GoPro cameras

360Rize: 360 Orb
— full coverage: 360×180°, 12 GoPro cameras

Spherie
— full coverage: 360×180°, 6 GoPro cameras

Queen B Robotics: Exo360
— full coverage: 360×180°, single camera body with 5 sensors (210° fisheye lens)

Flying EYE
— full coverage: 360×180°, 3 Blackmagic Micro Studio cameras (with fisheye lens)

Custom Drone Rigs
— Gimbal-Guard: Kodak 360 rig
— Fly 360°
— Helicopter 360 Rig
— Panono Drone
— Pictures Fabryc: Alta8 VR 360 Drone with stabilization
— NS VR Gimbal
— Ammergauer Alpen: 360 video drone – example footage
— Intel Realsense Drone
— VR-Eye Cam – Drone Camera
— Viooa – Drone Camera
— Thanics: Halo
— DJI Mavic Pro: Dual Gear 360 / DJI Mavic Pro: Gear 360 & Kodak SP360 4k

Stabilize 360 footage from a drone
— How to Stabilize 360 Drone Footage in After Effects using the SkyBox Studio plugin

---