Page 81 - Stuff - September 2017 UK

TESTED SAMSUNG GEAR 360 2017

Tech specs

Cameras 2x 8.4MP CMOS with fisheye lenses
Max resolution 4096x2048 @ 24fps (360°), 1920x1080
@ 30fps (single lens) Storage microSD card slot (up to
256GB) Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C (charging)
Battery 1160mAh Dimensions 101x46x45mm, 130g

Look around you

Samsung hasn’t shaken things up too much in
terms of image quality. Is it still ahead of the pack?

4K, or not 4K… …that is the question
The marketing boasts When you actually view
about 4K capabilities, the footage you’ll only be
but this refers to the seeing a small part of the
resolution (at 24fps) full image, and it looks less
when shooting 360° sharp than regular 1080p
footage. With a single HD – plus the fisheye
lens in use, you can only lenses flare easily with
1 record in 1080p. bright light sources.

We’re in stitches The eyes have it
The software stitching No current pocket-sized
can also be a weak link, 360° cam is going to blow
showing the join or leaving you away with its image
a gap between the lenses. quality, but with the Gear
4 Freak scenes 5 Can face the world alone That said, videos and 360 you at least get bright
The app is similar on both iOS You don’t actually need a phone photos, whether 360° colours, good contrast and
and Android, although the latter to use the Gear 360. With its or single-lens, look fine precise colour, particularly
version features livestreaming in microSD storage, LCD display and next to the opposition. in HDR still mode.
addition to the standard shooting on-board controls, you’re able to
modes: still, video, HDR landscape, cycle through modes and trigger
looping video and timelapse the shutter using the camera
video. You can use both lenses itself, with footage and photos Is this the perfect 360° camera?
(360°) or one (ultra-wide angle). stored on the microSD card. Certainly not, but it’s the best
pocket-sized VR maker we’ve
seen so far – and a notable
improvement over the previous
It’s a shame there’s no built-in tripod, I can only share videos and pics once …and overall peformance is better user looking for a fuss-free way of capturing
The wireless connections give more
Gear 360. If you’re a Samsung or iPhone
but it seems stable on a flat surface.
Samsung’s auto-stitching does a
decent job of merging a 360° shot.
options than the Insta360 Air…
I’ve saved them to my phone.
decent 360° footage or ultra-wide timelapse
videos, this fits the bill. @samkieldsen
than the LG 360.
STUFF SAYS
A sizeable step forward for
360° cameras, but still a step
below perfection
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