Should you get it?
The short answer is yes.
The long answer is well; it depends. We’ve enjoyed getting to know it so far for this review, and stretched the answer out for you.
Gear 360 is Samsung’s solution to making 360-degree photography affordable.
Now, by affordable, we mean it’s still a pricey P10,900 on the market. This becomes easier to swallow when you consider that most of the products of the 360 market are on the professional level: as in you’d need to be in the profession to afford it.
This is why most of the 360-degree photos and videos you’ve seen on Facebook are usually advertisements and promotions by big establishments, and let’s be honest; you don’t see a lot of them. But the trend is definitely on the rise, and the tech giants are trying to get ahead of the curve and get the technology to the public.
So what is Samsung’s new toy all about?
The Gear 360 is a camera with two lenses that can capture photos and videos a full 360 degrees all around. This means that it can see everything in the room from where it’s standing, all at once.
For someone who has had little experience with the tech, I think my first reaction was “wow, it has no blind spots?”
Nope. None. Well, maybe a small one at its base, but that’s it.
So far, we’ve been using it for meetings, discussions, and impromptu office jam sessions when no one’s looking. Needless to say, we’re having fun with it.
It’s perfect for those gatherings where key people and objects are placed at various, opposing positions. Just put it at the right spot, set it to record, and forget about it the whole while.
This is the best way to capture candid photos of everything going on in the room, without the pressure and distraction of a camera being picked up, and having its lens being moved around. The Gear 360 sits pretty and does its job well: subtly.
We’re still running more extensive tests on the technical side of the gadget, and we’ll probably update this article with more specs for you soon, but we’ve detailed most of the specs below for your convenience.
The device is Bluetooth and wi-fi capable, which means you have the convenience of fast remote access, and live streaming of media you take.
It comes with a small stand; however, a tripod is necessary, especially if you want to take quick 360-degree photos or videos by hand- as you’ll need the extra distance to prevent your hand from looking strangely caught in the blind spot.
You also might want to consider the lighting. As it passively records the room, it can only work with the light it’s given.
Overall, this is a very new technology in the people’s hands, and although we love it, the steep price of the gadget means it’s not for everyone. But luckily, everyone has that one person who loves to take photos and videos, and they’re the ones who’re going to get their money’s worth out of it. (In our case, it’s our boss.)
That’s how I see the most significant consumer pull will be for this device: imagine three friends sitting at a cafe, and one of them places it at the far end of the table. They get all their jokes, their long catch-up stories, what they ordered, the interior of the café, and maybe even the sights from the window.
It gets more fun the bigger the group is: place it in the center of a large party, and you see how everyone is enjoying in their way as they move about and have fun. The best part is, whether cafe or party, all the moments are captured, and they’re all captured candidly.
That’s how the memories are best remembered: naturally, without the need to call people over, get their attention to a camera, and stage the moment. You can take in the moment as it happens.
Of course, there’s a lot more potential than that.
Your band’s got a gig? Sit the Gear 360 on a proper table, and you’ve got both the performance and the crowd’s reactions as well.
We’ve already proven its advantages in business meetings and corporate settings, and I can imagine all the family gatherings, holidays, and merienda’s, of tomorrow having them at the center.
Even if you’re an up-and-coming photographer yourself, these can assist you in placing you at multiple angles and get you underway to the professional pieces.
The uses go on.
That was probably Samsung’s intention from the start when they thought of presenting the public with it. But again, it’s not for everyone.
If you think you’re going to be using it at least a few times a week, then you’ll feel the weight of the price tag less and less as you’re enjoying the photos and videos.
It’s not for everyone, but there’s probably that one someone for everyone who’ll enjoy it, anyway.
And if that someone isn’t you, I bet you’re already thinking of them for it.
Specifications:
Dimension and Weight:
- Dimensions: 100.6 x 46.3 x 45.1mm
- Weight: 130g
Camera:
- 2 CMOS 8.4MP / F2.2 lens (Default output pixel count equivalent to 15MP)
Modes:
- Video
- Photo
- Time Lapse
- Video Looping
- Landscape HDR
- Live Video (Application)
Still Capturing:
- 360 Degrees Dual Lens: up to 15MP (5472 x 2736)
- Single Lens: up to 3MP (2304 x 1296)
- Jpeg format
Video Recording:
- 360 Degrees Dual Lens: up to 4096 x 2048 (24fps)
- Single Lens: up to 1920 x 1080 (60fps)
- Codec: MP4 (H.265)
Battery:
- 1160 mAh
External Memory:
- MicroSD card (up to 256GB)
- No internal memory
- Need SD card to save photos or videos to the gear 360
OS Convergence:
- Android, IOS – Mobile Application
- Windows, Mac – PC Software
- 360 Video Editor is not available for MacOS Computers
Smartphone Compatibility:
- Galaxy s8, s8+, s7, s7 Edge, Note5, s6, s6 Edge, s6 Edge+, A5/A7 (2017) running on Android 5.0 or later
- iPhone 7, 7+, 6S, 6S+, SE running IOS 10.0 or later
- There are limited functions when using IOS devices
- Availability of features may differ depending on the mobile device, OS version, and region
Connectivity:
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Bluetooth v4.1
- USB 2.0 (Type-C)
Sensor:
- Gyro
- Accelerometer
Water and Dust Proof:
- IP53 (Dust and Splash-proof)
In the Box:
- Gear 360 (2017)
- A USB cable (Type-C)
- Strap
- Pouch
- Quick Start Guide
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