Kodak PIXPRO SP360 4K VR 360 Degree Camera Review - Compared to Ricoh Theta

Buy it on Amazon - http://lon.tv/zudkr (affiliate link) - Kodak updated their 360 VR camera to a larger 4k sensor but it still needs some work. And you may need two of them to get the best experience. See related videos and footage: http://lon.tv/pixpro and subscribe! http://lon.tv/s

VIDEO INDEX:
00:49 - Hardware overview
01:10 - HDMI output video
01:45 - Example footage from an outdoor walk
04:06 - Software overview
04:10 - Mac issues
04:45 - Video "editing"
05:25 - Viewing options
06:29 - Facebook and YouTube export
08:01 - Viewing 360 degree video on YouTube
09:13 - Lens facing forward vs. up
09:27 - Viewing 360 video on a smartphone
09:37 - Google Cardboard viewing mode
10:13 - Smartphone app
10:43 - Conclusion and final thoughts

360 degree cameras are still not quite there yet for consumers. This one has a 4k sensor that improves image quality but still will lack sharpness and resolution for a convincing VR experience.

Like other 360 degree cameras the software is the weak point here. The Mac app is practically unusable and the more stable Windows version is counter intuitive and clunky. Although it does have some editing features it mostly involves trimming video, exporting it, and then stitching the files together. Far from a true editing experience.

I did not mention battery life in the video but I think you should get about 60 to 90 minutes or more on a charge. There's a means of also connecting an external power source to its USB port to keep the battery charged while in use.

Kodak sells a two camera kit that will be a better experience. Although the camera will shoot and allow viewers to watch in 360 degrees, the half dome nature of the footage will be frustrating for those looking to provide some immersion.

A better choice for those curious about 360 VR video is the Ricoh Theta. It is far from a perfect camera and offers image quality inferior to this camera. But it does have two distinct lenses that give a true 360 degree full dome image at a lower price point. You can see my review of that here:

   • Ricoh Theta S 360 Degree Camera Revie...  

My advice is to hold off on consumer VR / 360 camera gear for now. The current offerings are so mediocre that there is bound to be a disruptive product entering this space soon.

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