Insta360 EVO Folding Camera Shoots 180 and 360-Degrees 3D
Foldable devices seem to be in vogue this year and Insta360 EVO has just rolled the dice with its own version of groundbreaking folding camera design geared to fully leverage the capabilities of your virtual reality headsets. The new Insta360 EVO folding camera is a dual-mode camera design capable of shooting 360-degree spherical imagery when it is folded into a cube, capturing all the angles at once! When the camera is unfolded, it can shoot 180-degree 3D content.
In the unfolded format, the EVO’s two wide-angle fisheye lenses will work together and capture 180-degree 18-megapixel 3D photographs along with 5.7K 180-degree 3D videos.
You can also use this convertible camera to stream freshly captured content directly onto various virtual reality headset devices such as the Oculus Go, HTC Vive Focus and the Samsung Gear VR. The streaming function in the folding camera will likely encourage users to create more virtual reality content and share their experiences with others.
Whatever mode the user opts for, they will get the same features that have made the Insta360 such a popular 360 camera brand in the market. It also has FlowState stabilization that handles the jitters when the user is recording a 360-degree video. The new camera is also built with a new 3D stabilization similarly handles for 180-degree 3D recordings. With the TimeShift hyperlapse, the user is still in overall charge of their own action scenes and the HDR will deliver vibrant and natural images whether you are recording scenes in 180 or 360-degrees.
The Insta360 EVO is simply the EVO One X that has been transformed into a foldable form factor and goes for a retail price of only $419.99, which is just $20 more than previous One X model. It still delivers the same 5.7K video resolution along with 18-megapixel still resolution. It also has Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity for its dedicated Android or iOS app.
The biggest difference is its new 180-degree capture mode. This feature can be automatically enabled when the user unfolds the Evo and then locks it into position with its top latch. After this is done, the user simply needs to toggle the video or photo capture and they can begin shooting. All of these functions can be managed within the camera itself or remotely over a companion app through a Wi-Fi connection.
The EVO camera captures the moments either in 180 or 360 degrees but the Insta360 also gives users a lot more options on how they can relive the moments. For example, you can directly connect to Vive Focus, Oculus Go and Samsung Gear VR to instantly play what the camera shoots. Also, with the Insta360 HoloFrame, you get additional options to relive the moments the captured by the camera. All you have to do is pop it to a compatible smartphone screen and start experiencing the 3D videos and photos in a unique way. There is also the eye-tracking technology in the app which helps in aligning the content with the viewer’s gaze enabling them to view the 3D content without headsets or glasses.
The Insta360 team developed this versatile camera to give users flexible options for capturing special moments. The infinite instances of moments and scenery require flexible options for recording, be they 180 or 360-degree. There are instances where one mode may work better over the other and it is important that the user is able to switch to a suitable mode. The EVO will also be great for shooting sporting events from a first-person view as it provides a great depth of perception that makes for an impressively immersive experience.
Like in Insta360’s previous devices, users can easily stream or download the camera content in the app. The content is also shareable on Youtube, Facebook (currently with the exception of 3D photos) and on Insta360’s hosting service.
Users looking for a more immersive experience can explore two additional ways through which they can enjoy their virtual reality content. The first option allows owners with virtual reality headsets such as Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Go and HTC Vive Focus to directly connect their headsets to the Insta360 EVO camera via Wi-Fi. Once a connection is established, the user can seamlessly stream videos or transfer files within the dedicated virtual reality app and they do not have to manually copy or convert the files from one format to another with the help of a PC or an OTG accessory as is customary. For EVO users, this provides a great deal of convenience amaking the EVO camera an indispensable device for both newbies and professional VR filmmakers.
The second option for getting an immersive experience out of the EVO is via the Holoframe, a nifty glasses-free 3D feature that utilizes eye tracking. The Holoframe in the EVO was co-developed by Mopic, a Samsung spin-off. To use these features, you will have to invest in an optional $29.99 transparent smartphone case accessory that is designed with a special filter at the back. The case should be flipped around so that it covers the screen and the Holoframe playback in the app should also toggled. The case is currently available for a limited range of devices like the Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+, S9 and S9+. It also provides support for iPhone X, XS, XS Max and the XR. Support for the Samsung Note 8 will be available in the near future.
Once the initial calibration has been performed, you can use the Holoframe to view content on your smartphone and begin enjoying the sharp immersive experience. The company is currently working on an update that will add a dynamic 3D effect.
The third option for an immersive experience with the Insta360 EVO is realizable with the 3D Viewer, a simple foldable virtual reality goggle attachment that you can add to any phone. It’s a simple hack that involves fiddling around with the VR playback mode in the EVO app to get the desired immersive experience. An alternative option is popping the phone into a Cardboard-like enclosure, reminiscent of the early VR devices.
The Insta360 EVO folding camera is already available for purchase in the company’s store at https://store.insta360.com/product/evo. A 3D viewer comes bundled with a mini-tripod grip along with a protective pouch. When purchasing this gear, ensure that you also have a microSD card that is rated with the UHS-I V30 speed.
https://virtualrealitytimes.com/2019/03/14/insta360-evo-folding-camera-shoots-180-and-360-degrees-3d/https://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Insta360-EVO-600x375.jpghttps://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Insta360-EVO-150x90.jpgHardwareVR CamerasFoldable devices seem to be in vogue this year and Insta360 EVO has just rolled the dice with its own version of groundbreaking folding camera design geared to fully leverage the capabilities of your virtual reality headsets. The new Insta360 EVO folding camera is a dual-mode camera design capable...Sam OchanjiSam Ochanji[email protected]EditorVirtual Reality Times - Metaverse & VR