Samsung has announced a new camera which will shoot in every direction – making it perfect for VR.
The Gear 360 contains two 15MP fisheye lenses, which can capture 3840×1920 360 degree videos or 30 megapixel (7776×3888) still images. If you don’t want the whole 360-degree images, you can use only one camera and capture 180 degrees instead. It can also shoot timelapse or looping video.
The image processor is DRIMe5s – and Samsung says the new device features Bright Lens F2.0 technology, which will enhance low-light images.
Taking on GoPro
Samsung is clearly gunning for GoPro – as the Gear 360 is IP53 certified, meaning it is water and dust resistant, and the company says that it is compatible with a number of common stands and mounts.
Images and videos are stored on MicroSD, and there’s Wi-Fi, bluetooth and NFC built in, which should make transferring shots easy. It will also support uploads to Google’s Street View platform.
The camera is a savvy move, as it helps build a product ecosystem which should ultimately mean that there is more to look at on a Gear VR headset.
The company has yet to name a price or official release date, but we can expect it to arrive in Q2 this year.
