Review: 360fly HD Video Camera

A product the Transmoto team has tried, tested and would recommend to a mate.

WHAT IS IT?

The world’s first 360º single-lens HD video camera.

WHY WE RATE IT

At the Thunder Valley round of the 2015 AMA Motocross Championship, Australia’s Chad Reed arrived on the startline sporting a never-before-seen, futuristic-looking video camera mounted to his helmet. Although political issues prevented him from using the camera at that race, we’d later come to learn that the 360fly – the world’s first video camera that allows the user to capture 360º footage – may very well represent the future of visual-based experiences.

The dome-shaped camera, which shoots 360 degrees horizontally and 240 degrees vertically, has been designed with adventurers and action sports enthusiasts in mind. Weighing in at 120 grams, the thing fits in the palm of your hand, and is water-, sand- and dust-resistant. It boasts a 32GB built-in memory card and can capture up to two hours of continuous 360º footage (1504p at 30fps). Using detachable sticky, suction and handlebar-specific mounts, the 360fly can be fixed anywhere, plus it comes with a GoPro mount converter options.

The real beauty of the 360fly is its social media compatibility. Footage can be easily transferred from the device to your smartphone using a free-to-download App and internal WiFi. The App, and the free 360fly Director desktop software, can then be used to edit and share videos with ease. Now, here’s the best part: you can choose how you want other people to view your footage, or allow them to immerse themselves in what you shoot. This means you can upload flat clips directly to social media – so people can watch them the same way they would watch any other video, however you’d like them to see it – or you can upload the raw, interactive file to Facebook or YouTube, so people can use their fingers and/or device’s controls to put themselves in the driver’s seat.

You can even purchase a 360fly virtual reality headset (for $69.95) that your smartphone will slot straight into, which will allow you to really feel as though you’re right at the centre of the action. A 4K version of the camera is now available to purchase, too, for users seeking extra crispy footage.