Ridgefield Park, NJ—Samsung Electronics Co. now has a player in the 360º, fully spherical camera segment. The company just introduced the Samsung Gear 360. The new camera enables consumers to create, view and also share their favorite experiences through 360º video and still image content.
The Gear 360 is designed to provide an all-encompassing visual experience. It leverages the best of the Samsung Galaxy experience so users can become the creator of their own virtual reality content. The content can then be viewed on Gear VR.
“Samsung continues to push the boundaries of the mobile experience to extend beyond the smartphone,” said DJ Koh, president of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “On the heels of last year’s Gear VR release, Gear 360 continues to push the limits on immersive content. It provides a visual experience that makes capturing and sharing life’s moments even easier.”
With a compact, spherical form factor, the Gear 360 is equipped with dual fisheye lenses. Both both have 15 megapixel image sensors. This allows it to capture high-resolution (3,840×1,920) 360º video in the MP4 format and also 30 megapixel still images.
Users are also able to shoot 180º wide-angle video and images while using only one side of the camera lens. The Gear 360 offers a bright f/2.0 lens to create high-resolution images even in low-light conditions.
In addition, users can capture full panoramic videos. The cam also features a tripod and provides video, photo, time-lapse video and looping video modes. Furthermore, it is compatible with a wide selection of accessories and mounts currently on the market.
When the cam is synced with a Samsung smartphone, users can preview content in real time while recording. The camera will automatically bring up filmed content for users to view and save on their smartphone. Or they can upload content and share it directly on social channels, including Google Street View.
For a 360º viewing experience, users can watch self-created content through Gear VR. All these features will be available through a dedicated mobile app for download from Galaxy Apps, Google Play and PC software for more in-depth editing capabilities.
Gear 360 Smartphone Compatibility
The 360º cam is compatible with select Samsung smartphones, including the newly released Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge and Galaxy S6. It will be available in Q2 2016 for a yet unannounced price. samsung.com
