Once you pair the camera with a Samsung phone via Bluetooth 4.1, though, it really steps up a gear. Using the menu and back buttons on the side, you can quickly flit between video, photo, timelapse and video looping shooting modes switch between the two lenses select the image quality and set a timer up to a maximum of ten seconds. Sadly, you can’t use both lenses for 360-degree footage without a compatible handset, but it’s nice that the Gear 360 isn’t entirely useless to non-Samsung smartphone owners.
This means you have literally no excuse for accidentally snapping a selfie while setting the thing up. One very sensible feature is that there’s a tiny LED light above each lens to indicate which lens is in use. The only downside is that the display isn’t particularly bright, and is tricky to see in bright sunlight – but at least you’ve got one, unlike the Ricoh Theta S. The small 0.5in 72 x 32 PMOLED display at the top of the camera lets you select basic settings without being connected to a phone, and tiny icons give you an at-a-glance summary of the current settings alongside an estimate of how much recording space you’ve got left on your SD card. Still, you do at least get a little protective bag and carry strap to make it easier to lug around. With a £350 device, you’d reasonably expect to actually be able to use the thing straight out of the box.
Few, if any, cameras come with an SD card as standard, but it still feels like Samsung is being a bit stingy here. If you don’t have a Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, Note 5, S7 or S7 Edge, then you’ll be missing out on several of the Gear 360’s features.Īnd if you’re expecting to get a microSD card in the box then think again. The first sticking point is that you’ll need one of a select handful of Galaxy smartphones to get the proper VR experience. In short, don’t be tempted to submerge this in the pool – it’s water-resistant, not waterproof. But while you’ll be reasonably well protected against sand or dust, don’t expect it to handle anything more than light rain or the occasional splash of water. It’s also IP53 certified, with rubber-sealed ports in place to keep it safe from the outside world.
0 kommentar(er)
