4K 360 Camera Comparison – Gear 360 vs Nikon Keymission 360 vs 360Fly 4K vs Insta360 4K

The most important aspect of any 360 camera is the resolution that the camera is able to shoot in. It is generally accepted that 4K resolution is the minimum required for 360 degree video to have a decent quality appearance. The past year has seen the release of 5 consumer 360 cameras that can shoot in 4K, but which is the best? This table compares the features of every 4K 360 camera available right now.

Samsung Gear 360

Insta360 4K

360Fly 4K
Nikon Keymission 360

Kodak SP360 4K Dual Pro
Video Resolution3840 X 1920 @ 30fps4096 x 2048 @25fps2880 x 2880 @ 30fps3840 x 2160 @ 24fps2880 X 2880 @30fps
Photo Resolution30 Megapixels16 MegapixelsNo Photo mode. Photos can be taken from video.23.9 Megapixels12.4 Megapixels
Number of Lenses22121
Max Field of ViewFull 360° x 360°Full 360° x 360°Vertical 240° X Horizontal 360°Full 360° x 360°Vertical 235° X Horizontal 360°
Aperturef/2.0f/2.0f/2.5f/2.0f/2.8
ISO100 - 6400100 - 6400Adjustable100 - 1600100 - 800
WaterproofSplash-proof onlyNoYes, up to 30ftYes, up to 30mSplash-proof only
DustproofYesNoYesYesYes
ShockproofNoNoYes, up to 1.5mYes, up to 2mYes, up to 2m with cover
Live StreamNoYesYes (iOS only, but android coming soon)NoNo
MemoryExternal Micro SD Max 128GBExternal Micro SD Max 32GB64GB - Internal OnlyExternal Micro SD Max 64GBExternal Micro SD Max 128GB
Battery Capacity1350 mAh100 minutes of use1780 mAh1050 mAh1250 mAh
CompatibilityFlagship Samsung SmartphonesModern iOS and Android devicesModern iOS and Android devicesModern iOS and Android devicesModern iOS and Android devices
Price$349.95$549.99$425.99$496.95$449
Amazon Review ScoreRead Amazon ReviewsRead Amazon Reviews Read Amazon ReviewsRead Amazon ReviewsRead Amazon Reviews


4K 360 Camera Individual Analysis

Samsung Gear 360

Samsung’s first 360 camera has turned out to be one of the best, beating traditional camera makers. The Gear 360 can shoot 4K 360 video with no blind spots and 30 megapixel stills. The videos are clear, smooth and look HD. The accompanying app is excellent and can control the camera from quite a distance; you can change settings such as ISO, HDR, timer, timelapse and color balance.

Overall this is one of the highest rater 360 cameras out at the moment and one of the few 4K 360 cameras under $300.

PROS:
  • 4K Resolution
  • No Blind Spots, full 360°
  • Under $300
  • Excellent App for manual control
  • Timelapse Feature
  • Large, clear 360 stills

CONS:
  • App only compatible with Samsung smartphones
  • Overheats with constant use

 

Insta360 4K

The Insta360 4K is part of a range of 360 cameras built by the same Chinese company. Whilst Chinese products tend to have a less than favourable reputation, this camera certainly bucks the trend. The Insta360 4K is made with high quality materials and works very well as a 360 camera. It shoots 4K video and its candy bar shape makes it easy to hold and shoot. It comes with a phone app compatible with iOS and Android, so this could be a great alternative to the Gear 360 if don’t have a Samsung phone.

The only issue is the price, which at $599 makes the Insta360 4K one of the most expensive consumer level 360 cameras.

PROS:
  • 4K Resolution
  • No Blind Spots, Full 360°
  • Compatible with iOS and Android
  • High Quality Metal Construction

CONS:
  • Expensive
  • Audio not great when using internal mic

360Fly 4K

The 360Fly 4K is marketed as an action camera similar to GoPro, except this action camera can shoot in 360 degrees! However, as the camera only has one large fish eye lens there is a blind spot underneath the camera that will be a small black circle in the final video.

The 360Fly is waterproof to 30ft, shockproof and dustproof. It can be attached to bikes, cars, helmets, ski’s, surfboards and practically anything else! The 360 video is high quality and clear, however you are limited to how long your videos can be. Each video clip can be a maximum of 2GB in size, which for a 360 video is around 3-4 minutes.

PROS:
  • 4K Resolution
  • Compatible with iOS and Android
  • Waterproof, Shockproof, Dustproof
  • 64B Internal Memory

CONS:
  • 360 X 270 Field of view – Blind Spot Underneath Camera
  • Restricted Video Size
  • Accompanying App is Useful but Basic

Nikon Keymission 360

This was the first 360 camera to be mad by one of the traditional big camera producers and there were high expectations that this 360 camera would be the best yet. Customers were disappointed to find that the camera was shipped with incomplete software making it frustrating to use. While the camera can shoot full 360 video in 4K resolution, getting the camera to actually do so proved difficult for users.

Nikon has released a few updates to rectify the issues, however the camera still suffers from bugs and inefficiencies. A great shame and an embarrassment for such an iconic camera designer.

PROS:
  • 4K Resolution
  • Waterpoof (with extra case)
  • Full 360 Video and Photo

CONS:
  • Unfinished Software
  • App not Intuative
  • Minimal Manual Control
  • Video lacks deep colors

Kodak SP360 4K Duel Pro

Yes, Kodak still make cameras! They were actually one of the first to release a 360 camera under $1000, this is their second generation 360 camera which shoots in 4K resolution. The biggest downside to this camera is that it’s actually 2 cameras put together and each needs to be purchased separately. This make the device quite expensive and a hassle to use. Once the combined power of both cameras is used however, the resulting 360 video and images are high quality with excellent color depth and a smooth framerate.

You have the option to buy just one of the cameras for half the price, however you will then only be able to shoot 360 X 215 degree video, meaning there will be a blind spot below the camera.

PROS:
  • 4K Resolution
  • Splashproof
  • Good Quality Video
  • Durable Design
  • Intuitive App Compatible with iOS and Android
  • Over 10 Accessories (bought separately)
  • Motion Detection

CONS:
  • Required 2 cameras for full 360
  • Images are only 12 Megapixels
  • Expensive

 

4k 360 Camera Comparison Analysis

So by looking at the 4K 360 camera comparison table and the individual analysis what can we conclude? For a start the Samsung Gear 360 (review here) is the cheapest by quite a large margin, but does this mean it’s inferior to its more expensive counterparts? Not necessarily. The Gear 360 can shoot 4K video in full 360 degrees, it has an excellent low aperture and a range of manual controls. All in all I’d say it was the best camera out of the lot and certainly the best value.

Many of the other 4K 360 cameras, such as the 360fly 4K (review here) and the Kodak SP360 4K, have a limited field of view, meaning there will be a blind spot in the images they create. It seems strange, then, that these camera would be significantly more expensive than the Gear 360. Some of these cameras do have features that the Gear 360 lacks, such as waterproof and shockproof, which may explain a rise in price. If you want a more durable camera for shooting sports or activities then the 360Fly 4K is the best option.

My personal opinion is that the Gear 360 is the best value 4K 360 camera and indeed one of the best regardless of price. The Nikon Keymission has slightly more impressive specs, but has turned out to be a poor quality camera (check amazon reviews) and the Insta360 4K is too expensive.

Choose your 360 camera


 

 

The 360 Guy

The 360 Guy

Owner of threesixtycameras.com. Writer, photographer and videographer. You can see my YouTube channel for guides of how to shoot 360 video. I've written for The Times, Digital Photography School and Sunday Express. 

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