Ultimate Guide to the RYLO Camera: FAQ, Review, Tutorials & Comparisons
This is your ultimate guide to the Rylo 360 camera, one of the most innovate 360 cameras to ever be released. This page is intended to be a guide and resource for anyone thinking about buying the Rylo or anyone who already owns one and wants to know how to use it effectively. Having owned over 10 360 cameras and tested even more, the Rylo has become one of my favorites and I think it has huge potential.
December 13 Update: Tiny Planets, Better Low Light & Cinematic Mode
Rylo – The Ultimate Guide
Summary
The Rylo is probably my favorite 360 camera right now, and that’s after testing and owning 15 of them! The software stabilization is absolutely amazing and the software is a dream to use. I love creating the 1080p over capture videos
FAQ
1. Why is the Rylo special compared to other 360 cameras?
This Rylo is special for one simple reason, it uses amazingly powerful software. Almost all 360 cameras I’ve tested have had good hardware, but the software has been buggy or in some cases, not functional. The team who designed the Rylo made sure they got the software right and the result is an extremely user friendly camera with some awesome features. The second reason I single out the Rylo is because of its amazing stabilization feature, which is the best I’ve seen from any camera EVER.
2. I hear the Rylo can shoot 1080p video and 360 video?
That’s kind of true. The camera itself can only shoot 360 video, but when you transfer that video to the Rylo App you can create a 1080p video using the video editor, which is another piece of amazing software. This 1080p video looks very cinematic thanks to the re-framing video editor. I’ll talk more about that later in this guide. You can also just shoot normal equirectangualar 360 video if that’s what you want.
3. How good is the video shot with the Rylo
You can read in depth about my thoughts in my hands on review of the Rylo, but to summarize the 360 video is above average compared to similar devices. The resolution is 4K and the camera stitches accurately and handles direct light very well. The camera doesn’t work well in low light however. The 1080p video also looks great if shot in well lit conditions, but most importantly it’s silky smooth thanks to the epic stabilization technology.
– See a comparison with the VIRB 360 and Insta360 One
4. What phones are compatible with the Rylo
At the moment only Apple devices are compatible with the Rylo. You need to connect your Rylo to your phone with a cable to transfer and stitch your images/video using the Rylo App, which is only available in the Apple App store at the moment. Rylo have said an Android version of the App is coming in early 2018, so I’ll update this guide when it’s released. The App also works on iPads.
5. What do you get in the box
Actually, more than you might expect! See my unboxing video:
6. Where can I buy it and how much does it cost?
The Rylo is available on Amazon and is priced at $499. This places it among the more expensive 360 cameras, but it’s not the most expensive by quite some way. Is is worth this price? I personally think so due to the great software, but you’ll have to decide if you are going to use all its features. I think this camera would be amazing for anyone shooting action videos or those who want to make unique vlogs.
If you have any other questions feel free to leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer.
Rylo Specs Table
| Feature | Rylo |
|---|---|
| Number of Lenses | 2 x f/2.8 |
| Video Resolution | 5.8K @ 24fps - 4K @ 30fps |
| Photo Resolution | 6K Panoramas |
| 360 Live-Stream | No |
| Stabilization | Built in stabilization and horizon correction |
| Waterproof | Unknown (underwater video footage suggests yes) |
| Shockproof | No |
| Memory | Micro SD up to 256GB |
| Battery | 830 mAh (up to 60 minutes) |
| Sensors | Unknown |
| Audio | Unknown |
| Compatibility | iOS at release, android coming 2018 |
| Other Features | Re-framing software in App, 16x timelapse |
| Price | $499 |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
Tips, Tricks and Tutorials
The Rylo is a fairly easy camera to use, but there are some tips and tricks that I’ve picked up that could help you to create awesome video.
Rylo Work Flow
This is a pretty standard work flow when using the Rylo:
1. Attach your Rylo to the Everyday Case
The Rylo comes with an every day case which holds it in place and allows you to attach the camera to a selfie stick, tripod or a range of other accessories.
2. Shoot your Video
Go out and shoot your video however you see fit. You don’t really need to worry about where to point the camera because you can decide that later in the editor. If using a selfie stick I recommend positioning the camera like this:
This will hide most of the selfie stick from shot because it will be within the Rylo blind spot. Even if the lenses are no pointing at you, you will still be in shot because the camera is shooting in 360.
3. Attach the Rylo to your Phone Using the Provided Cable
Once you’ve connected to your phone open the Rylo App. You should already see the footage you shot on the “Rylo” tab, now simply select the ones you want to transfer over. Depending on the length of the video this could take a few minutes, because the app is also stitching the video together.
4. Tap on a video you want to edit/export.
The video will appear and you are free to play it and look around in the 360 format. Tap on the screen to start playing and tap again to pause. Now you have two options for exporting your video:
Option 1: Export in 360 Equirectangular
If you just want a standard 360 video tap on the far right arrow. A box will appear with two options, tap the “video” option until 360 Video appears. Choose whether you also want to export audio and press continue. The app will export the 360 video to your phones camera roll, where you can upload direction to Facebook/YouTube or transfer over to a desktop for further editing.
Option 2: Create a reframed 1080p video
This is a bit more complicated and really needs its own tutorial.
How to Create Cinematic 1080p Video
The Rylo has a special editing feature which allows you to manipulate 360 video to create flat 1080p video that looks cinematic and almost professional. This method is also known as Freecapture or Overcapture, but it’s all pretty much the same thing. Here is how to do it using the Rylo app:
1. Transfer video and open in Rylo App
You’ll see the video appear in full screen and the options for editing will be at the top of your screen. TIP: If you want your final video to be in landscape, edit in landscape mode, if you want it to be in portrait, edit in portrait mode.
2. Go through your video using the explorer bar at the bottom of the screen
You can quickly scroll through your video using the bar at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap the options button for basic editing.
The editing options allow you to chance several aspects of your video, they include:
Trim: Change at what point the video starts and ends
Speed: Speed up your video and create a “hyperlapse”
Level: If your video is slightly crooked you can move the whole video so the horizon is level. You can also rotate the video in 90 degree step
Crop: Crop your video or change aspect ratio
4. Once you finished basic editing, it’s time to choose your keyframes.
Find something interesting that you want your audience to look at, and hold your finger on that point and you will see two options appear.
Look here: The camera will pan to this point at the time you have selected
Follow: The camera will lock onto this point for as long as you select. If the object is moving then the camera will move with it
5. Continue doing this for your entire video.
It’s best to change between “look” here and “follow” to make the video more dynamic.
6. Once you have finished creating your video you can watch it back and export.
You’ll see on the timeline at the bottom of the screen where you have added key frames and follow points. You can edit and change them, but once you are happy click the export button on the far right and select “HD Video”.
Tips to Improve Your Video
1. Make use of the camera overlay mode if you are talking but you want your viewer to look at something else.
2. Quick camera movements can be achieved by placing two “look here”points close together in the timeline
3. Use the “follow” function on your own face if you are the primary subject of the video
4. If you reference something in your video, use a quick panning motion to point the camera at it. This replicates natural cinematic motions.
December Update
On December 13th Rylo released a software update after receiving feedback from creators. The update brings several significant improvements:
Tiny Planets
The Rylo editing software is great, but it was missing a rather basic feature found in almost all of its competitors, a tiny planet creator. Thankfully the new app will allow you to create tiny planets from your photos/videos by pinching outwards.
Image Tuning
The update also brings the ability to tune your images after they have been shot. You’ll be able to adjust light, contrast, highlights, shadows and vibrancy . One of my main issues with the Rylo App was the lack of manual controls and this goes some way to fixing that.
Low Light Improvement
The new software drastically improves the low light shooting capabilities of the Rylo, as seen in the before/after image below.
The Rylo probably still isn’t the best 360 camera for low light, but this improvement is welcome
Cinematic Mode
The update adds a cinematic crop to the cropping options, this crops your video to a 21:9 aspect ratio.
Rylo Review
If you want to read a very detailed review, then check out my full Rylo Review Here. This is just a quick summary of the Rylo, it’s pro’s and con’s and what you can expect from the camera.
Video Quality
4K 360 video looks great in comparison to most 360 cameras. Certainly one of the best that shoots in 4K resolution but not at clear as the Garmin VIRB 360 or GoPro Fusion
Check out an example of the Rylo 360 video here:
The best thing about the Rylo is the software stabilization, which creates super smooth video even when the camera is shaking violently. This is the only camera I’ve owned where I don’t need to worry about if the video is going to be watchable because of how much the camera is moving. If you don’t believe me, check out the Amazon review for this camera, most of them mention how good the stabilization is.
One issue I have with the video quality is that it does not perform well in low light conditions. As long as you are shooting during the day you should be fine, but night time footage was very grainy and the camera struggled to pick up any details
1080p video (overcapture)
This type of video is one of the main reasons to get this camera. If you are not interested in creating this type of video using the Rylo then you should get a different camera because this is what it’s designed to do.
The Rylo app makes creating this type of cinematic video extremely easy. The stabilization is key to making the video pan smoothly, like you would see in a professional production. This type of video is not unique to the Rylo, the Insta360 One and GoPro Fusion have similar capabilities, but the Rylo has the most unique features and the best software.
Photography
The Rylo can take 18 megapixel 360 photos, which is neither great nor bad. The image quality is decent and color balance is about right. The photo options are extremely limited however; there is no way to adjust light, color balance, ISO or even a delayed timer, making the photo mode rather redundant. I’ve been told some of these features maybe included in a software update in the future.
Build Quality/Design
The Rylo looks great and is built to a very high standard. The outer shell is cased in metal, a first for a 360 camera. The camera features an LCD screen and two buttons to control shooting mode, shutter and power. The camera slots into its everyday case securely which offers some protection as well as the ability to connect to a tripod. The Rylo itself does not have a tripod adapter, so you will always need to use this case.
I think the Rylo is the most attractive 360 camera I’ve ever used in terms of design, but it’s still quite fragile.
Pro’s and Con’s
- Amazing stabilization
- Intuitive video editor
- Re-framing mode is best of any 360 camera
- Accurate stitching
- Deals with direct light well
- Comes with case and MicroSD card
- Hyperlapse
- Poor performance in low light
- Hardly any photo options
- Photo quality lacking
- No way to combine clips in the app
Comparisons
How does the Rylo compare to other 360 cameras available right now? I tested the Rylo against the Insta360 One and the Garmin VIRB 360 with the following results:
These two cameras are the Rylo’s main competitors. They both have similar reframing modes and claim to have excellent software stabilization.
- The Rylo had the best stabilization by far – the other cameras simply couldn’t handle cycling down a bumpy road, but the Rylo was still super smooth
- The VIRB 360 had the best overall video quality thanks to its 5.7K sensors, but the Rylo was superior to the Insta360 and captured both light and details more accurately.
- None of the cameras performed well in low light, but the VIRB slightly edged it.
- Re-framed video is easiest to make on the Rylo and produces the smoothest video.
If I had to choose between all three of these cameras I would probably choose the Rylo because of the stabilization alone. The VIRB is also waterproof, shockproof and comes fitted with half a dozen sensors, so could be a better choice if those features are important to you.
Useful Links and Resources
Rylo App is downloadable here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rylo/id1039121862?mt=8
Check the Rylo Website for More info and example videos
See Casey Neistat’s video on the Rylo here
If you want to discuss this camera join my private Facebook group
See my ultimate 360 camera comparison table to compare the Rylo against all other 360 cameras
If you have other 360 cams can you use the Rylo software with other cams?
No, only with the Rylo
A while back I was disheartened to learn that there is no desktop app available (at least as of then), to stitch the files together without a phone and Rylo’s app. You have to do all editing (at least the stitching part) in the phone via the downloaded app.
I had borrowed the camera from a friend and gave it back right after recoding the video. Now what I have is useless – unless I buy (or borrow) a Rylo camera, put the raw files back onto a micro SD card, install it back into the camera – then into my phone to stitch it – THEN transfer those files back to my video editing software, FCPX! Seems like a lot of trouble for nothing. Any suggestions other than borrowing or buying a camera? I wonder if Rylo might offer some assistance if I send them the files via Dropbox or something?