Nikon Keymission 360 --- Garbage

(had to repost due to wrong name typed in)

Just. Don't. Even. Think about it.

Absolutely horrid in every way except maybe build quality. Looks and feels cool, but the output is pure garbage.

Unless you like horrible compression, low rez images, blatant stitch lines, laggy and unstable connection to app, and basically the worst part of any camera you've ever had.

Shame on you, Nikon.

Shame on me for trusting a few unbelievably biased/oblivious/paid off reviews.

I think it's like Gear360 from Samsung. A 2 lens system can't offer good quality while the ball construction of Gear360 maybe more sensefull. Last not least, .... what to expect in this price range?
For me Gear360 was a test, .... how it works, is it usefull, does it sell? Luckily i sold one clip and got back the money for this cam, but i see no future for VR and the possibilities to use it are rather rare so long you don't make action sports or conferences, for which image quality isn't so important.

Agreed .. it's a matter of expectations ...

I am looking at much more expensive system, but I am thinking for regular shooting an integrated system ..

I do see a future, but it is not here yet. I only started getting interested after trying the VR headset that came with my phone (I was about to sell it, and thought to try first!)

I think there is much potential, and am interested, but the quality for consumer grade is way below par, in my opinion, for anything but novelty .. however, having seen a few really nice contents, I can say there is a potential for significant use in education, marketing, and of course, gaming.

Possible that this could use a topic of its own, but I cannot stomach super low grade footage of any type, so even the "starter" kit is not worth trying yet. Others with multi-cam rigs are sure to have much more usable material.

Congrats on selling though .. that in itself is a nice sign of things to come.

I have clips shot with the gear 360 and it's also kind of crappy but the easiest crappy to submit with currently. I had to buy a samsung phone to automatically stitch cause it does not work with iphone, then i upload to my google drive then fcpx then smmi then upload. it's a lot of work and the output is basically 4k but 4k stretched around a 360 view so its really like 720p...

https://www.pond5.com/stock-video-footage/1/artist%3Afelixmizioznikov-miami-vr360.html#1/2063/artist:felixmizioznikov-miami-vr360

i've has a few sales but nothing to cry home to mama about.

So is it possible that it is worth not sending this camera back and just learning some of the ins and outs of 360 spherical shooting with it? I mean, if people buy "some" ... well, for the right price it could pay itself off fairly quick. Plus it stitches in camera, easy to deploy, etc. Am I over-reacting about the quality?

Later, hoping to get a better rig (Sphericam 2) which looks like a really great balance between portability and quality, plus it shoots 4K RAW 60fps (not stitched) but is not out yet and likely to cost $3500 .. I'll bet the workflow is a killer ...

I'd love to hear from some of you 360 shooters ... it's a neat avenue ... I don't think it will replace regular stock, but it would be foolish not to at least dabble in it, especially for some of the scenic opportunities here in Alaska.

What say you?

"there is a potential for significant use in education, marketing, and of course, gaming"

Sure, with my words i meant i see no future for stock footage as i can shoot. Maybe sometimes rare selling 1 clip doesn't pay a professional system which starts at 2000.- +, i will make money with footage and not only pay my gear. A problem which i see is also the big glasses. It's very uncomfortable, the dioptrin setting is a shame (if you need glasses for reading) and the lenses may become misted while using. So long this technic isn't possible with very thin comfortable glasses is see no real future. Maybe it stays only a small niche like 3D TV, ...... who use it still today ;)
I would see more market potential in vertical video, but if you're able to produce VR clips on request for special purposes an expensive system may pay itself. For gaming you don't need it, only a simple VR glasses to check your PC animations.
You're absolute not over-reacting about the quality. Also, i don't know the glasses quality of the expensive Oculus and else, but the pixelation of the cheap Samsung VR glasses is a joke.

I bought my 6 cam gear and software almost four years ago.
All I can say is that after four years, I have returned only a tiny portion of my investment.

I just finished repacking the cam for RMA. I tried it again last night and just wasted time.

Thanks for your inputs! Many great points, especially about the goggles ... I suspect they will by necessity, improve.

I am not giving up on it yet ... it may be that we are still on the low part of a gentle curve in interest, and perhaps more will happen. I've seen a lot of shallow plastic play-doh trash, but also a few gems or glimpses ... even using the free with phone $70 value Samsung Gear VR goggles and S7 phone ... most, though, very bad looking, and leaves you with eyes crossed!

I had a look at this and think it'd be very difficult to shoot stock in this format and make sales. For specialty stuff like education and event coverage it's great but if you're trying to tell a story with video it's very difficult when you can't be sure that you have the viewer's eyes.

Veritasium actually has a great YouTube video on it (also shot in 360) play with it and move around and see how much of what he's saying you retain when you're looking around and not at him.



Veritasium on YouTube - 360 Video