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LucidCam 180-degree 3D consumer camera

LAS VEGAS — For virtual reality, 2022 was definitely the yr of the headset. Several high-end models finally shipped, and dozens of cheap smartphone-based versions. Even so, despite a major industry investment in content, there aren't enough compelling experiences to drive big-scale adoption of the technology. This year may see that change, as CES 2022 featured a raft of new VR capture devices. Companies producing them are convinced that user-generated content tin help jumpstart VR the way YouTube did online video. Out of the many we saw at the show, here'south a round up of some of the well-nigh interesting.

First: The 360 and VR terminology muddle

VR suffers from an incredible muddle of terminology. For starters, the term 360 is used for both 180-degree and 360-degree products. VR is besides used to describe both 2d and 3D (stereo) capture devices. In this commodity, I'll use the product names, but and then call out its adequacy in terms of 180 or 360, and 2D or 3D. To me, VR is at a minimum 360-degree and 3D, although purists would argue even that isn't enough, unless yous can also movement effectually in the feel. Similarly, resolution specs aren't standardized. Some products requite per camera, or per heart, specs, and some provide the overall resolution of the output paradigm. Here as well will exercise our best to make things clear. Now, on to the products:

Vuze VR camera

Vuze is breaking the 1K barrier for VR capture with a $800 8-camera unitUser-contributed content is what helped web video take off, and startups like Vuze believe the aforementioned will exist true for the fledgling VR content manufacture. Unfortunately, quality 360-degree, 3D, video capture devices have been very expensive — ranging from $15K to over $100K. Vuze has introduced a prosumer-quality device for the very bonny price of $800. Featuring four stereo pairs of cameras, information technology provides a 360-degree 3D (stereo) epitome in 4K resolution. It also has four microphones (ane in each direction) that can exist used to create a form of spatial sound. With its aggressive pricing, and user-friendly Humaneyes software, Vuze is definitely going to open up VR content cosmos to an entirely new, and much larger, group of creatives than ever before.

Hubblo'south 4K live-streaming VR photographic camera

Hubblo's 6-camera VR rig can stream 4K video at 30 fpsThe specs on Hubblo's upcoming camera are very like to those of the Vuze. Information technology besides produces 4K 30 fps 3D video, although it uses vi cameras instead of viii. Notwithstanding, Hubblo's custom FPGAs also support realtime stitching and streaming through a paired mobile device. That should make it popular with those wanting to ready upwards a unit and circulate events. The photographic camera is a fiddling more expensive, at about $1k, and is supposed to be bachelor this quarter. However, the company hasn't even started accepting pre-orders withal, then I'd take the ship appointment with a grain of salt.

LucidCam 180-caste 3D "personal" camera

For many, 360-degree video means VR. However, if you don't at least have 3D, it isn't really VR. And realistically, much VR content will be consumed in environments that don't allow turning effectually anyhow (recollect couches). To acme that off, creating quality 360-degree content is hard. Getting yourself out of the scene is just the commencement of the challenges. And so information technology makes sense that someone would create a 180-caste, 3D photographic camera — at a compelling cost point. That's exactly what LucidCam has done. Their sub-$500, easy to use unit of measurement creates 2K lx fps video (which reduces the artifacts when used for VR, at the expense of some resolution compared with 4K output). I'm a little concerned whether 2K video volition hold upwards for immersive videos, simply I'll know more when I get a review unit.

Insta360 Pro

Insta360 promises the first 8K 3D capture device for under $3000Insta360 offers a range of 360-degree input devices, but the nigh interesting is the new 8K model introduced at CES. Using half-dozen 200-degree cameras and optical-flow-based stitching, it assembles 8K 360-degree video (at 30fps). For 3D, it'due south limited to a still-impressive 6K. If the stitching software and epitome quality match up with the raw specs, that's plenty to equal some of the very-expensive pro models on the market. You do pay for all this tech though. The visitor expects the Pro to sell for almost $3,000 when it is available later this quarter.

LyfieEye has an Android add-on that does 360

There were several 360-degree cameras at CES that work past attaching to your smartphone. One that was attracting involvement is the newly-shipping LyfieEye, which illustrates some of the pros and cons of this approach. On the positive side, you go 360 photos and video inexpensively (most of these add-ons are between $100 and $200 — less than one-half the cost of even a low-finish standalone unit). Plus they are tightly-integrated with your telephone for quick processing, organizing, and sharing.

Nevertheless, there are a couple major drawbacks. First, paradigm quality is express past the grade gene and bachelor power. The LyfieEye, for case, only outputs 1080p at thirty fps — hardly enough for a quality headset experience. Second, and less obvious, is that remote control of your 360 camera is a key feature, that is lacking in these units. Because the smartphone is normally the remote, and here information technology needs to exist connected to the camera, it is hard to put the photographic camera somewhere and hide yourself from the scene. So, these add-on cameras are most useful on a selfie-stick, and should be thought of as a way for selfie-lovers to go to the next step past creating 360-degree versions.

With all the new user-created content you lot may need a Relief Band

Relief Band may be the perfect accessory for those jumping into VRUser-created VR content may exist the adjacent large thing in VR, just I suspect it will likewise make a lot more people sick. Information technology is difficult plenty for professionals to create VR (or even front-facing 3D) experiences that are suitable for mass viewing without side furnishings. Amateurs are likely to do much worse. And so it was with some interest that I've been trying out Relief Ring — a watch-like vesture that intermittently applies a small current to the inside of your wrist. Its effect is to more than or less shut downward your medial nerve, which reduces nausea in chemotherapy patients and others.

Now the company is marketing the device to the VR customs. In my limited testing, it seems to work. But it'll be awhile before I'm fully convinced it isn't just a placebo effect.