How Does a 360 Camera Work? Insta360 X3 & 360 App MADE EASY

How does a 360 camera work? If you've heard about 360 cameras, but you're not exactly sure what they are, this video is perfect for you. In this video, I'll explain it to you without any fancy words or complicated stuff. All the while, I’ll be using the Insta360 X3 as an example. By the end, you'll totally get what a 360 camera is, how it works, and why you might want to use one.

If you're looking for things to do in Tokyo, you must not miss out on Sensoji Temple Tokyo in Asakusa. Check out my guide here on what to see and do at Sensoji Temple Asakusa, with a basic guide on how to worship there. Filmed using the Insta360 GO 3 and Insta360 Flow smartphone gimbal.

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Transcript excerpt:

So, what is a 360 camera?
The short answer is this: A 360 camera shoots in all directions at once.
You can use that footage to create a square or rectangle video. Just imagine a sphere with a picture stretched out across it. You can choose any square on that sphere and use it for your final outcome. This opens up so many editing options (but we'll talk about that later).
Or you can simply use the 360 footage directly, like people usually do for virtual reality.
There's loads more to it, but how does a 360 camera work?
The way a 360 camera works is by using two or more lenses to capture a 360-degree view. It's like having a bunch of different cameras in one, and then the camera blends the images to form a 360° sphere. Let's talk about the Insta360 X3 for a moment. It's got two lenses that capture over 180° each and then stitches the images together where they overlap. This allows for high-quality seamless video or photos.
So you get how a 360 camera works, but is using one easy? No doubt, it's a yes. You don't need any tech skills to capture footage with an Insta360 camera. Just press the shutter button like you would with any other camera. It automatically shoots in all directions, so you can edit the 360 video on your phone.
When you've captured it, you can export the footage as a traditional photo or video format - perfect for sharing on social media, for instance. However, you can also use the 360 video as is, or export it as an “equirectangular” image.
OK, Equirectangular? What does that mean?
Even though it sounds complicated, there's this awesome example of an equirectangular projection that pretty much everyone knows. The map of the world. We live on planet Earth, which is shaped like a sphere. But when we look at a map, it's squeezed onto a rectangle. It's the same deal with a 360 camera's equirectangular image. It’s the whole 360 sphere being placed onto a rectangular frame.
So, why would you use a 360 camera?
360 cameras are a game-changer compared to regular cameras. Let's check out a few examples.

[victoriavortex]

Thank you! This is exactly what I was searching for

[WaiferThyme]

THANK YOU! one of my fave travel you tubers uses one of these and its been driving me crazy wondering how he does it!

[ekwar]

Great, super simplistic video!. Thank you

[kazejordan]

Very useful video. I’m planning to start a vlog channel since I moved to France. Had no idea about current camera trends and while looking for gopro cameras there were too many 360 cameras in showrooms. So I postponed buying the gopro and started researching. Guess it’s better to buy a 360 camera rather than a gopro though I’m not sure if 360 camera is water resistant like the gopros. Anyway thanks. This video gave me a good idea about how this camera works and how easy to navigate it. 🖤

[theradioattheendoftheworld]

Nicely explained. I was always puzzled how they got footage without the selfie stick.

[nadavadiv]

That dolly zoom effect of the red car in the tunnel is amazing! Did you shoot it yourself? Is the full video available to watch anywhere?

[jmackinjersey]

Oh no, here I go down another rabbit hole.

[anarabicdp]

Hello, the shots you have are amazing. These were all from the insta 360? Did you use Topaz or any other software to clean up the footage?

[marivetboysillotravel]

nice sharing now i study how to use my new camera

[mauro]

OMG have I missed something or you never asked for a like or anything like that. 👍🏻
And as I click to leave a comment something cool popped up that I've never seen before.
I'm also happy to subscribe at this point, first of all I found your video perfect for what I was looking for and now I'll have a look at other videos of yours
Ciao

[the_changing_point]

Thanks so much I've wondering for a while about how this works. It's like seeing through the eyes of a bee

[josephgithinji]

this is not what i came for. i though youll explai how it captures from the top from the back etc

[andywhiteing]

Where is the video that I edit? Does it stay on the camera or on my phone? After I edit where do I keep the video to share at home? Will the video fill up my phone memory?

[joshbennett]

Well, I certainly picked the right video.

[ROYALDONTPLAY]

Why do the video footage look like it’s not a whole 360 degrees

[MinecraftSurge]

bruh. You didn't explain how it works. "Stitching video" explanation, is the equivalent of explaining how a computer works by saying there is electric inside.